More from the Floor

The bishops have gone to sleep for the night, but even so, more than you'd think at this late hour are in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, reserved in an intimate chapel right off the floor.

While there, they're probably keeping one of the brethren in their thoughts. It was announced earlier this afternoon that Bishop Manuel Moreno, emeritus of Tuscon, was to undergo an emergency surgery for bleeding on his brain.

Moreno's successor, Bishop Gerald Kicanas, left town immediately at the news to be with his predecessor in Phoenix, where the retired bishop had been transferred for the procedure.

Moreno, who will be 76 later this month, had undergone a round of chemotherapy over the last six weeks for prostate cancer, according to Fred Allison, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson.

Moreno was hospitalized at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson today after complaining of a severe headache on Sunday.

He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix after no neurosurgery specialist was immediately available to operate on him in Tucson, Allison said. Moreno has received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Dying and the Prayer of the Church.

Allison said Bishop Gerald Kicanas was in Baltimore today for a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and asked the nation's bishops to pray for Moreno.

Kicanas left Baltimore for Phoenix, where he was to arrive at 7:40 p.m. to be with Moreno, who is unconscious. He will visit with Moreno's family at the hospital.

Moreno's sister and brother and their families are with him at Good Samaritan.

In other developments, as we approach tomorrow's votes, word's gone around that the meeting -- slated to end on Thursday afternoon -- could wrap up Wednesday night. The bishops are scheduled to be in executive session on Wednesday, followed by a Holy Hour and an opportunity for confessions.

The last nonliturgical business, however, will be an address from Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin, chair of the USCCB's Committee on Child and Youth Protection. Topic: "The Bishop as Reconciler."

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