Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States (USCCB), is an organization of active and retired Roman Catholic bishops in the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The USCCB conducts welfare programs in the United States and abroad. It also aids education, cares for immigrants, and carries on other activities that promote Roman Catholic values. The group’s headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
The USCCB developed from the National Catholic Welfare Council (NCWC), established in 1919. The NCWC was created “to unify, coordinate, encourage, promote and carry on all Catholic activities in the United States.” In 1922, the group was renamed the National Catholic Welfare Conference. The NCWC’s offices included a general secretariat, a news agency (now the Catholic News Service), and an immigration bureau. Its most important office was the Social Action Department. For many years, that office was overseen by the progressive priest and theologian John A. Ryan. The NCWC did not replace the authority of the pope or individual bishops. Rather, it served as an important link between church officials and the U.S. government.
Beginning in the 1960’s, the Vatican handed down some of its functions to local episcopal conferences (assemblies of bishops). In 1966, the NCWC was split into two such groups, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and its civil arm, the United States Catholic Conference (USCC). Under this structure, the NCCB dealt primarily with internal church matters. The USCC engaged in areas of public policy. Conservative bishops and politicians registered strong complaints with the Vatican about what they considered to be liberal activism by the NCCB. In 1998, under the leadership of Pope John Paul II, the Vatican sharply limited the conferences’ teaching authority.
In 2001, the USCC and the NCCB merged to form the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In the early 2000’s, the USCCB has devoted much energy to fighting against legalized abortion. It also has criticized Catholic politicians who have not strictly followed official Catholic teachings about human reproductive issues.
See also Bishop .
