As we begin to celebrate Independence Day, Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about the first American Catholic bishop and his prayer written in 1791 for the US government in "Consider This."

Bishop Richard J. Malone announced the following clergy assignments.

I am bitterly disappointed that the majority of justices of the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to overturn the definition of marriage, which has remained unchanged for more than two millennia. Marriage is the lifelong exclusive union of one man and one woman, a font of unitive life and love as well as the foundation of a stable family and society.

Pope Francis said fathers need to be by their wife's side though life. Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about his father's faithfulness to his mother and family in a new "Consider This."

Bishop Richard J. Malone spoke of the importance of Pope Francis' message during a press conference held at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport Thursday. Members of the Diocesan Care for Creation Committee, a group formed in 2006 under Bishop Edward U. Kmiec to spread local awareness of environmental issues, and Franciscan brothers and sisters joined him.

Bishop Richard J. Malone discussed the current status and future of several religious liberty issues on "EWTN Live" Wednesday night. Host Father Mitch Pacwa interviewed the bishop about gay marriage, human trafficking and the HHS mandate forcing religious institutions to provide health care coverage for contraception and abortion-inducing drugs, with Bishop Malone explaining that government intrusion is starting to prevent the Catholic Church from performing its ministries.

Whenever I come across a discouraging report on the state of religious belief and commitment, it forces me to ponder more deeply why my own Catholic faith is such a potent and enduring dimension of my existence. And why I believe that every person with a healthy, positive, mature and informed religious commitment is (potentially, at least) more fully human, more fully alive, more inclined to compassion and service to others.

Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about devotions and litanies in this new episode of "Consider This," while sharing a few invocations for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Bishop Richard Malone of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and Bishop R. William Franklin of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York have issued a joint pastoral letter to both Dioceses, calling on all members of both churches to take specific action to address issues of equality and economic justice in the Western New York region.

Three men entered a special brotherhood Saturday morning, as Bishop Richard J. Malone ordained Father Lukasz Kopala, Father Thomas Michael Mahoney and Father Daniel Ehijiator Ogbeifun into the priesthood during a Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.

With clergy ordinations occurring this weekend, Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about the roles of bishop, priest and deacon in a new "Consider This."

Three transitional deacons will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, June 6, by Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo. The Mass will take place at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo, at 10 a.m.

At the invitation of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Bishop Richard J. Malone and several other New York State Bishops and representatives from all eight dioceses will meet with members of the New York State Senate and Assembly today, June 1, at the Executive Mansion in Albany

Bishop Richard Malone talks about what went into the creation of his Coat of Arms in a special episode of "Consider This."

The Diocese of Buffalo welcomed three new permanent deacons on May 23, when Bishop Richard J. Malone ordained David C. Armstrong, Peter J. Donnelly and John A. Owczarczak at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo

Three men, with eight children among them, will be ordained at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo, on Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. Through the imposition of hands by Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, these men will become permanent deacons, joining more than 130 other deacons in the diocese.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for their annual Spring General Assembly, June 10-12, in St. Louis. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, USCCB president, will present a summary to the bishops on the consultation of U.S. dioceses for the 2015 Synod on the Family. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., will give an update on the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which Pope Francis will attend on his September Apostolic Journey to the United States.

Bishop Richard Malone offers a brief lesson about the Ascension of the Lord into heaven in a special episode of "Consider This."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Bishop Richard J. Malone joined together today to introduce the Parental Choice in Education Act, a revised version of the Education Tax Credit bill. Educators and students alike gathered together at Eggertsville Youth and Community Center to hear of the common goal of religion and government.

Did that title get your attention? I could have titled my column "Francis Is Coming," in anticipation of our Holy Father's visit to the United States September 22-27 of this year. The Holy Father has also just confirmed that he will make a pastoral visit to Cuba just prior to his arrival in the U.S. This will be a significant follow up to St. John Paul II's visit in 1998, in which I was privileged to participate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) - Prayer is sorely needed as existential threats face faith, the family, and religious liberty in the U.S., Catholic leaders insisted at a prayer breakfast held in the nation's capital on Thursday.

