United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Abbreviation	USCCB
Formation	1966
Type	NGO
Legal status	Civil nonprofit
Purpose	To support the ministry of bishops
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Membership	Active and retired Catholic bishops of the United States
President	Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz
Main organ	Conference
Affiliations	National Council of Catholic Women National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities Catholic Legal Immigration Network Catholic Relief Services National Right to Life Committee (1968–73)
Budget	US$180 million
Staff	300
Website	usccb.org

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and United States Catholic Conference (USCC), it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic hierarchy (i.e., diocesan, coadjutor, and auxiliary bishops and the ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter) in the United States and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the bishops in the six dioceses form their own episcopal conference, the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference (Spanish, Conferencia Episcopal Puertorriqueña). The bishops in U.S. insular areas in the Pacific Ocean – the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Territory of American Samoa, and the Territory of Guam – are members of the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (Latin, Conferentia Episcopalis Pacifici).

The USCCB adopted its current name in July 2001. The organization is a registered corporation based in Washington, D.C. As with all bishops' conferences, certain decisions and acts of the USCCB must receive the recognitio, or approval of the Roman dicasteries, which are subject to the immediate and absolute authority of the Pope.

History

National Catholic War Council

Further information: National Catholic Welfare Council § National Catholic War Council

See also: National Catholic Community Service

The first national organization of Catholic bishops in the United States was founded in 1917 as the National Catholic War Council (NCWC), formed to enable U.S. Catholics to contribute funds for the spiritual care of Catholic servicemen during World War I.

National Catholic Welfare Council

Main article: National Catholic Welfare Council

In 1919 Pope Benedict XV urged the college of bishops around the world to assist him in promoting the labor reforms first articulated by Pope Leo XIII in Rerum novarum. In response, the U.S. Catholic episcopate organized the National Catholic Welfare Council in 1919. They also created the first Administrative Committee of seven members to manage daily affairs between plenary meetings, with archbishop Edward Joseph Hanna of San Francisco as the first chairman. Headquarters were established in Washington, D.C.

After a threatened suppression of the National Catholic Welfare Council, the administrative board decided to rename the organization to be the National Catholic Welfare Conference, with the purpose of advocating reforms in education, immigration, and social action.

National Right to Life Committee (1968–73)

Main article: National Right to Life Committee

The National Conference of Catholic Bishops had appointed Fr. James T. McHugh during April, 1967 to lead the early formation of what was later to become the National Right to Life Committee. The NRLC was itself formed in 1968 under the auspices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to coordinate information and strategy between developing local and state Catholic pro-life groups and is the oldest and the largest national organization against legal abortion in the United States with NRLC affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. These NRLC affiliate groups were forming in response to efforts to change abortion laws based on model legislation proposed by the American Law Institute (ALI). New Jersey attorney Juan Ryan served as the organization's first president. NRLC held a nationwide meeting of pro-life leaders in Chicago in 1970 at Barat College. The following year, NRLC held its first convention at Macalestar College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

NCCB/USCC

Episcopal conferences were first established as formal bodies by the Second Vatican Council (Christus Dominus, 38), and implemented by Pope Paul VI's 1966 motu proprio Ecclesiae sanctae. In order to fulfill the new requirements for national conferences of bishops, the American bishops established – in 1966 – the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and its secular arm, the United States Catholic Conference (USCC).

As separate organizations with distinct responsibilities, the NCCB focused on internal ecclesiastical concerns while the USCC carried forward work in society at large. The NCCB enabled the bishops to deliberate and respond collectively on a broad range of issues, with work being carried out through various secretariats, standing committees, and ad hoc committees.

On July 1, 2001, the NCCB and the USCC were combined to form the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The merger resulted in the continuation of all of the work formerly done by the NCCB and the USCC, with the same staff.

The operation, authority, and responsibilities of episcopal conferences are currently governed by the 1983 Code of Canon Law (see especially canons 447–459). The nature of episcopal conferences, and their magisterial authority in particular, was subsequently clarified by Pope John Paul II's 1998 motu proprio, Apostolos suos.

Current structure and membership

USCCB offices in Washington, D.C.

The structure of the conference (USCCB) consists of 16 standing committees (whose members are bishops) and the departments, secretariats, and offices that carry out the work of the committees. The leaders of these departments, secretariats, and offices report to the general secretariat of the conference.

