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WASHINGTON – When the U.S. bishops gather in November for their Fall General Assembly (November 14-17), they will elect the next president and vice president for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). They will also elect new chairmen for six standing committees of the Conference.

The president and vice president are elected from a slate of 10 candidates who have been nominated by their fellow bishops. They are as follows (in alphabetical order):

• Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Archdiocese for the Military Services
• Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington
• Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, Diocese of Bridgeport
• Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
• Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archdiocese of San Francisco
• Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, Archdiocese of Seattle
• Bishop Daniel E. Flores, Diocese of Brownsville
• Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, Archdiocese of San Antonio
• Archbishop William E. Lori, Archdiocese of Baltimore
• Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

The president and vice president are elected to three-year terms, which begin at the conclusion of this year’s General Assembly. At that time, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, and Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit, will complete their terms as president and vice president, respectively.

The by-laws of the USCCB provide that the first election is that of the president by simple majority vote of members present and voting. Following the election of the president, the vice-president is elected from the remaining nine candidates. In either election, if a candidate does not receive more than half of the votes cast on the first ballot, a second vote is taken. If a third round of voting is necessary, that ballot is a run-off between the two bishops who received the most votes on the second ballot. 

During the meeting, the bishops will also vote for new chairmen of six USCCB standing committees: Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance; Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis; Committee on International Justice and Peace; Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People; and the Committee on Religious Liberty. The six committee chairmen elected will serve for one year as chairman-elect before beginning a three-year term at the conclusion of the bishops’ 2023 Fall General Assembly.

The nominees for chairman-elect are as follows (alphabetical order):

COMMITTEE ON CANONICAL AFFAIRS AND CHURCH GOVERNANCE

• Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
• Bishop Alfred A. Schlert, Diocese of Allentown

COMMITTEE ON ECUMENICAL AND INTERRELIGIOUS AFFAIRS

• Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, Diocese of Scranton
• Bishop Peter L. Smith, auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon

COMMITTEE ON EVANGELIZATION AND CATECHESIS

• Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, Archdiocese of Indianapolis
• Bishop William D. Byrne, Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts

COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND PEACE

• Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
• Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan, MLM, Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon

COMMITTEE ON PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

• Bishop Barry C. Knestout, Diocese of Richmond
• Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, OSB, auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese of Newark

COMMITTEE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

• Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archdiocese of San Francisco
• Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

As elections for president and vice president of the Conference are also taking place at this meeting, should any of the candidates for committee chairmanship be elected to fill to a higher office, the bishops’ Committee on Priorities and Plans will convene to nominate a new candidate for that committee.

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Media Contact:
Chieko Noguchi
202-541-3200

WASHINGTON – Marking 100 days since the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called for “radical solidarity” with pregnant women, and reiterated Catholic teaching on life in response to recent public comments from people in public life who distort the Catholic Church’s teaching.

“The Catholic Church recognizes that all people, born and unborn, have been created in the image and likeness of God, and therefore have inherent dignity, and the right to life. When a woman is carrying a child, both mother and child are valued and should be protected, and the life of one should not be set against the life of another. The goal is always to save life, never to intentionally destroy life. The Church seeks the protection of all unborn children, this includes the innocent child conceived in rape or incest.

“Mothers should also be protected and supported, and we all have a responsibility to stand with mothers in need and provide the material and emotional support necessary to allow mothers, children, and families to live in dignity. In the post-Roe world, we must act in radical solidarity with the pregnant woman and her child, as we work and pray for the day when abortion is unthinkable.  

“Whereas the Church always seeks the protection of all unborn children, it is licit to support legislation that falls short of this goal, if it advances protections and limits harm. Evangelium Vitae, Sec. 73: ‘This does not in fact represent an illicit cooperation with an unjust law, but rather a legitimate and proper attempt to limit its evil aspects.’

“The USCCB supports legislation that seeks to limit the harm of abortion, including some legislation that includes exceptions. We will continue to pray and work for the day when all human life is welcomed in love and protected by law.”

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Media Contact:
Chieko Noguchi
202-541-3200

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