The order joined other religious orders in supporting the recently passed health care reform bill, which the U.S. bishops opposed.

These developments were paralleled by accompanying statements from the U.S. bishops.

He also heads the U.S. bishops' ad hoc committee created for such implementation.

The U.S. bishops felt compelled to formulate a coordinated response at the episcopal conference level.

In the early 1970s, the U.S. bishops commissioned him to write a profile of the American priesthood.

Several U.S. bishops warned the Vatican that failure to act on the matter could embarrass the church.

All assignments for active U.S. bishops begin on Sept. 1 following the jurisdictional conference.

John Paul has appointed 89 percent of the U.S. bishops, choosing men who share his vision of the church.

It was against this backdrop that the U.S. bishops met for their tenth provincial council in Baltimore in 1869.

In 1977, a U.S. bishops' statement urged the United States government to develop policies to provide greater justice for Native Americans.