Bishop Richard Malone told bishops that the plan would “encourage a broader reading of ‘Amoris Laetitia’ and seek to advance more conversation” around “strengthening marriage and family life.”

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann beat Cardinal Blase Cupich, a proponent of the “consistent ethic of life” approach to pro-life issues.

“We still need water, we still need food, we still need clothing,” Archbishop Roberto González Nieves said

The theme of division in the church and in society has been frequently invoked during the bishops’ deliberations this week.

Cardinal Parolin’s visit comes at a time when internal divisions among U.S. Catholics have become public.

Much of the business appears to be routine, though the bishops as a body have been vocal in recent months about a range of political and social issues, as well as internal church politics, that are sure to come up during the meeting.

The bishops said the tax proposal “appears to be the first federal income tax modification in American history that will raise income taxes on the working poor while simultaneously providing a large tax cut to the wealthy."

There are signs that at least among some U.S. Catholic bishops, statements of grief and sorrow are being backed up with pledges to push for legislative action on guns.

Mr. Colbert’s words called to mind Pope Francis’ critique of the arms industry.

The governor used his visit to Rome to say that the world is facing bigger challenges in addressing climate change than one president.