The membership of the USCCB consists of all active and retired Latin-rite Catholic and Eastern Catholic bishops (i.e., diocesan, coadjutor, and auxiliary bishops) of the United States and the Territory of the Virgin Islands – and the ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter – but not the bishops of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Territory of American Samoa, and the Territory of Guam. The bishops of the latter four U.S. overseas dependencies belong to other episcopal conferences. In the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the bishops in the six dioceses form their own episcopal conference, the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference (Spanish, Conferencia Episcopal Puertorriqueña). The bishops in U.S. insular areas in the Pacific Ocean – the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Territory of American Samoa, and the Territory of Guam – are members of the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (Latin, Conferentia Episcopalis Pacifici).

The USCCB has two semiannual meetings, in November and June. Between these meetings, the conference is governed by the Administrative Committee. There is also an Executive Committee, whose members include the conference president, vice-president, and secretary (all of whom are bishops). The officers of the conference are elected for three-year terms. The conference also elects chairmen and chairmen-elect of the standing committees.

Regions

The USCCB divides the Latin Rite dioceses of the United States into fourteen geographical regions and a fifteenth region that consists of the Eastern Catholic eparchies and exarchate.

For the list of regions, see: List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view)#Episcopal Conference of the United States of America

The dioceses of the United States are grouped into fifteen regions. Fourteen of the regions (numbered I through XIV) are geographically based, for the Latin Catholic dioceses. The Eastern Catholic eparchies (dioceses) and exarchate constitute Region XV.

Organizational structure

Programmatic Committees and Related Subcommittees

• Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance – Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield (IL)
• Committee on Catholic Education – Bishop Joseph P. McFadden of Harrisburg
• Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations – Archbishop Robert J. Carlson
• Committee on Communications – Bishop John C. Wester
• Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church – Bishop Jaime Soto
• Committee on Divine Worship – Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans
• Committee on Doctrine – Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington
• Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs – Bishop Denis J. Madden
• Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis – Bishop Richard J. Malone
• Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development – Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre
• Committee on International Justice and Peace – Bishop Howard J. Hubbard
• Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth – Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades
• Committee on Migration – Archbishop José H. Gómez of Los Angeles
• Committee on National Collections – Bishop Kevin J. Farrell
• Committee on Pro-Life Activities – Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Houston-Gavelston
• Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People – Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago
• Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty – Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore

Executive Level and Management Committees (Officers)

• Administrative Committee (President) – Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz
• Vice President – Cardinal Daniel DiNardo
• Committee on Budget and Finance (Treasurer) – Bishop Michael J. Bransfield
• Committee on Priorities and Plans (Secretary) – Bishop George V. Murry, SJ
• Executive Committee – Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan

USCCB departments and programs

Office of the General Secretary

• General Secretary
• Associate General Secretary – Pastoral Ministry and Planning
• Associate General Secretary and Secretary of Policy and Advocacy
• Associate General Secretary and Secretary of Administration
• Assistant General Secretary for Planning

Office of the General Counsel

Pastoral Ministry

• Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations
• Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church
• Secretariat of Divine Worship
• Secretariat of Doctrine
• Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
• Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis
• Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth
• Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection

Policy and Advocacy

• Secretary of Policy and Advocacy
• Government Relations

Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development

• Executive Director
• Office of International Justice and Peace
• Office of Domestic Social Development
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development
• Education and Outreach

Department of Migration and Refugee Services

• Executive Director
• Office of Migration and Refugee Policy
• Office of Refugee Programs

Secretariat of Catholic Education

Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

Communications

• Secretary of Communications
• Catholic News Service
• Customer and Client Relations
• Media Relations
• Operations and Project Management
• USCCB Publishing

Administration and National Collections

• Secretary of Administration
• Office of Finance
• Office of Accounting and Business Services
• Office of General Services
• Office of Human Resources

Office of National Collections

• The Church in Central and Eastern Europe
• Catholic Home Missions
• The Church in Latin America
• Peter's Pence
• The Catholic Relief Services Collection
• The Church in Africa
• Catholic Communication Campaign (promotion)
• The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (promotion)

Other Collections

National Religious Retirement Office

Office for Film and Broadcasting

Office of Information Technology

Initiatives

In March 2012, regarding the Federal requirement that employers who do not support contraception but are not religious institutions per se must cover contraception via health insurance, USCCB decided to "continue its 'vigorous opposition to this unjust and illegal mandate'”.

