Bishops approve plan to limit conference priorities, projects

Published: 2004-11-15

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops overwhelmingly approved Nov. 15 a series of recommendations aimed at limiting the priorities and projects of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The recommendations were prompted by concerns raised by bishops in recent years that something must be done to keep diocesan assessments for conference operations from rising, said Bishop Donald W. Wuerl of Pittsburgh, chairman of the bishops' Task Force on Activities and Resources, which drafted the recommendations. The conference "has taken on too many projects. We try to do too much," said Bishop Wuerl in presenting the recommendations to the bishops. "Current diocesan assessments are adequate -- more than adequate -- if we provide for more limited and focused priorities," he said. "We have to limit the number of priorities and then marshal the (USCCB) staff to those priorities," he said. The recommendations were approved by a 225-6 vote.

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