With statements on topics including homosexuality, contraception and worthiness to receive the Eucharist awaiting their vote, next month's Fall Plenary of the US bishops (USCCB) has become one of the body's most highly awaited meetings in recent years. This year's November meeting is moving from Washington to Baltimore, where the American hierarchy will celebrate the re-opening of its mother church and the nation's first cathedral, the Basilica of the Assumption.

While the 23-page statement, prepared by the USCCB's Committee on Doctrine, reaffirms the Church's doctrinal condemnation of "homosexual acts", same-sex marriage and civil partnerships that "give the appearance of a marriage", the document takes a keenly tolerant and welcoming tone in the area of pastoral practice.

Among its more significant provisions are a conditional approval for the baptism of children adopted by same-sex couples and the consensus that "persons with a homosexual inclination" are under "no moral obligation" to undergo the clinical programme commonly known as "conversion therapy", which some social conservatives believe can "cure" homosexuality. The text also emphasises that "those who would minister in the name of the Church must in no way contribute" to injustice against gays, and that church leaders "should prayerfully examine their own hearts in order to discern any thoughts or feelings" of hatred or scorn "that might stand in need of purification".

The bishops are also due to discuss a brief text in response to the drawbacks of the perceived prevalence of a "contraceptive mentality" among American Catholics. According to a CNS summary of the draft, the document laments that the "failure to respect married love's power to help create new life has eroded respect for life and for the sanctity of marriage".

Taking a notably new approach to a question that has most prominently been discussed with regard to Catholic politicians, a preliminary text of a document on the worthy reception of the Eucharist says that the faithful should "refrain from Holy Communion" not only on the usual grounds of being "conscious of grave sin", but also "when they lack adherence to what the Church authoritatively teaches on matters of faith and morals".

But in a meeting with Canadian bishops, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the former head of the Archdiocese of Washington DC and of a task force on Catholics in public life for the US Bishops' Conference, said that he would not deny Communion to politicians who deviated strongly from church teaching, but added that they "need to be re-catechised," writes Timothy Lavin from Washington.

Cardinal McCarrick said that the Church needed to work harder to minister to politicians and to better articulate its views to them to help shape policy.

He added that church leaders needed to be courageous and clear when explaining Catholic teaching to political leaders. But he also emphasised that the dialogue should be a loving one.

n The highest court in New York State ruled last week that charities, including those that are Catholic, must provide their employees with insurance coverage that would pay for contraception, regardless of their moral take on the issue. Explicitly religious organisations, such as churches and seminaries, are exempt. But because groups such as Catholic Charities USA - which has 51,000 paid staff - employ non-Catholic workers, they must accede.

explicitly religious organisations, such as churches and seminaries, are exempt. But because groups such as Catholic Charities USA - which has 51,000 paid staff - employ non-Catholic workers, they must accede.