[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 21747]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              200TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK

  Mr. TESTER. I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 277 and the Senate 
then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 277) commemorating the 200th 
     anniversary of the Archdiocese of New York.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider to the 
resolution.
  Mr. TESTER. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table en bloc, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 277) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 277

       Whereas it is a tradition of the Senate to honor and pay 
     tribute to those places and institutions within the United 
     States with historic significance that has contributed to the 
     culture and traditions of the citizens of the United States;
       Whereas, in accordance with this tradition, the Senate is 
     proud to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese 
     of New York and its history of faith and service;
       Whereas the Archdiocese of New York has planned a year-long 
     series of events beginning in April 2007 to celebrate its 
     bicentennial;
       Whereas the Archdiocese of New York is coordinating with 
     Catholic Charities of New York to institute an Archdiocese of 
     New York Day of Service to celebrate its history of serving 
     the broader community;
       Whereas, on April 8, 1808, the Diocese of New York was 
     established with the Most Reverend R. Luke Concanen as its 
     first Bishop, and the Diocese was elevated to an Archdiocese 
     in 1850;
       Whereas, on March 15, 1875, His Eminence John Cardinal 
     McCloskey, the second Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New 
     York, became the first Cardinal Archbishop of the Roman 
     Catholic Church in the United States;
       Whereas the Archdiocese of New York has welcomed Papal 
     visits from Pope Paul VI, on October 5, 1965, and Pope John 
     Paul II, on October 7, 1979 and October 5, 1995;
       Whereas, on September 14, 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton, a 
     member of the Archdiocese of New York and founder of the 
     modern Catholic education parochial school system, became the 
     first person born in the United States to be named a saint;
       Whereas Elizabeth Ann Seton is described on the front doors 
     of St. Patrick's Cathedral as a ``Daughter of New York'' and 
     several schools are named after her, including Seton Hall 
     University in South Orange, New Jersey;
       Whereas the Archdiocese of New York is currently under the 
     spiritual guidance of His Eminence Edward M. Cardinal Egan, 
     who was installed on June 19, 2000 and elevated to Cardinal 
     on February 21, 2001;
       Whereas the Archdiocese of New York originally included the 
     entirety of the States of New York and New Jersey, an area 
     that is now divided into 12 dioceses;
       Whereas the Archdiocese of New York has 2,500,000 Catholics 
     in its fold;
       Whereas the Archdiocese of New York consists of 402 
     parishes, 278 elementary and high schools, and 3,729 
     charitable ministries, including Catholic Charities, 
     hospitals, nursing homes, and outreach programs; and
       Whereas, throughout its rich historical past and up to the 
     present day, the Archdiocese of New York has been sustained 
     by the beneficent efforts of countless parishioners and 
     ministries that have generously supported their community 
     with abundant kindness and good deeds: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate commemorates the 200th 
     anniversary of the Archdiocese of New York.

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