Bishop Richard J. Malone has named former New York State Regent Chancellor Robert M. Bennett to the Diocese of Buffalo's Catholic School Advisory Council, the panel which advises the bishop on matters related to Catholic education.

Bishop Richard J. Malone will celebrate a special Mothers' Day Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo. The Mass will include the Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo reached a major fundraising benchmark this week, but they still need your help. Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about the social service agency's importance in a new ‪"Consider This‬." Give it a watch below:

More than a hundred people went to Mass first thing Saturday morning in North Buffalo; not just for the Eucharist, but also to show support for the Catholic teaching on life and marriage. Bishop Richard J. Malone noted the consistent attacks on pro-life beliefs and traditional marriage resembled the work of Satan as he presided over a Rosary Novena for Life and March for Marriage celebration at St. Rose of Lima Parish.

People involved in parish ministry will be honored during a special St. Joseph the Worker Award and Mass 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Joseph Cathedral (Buffalo, New York). In a new episode of ‪"‎Consider This‬," Bishop Richard J. Malone talks about how important these people are in carrying out the ministry of the Church.

WASHINGTON—A few days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the rights of states to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, more than 30 religious leaders representing diverse faith communities throughout the United States have reaffirmed their shared commitment to marriage and religious freedom. An open letter entitled "The Defense of Marriage and the Right of Religious Freedom: Reaffirming a Shared Witness" was issued to all in positions of public service on April 23.

Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone and the Office of Pro-Life Activities invite all to participate in prayer for a culture of life at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the Rosary Novena for Life Mass at St. Rose of Lima Parish, 500 Parker Ave., Buffalo. All priests and deacons are invited to concelebrate and vest for Mass.

In "Consider this...A Statue in My Yard," Bishop Richard J. Malone discusses the various good works of St. Vincent de Paul and how his charism is carried on through Sisters of Charity, Vincentian Fathers and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Pope Francis has clearly made his own this teaching of the council that "the well-being of the individual person and of human and Christian society is intimately linked with the healthy condition of that community produced by marriage and family." So it is that our Holy Father has convoked two synods of bishops in Rome to reflect on the joys and challenges of family life in our time.

New York is facing three bills that could allow physician-assisted suicide to take place in the Empire State. The New York bishops are urging voters to prevent these bills from becoming law.

New people are welcomed into the Church each year. Bishop Richard Malone refers to a homily by St. Augustine who compares new Christians to colony of bees in a new "Consider This."

Bishop Richard J. Malone will talk about family life and marriage as one of two keynote speakers at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast (NCPB), Thursday, May 7, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is also scheduled to speak.

The gift of the resurrection has been seen throughout the ages, as Bishop Richard J. Malone explains in his video homily for Easter Sunday.

As Holy Week began to draw to a close, Bishop Richard J. Malone welcomed the celebration of the Resurrection during an Easter Vigil at St. Joseph Cathedral in Buffalo Saturday night.

Bishop Richard J. Malone reminds us that Christ, risen from the dead is the ultimate reason for hope, to all who believe.

Faithful from across the Diocese of Buffalo filled St. Joseph Cathedral to capacity on Tuesday evening for the Chrism Mass, a highlight of Holy Week, as Bishop Richard J. Malone blessed three urns of oil: oil of the catechumens, oil of the chrism and oil of the sick.

At the close of Appeal Week 2015, Catholic Charities announced March 31, that 78.4 percent of their goal has been met. Donations will be accepted until the close of the fiscal year June 30. This year's goal is $10.9 million.

Bishop Richard J. Malone used his homily at the start of Holy Week at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo on Mar. 29, to remind worshipers, "God's holy word on Palm Sunday is a meditation on the meaning of suffering in God's plan of salvation."

Bishop Richard J. Malone announced Tuesday Catholic Charities' 91st annual Appeal has raised $7,432,587.16 to date, representing 68 percent of the $10.9 million goal. The total includes monies collected and reported by parish volunteers during the opening weekend (March 21-22) of Appeal Week 2015, the period which marks the strongest push for parish donations. The total reported is more than $500,000 short of where Catholic Charities' officials and the Appeal leadership team hoped to be after the first Sunday.