Most Catholics know that the bishops of the
United States meet periodically.
Collectively this group is known as the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, or USCCB, which issues
statements when the bishops of the U.S. speak out on a particular issue.
But most Catholics probably do not know too much about the inner
workings of the Conference and how it relates to individual dioceses.
Therefore, I am devoting this article to an overview of the Conference;
my next article will be an update on some of the Conference’s recent
work.
The USCCB began in 1917 in response to the
U.S. Catholic Church’s desire to provide spiritual care and recreation
to American servicemen during World War I.
Two years later, in 1919,
Pope Benedict XV urged all the bishops of the world to join him in
promoting peace and social justice.
In response
to this request, the U.S. bishops formed the National Catholic Welfare
Council, which shortly thereafter broadened its scope to deal with such
questions as education, immigration and social action.
The
next major change occurred in 1966 with the establishment of two
separate bodies: the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and
the United States Catholic Conference (USCC). The former was charged
with Church affairs in this country, while the latter focused on the
church’s relationship with society in general.
Then, on July 1, 2001,
the NCCB and the USCC combined to form the USCCB as it is today.
It
is important to note that the Conference exists to assist the bishops
in furthering the Catholic Church’s work in our country. While the
Conference’s work is mainly accomplished through committees, the full
body of bishops must vote if the conference is to make statements on
behalf of all of them. In other words, a consensus must be achieved.
Furthermore,
the decisions of the conference are not legally binding on a bishop or
his diocese. Each diocesan bishop, appointed by our Holy Father, is
charged with the pastoral care of his diocese and is not answerable to
the conference, its officers or members.
Nonetheless,
to promote the good of the Church in this country and to respond to
issues on a national level, the bishops come together in mutual
cooperation and collegiality.
From time to time,
the Conference does desire to issue a decision that is binding on all
the dioceses of the U.S. When this is the case, the conference seeks
what is called a recognitio from Rome. If Rome approves, then authority
is given for the Conference’s decision to become particular law in the
U.S. Church.
I have been a member of the USCCB for
a little over 14 years and have very much enjoyed its work as well as
the fraternity I have with my brother bishops. My membership in the
Conference has helped me keep up to date on current ecclesiastical
issues and has assisted me greatly in responding to issues of the day
here in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.
To give you some sense of the
types of issues that the Conference deals with, at our semiannual
meeting Nov. 12-15 in Baltimore, we took up the following issues:
- a report from the ad hoc committee on religious liberty (relevant to the HHS mandate and other such matters);
- a report from the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage;
- the approval of a pastoral letter on preaching from the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations;
-
approval for the Committee on Divine Worship to proceed on an amended
addition of the English translation of the Liturgy of the Hours;
-
an update from the Committee on Doctrine regarding contemporary
challenges and opportunities for the exercise of the teaching ministry
of the diocesan bishop;
- a debate and vote on the drafting of a special message on the economy;
-
a vote on a proposed letter to encourage all of the faithful to avail
themselves of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation during Lent
2013;
- a debate and vote on providing financial
assistance to the Archdiocese for Military Services in the form of a
national collection to be taken up every three years;
- the approval of the budget for 2013;
- the addition to the proper calendar for the Latin dioceses of the United States of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos;
- a vote to establish the new position of a public affairs director for the Conference;
- a report on the cause for canonization of Servant of God Dorothy Day;
- the approval of the strategic plan for the conference, put forward by the Committee on Priorities and Plans;
- a report on cultural diversity in the Church;
- a report on the Church in Haiti;
- elections of certain committee chairs and members;
- many internal business issues.
As you can see, the business of the Conference is diverse, wide-ranging and challenging!