In June and July 2012, the USCCB promoted a campaign of events called the Fortnight for Freedom to protest government activities that in their view impinged on their religious liberty.

Immigration

The USCCB platform on immigration reform includes:

• Earned legalization for immigrants who are of good moral character to adjust their status to obtain lawful permanent residence after a background check and payment of fines.
• A legal path for foreign born workers to enter the U.S. for work in order to alleviate border crossing deaths.
• More visas to promote family reunification as well as a reduction in waiting times.
• Elimination of some of the penalties in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 such as the three year and ten year bans on deported illegal immigrants (depending on the length of their illegal stay in the U.S.)
• The root cause of illegal immigrations such as poverty and inequality in sending countries needs to be addressed.
• Enforcement should focus on illegal immigrants who pose risks to public safety rather than on families seeking employment.

National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage

In November 2004, the USCCB kicked off the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage, a multi-year effort to promote traditional marriage values.

The National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage is a multi-year, far-reaching effort to promote traditional marriage values created by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2004.

Led by Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz of Louisville, and the USCCB's Office of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, as well as the Catholic Communication Campaign, the Initiative synthesizes social-science research, Catholic teaching and pastoral practice, and the everyday experiences of married men and women to bolster marriage as a social institution and Christian sacrament.

The NPIM has largely been promoted among the general public in the United States through radio and television public-service announcements.

In the advertising, couples speak candidly about the everyday things done for each other to show love and commitment as they answer the question: “What have you done for your marriage today?” Viewers are then directed to visit, an online repository of resources, tips and stories that can help strengthen a marriage.

The NPIM is expected to run through 2011, with the next phase including a bishops’ pastoral letter.

Presidents

1. † John F. Dearden, Cardinal, Archbishop of Detroit (1966–1971; was created a cardinal on April 28, 1969)
2. † John J. Krol, Cardinal, Archbishop of Philadelphia (1971–1974)
3. † Joseph L. Bernardin, Archbishop of Cincinnati (1974–1977; later became Archbishop of Chicago and a Cardinal)
4. John R. Quinn, Archbishop of San Francisco (1977–1980)
5. † John R. Roach, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (1980–1983)
6. † James W. Malone, Bishop of Youngstown (1983–1986)
7. † John L. May, Archbishop of Saint Louis (1986–1989)
8. Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of Cincinnati (1989–1992)
9. William H. Keeler, Cardinal, Archbishop of Baltimore (1992–1995)
10. Anthony M. Pilla, Bishop of Cleveland (1995–1998)
11. Joseph A. Fiorenza, Bishop of Galveston-Houston (1998–2001; last NCCB/USCC President and first USCCB President; became an archbishop in December 2004, when the then-Diocese of Galveston-Houston was elevated to a metropolitan archdiocese)
12. Wilton D. Gregory, Bishop of Belleville (2001–2004; later became Archbishop of Atlanta)
13. William S. Skylstad, Bishop of Spokane (2004–2007)
14. † Francis E. George, O.M.I., Cardinal, Archbishop of Chicago (2007–2010)
15. Timothy M. Dolan, Cardinal, Archbishop of New York (2010–2013)
16. Joseph E. Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville (2013–present)

† = deceased

2010 election

At the November 2010 General Meeting in Baltimore, elections were held for President and Vice President. For the first time in the history of the USCCB, and in a break from long-standing tradition, a Vice President standing for the presidency was denied the top post. In those elections, Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, was elected President – defeating Gerald Kicanas, Bishop of Tucson, 128–111 (54% to 46%) – and Joseph Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville, was elected Vice President in a runoff against Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Denver, 147-91 (62% to 38%).

Funding

The budget for 2011 is US$180 million. Money is raised by assessing the individual dioceses.

See also

• Associations of the faithful
• Catholic Church and politics in the United States
• Catholic Relief Services
• Catholic Church by country
• Catholic Church in the United States
• Episcopal Conference of the United States of America
• Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
• History of Roman Catholicism in the United States
• List of the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States
• List of the Roman Catholic cathedrals of the United States
• List of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses (alphabetical) (including archdioceses)
• List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view) (including archdioceses)
• Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
• National Federation of Priests' Councils
• Plenary Councils of Baltimore
• Pontifical North American College
• Religions by country
• Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States (including ecclesiastical provinces)
• The American College of the Immaculate Conception

External links

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• GCatholic.org – Bishops of United States