The Committee on Doctrine was established in 1966 in conformity with the desire of the Holy See to have within the newly constituted episcopal conference a commission to address doctrinal matters. The "Theological Commission"— the predecessor to the current Committee on Doctrine— was entrusted with the tasks of evaluating from the point of view of Catholic doctrine not only specific questions and problems which might arise, but also the means and/or programs adopted by the Church in America in the approach to these questions. The current Committee on Doctrine is governed by the following goals and objectives.
As part of the USCCB's goal of fostering unity and collegiality between the bishops of the United States and the Roman Pontiff, the Committee on Doctrine has the following objective:
- to support and promote the Pope's universal teaching authority and leadership.
In support of the Conference's goal of assisting the bishops individually and collectively in fulfilling their roles as teachers in the faith community, the Committee has the following objectives:
- to teach Catholic doctrine where collective teaching by the bishops is needed and to offer to the bishops evaluations of theological trends and individual theological positions;
- to seek active collaboration of theologians as bishops exercise their teaching mission individually in their dioceses, collectively in the episcopal conference, and as they participate in synods of bishops or ecumenical councils;
- to provide ongoing doctrinal and theological orientation and theological programs for the bishops.
Chairman:
Most Reverend William E. Lori
Bishop of Bridgeport
Members:
Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair
Bishop of Toledo
Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of San Antonio
Most Reverend Robert J. McManus
Bishop of Worcester
Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli
Bishop of Paterson
Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of Detroit
Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington
Consultants:
His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.
Archbishop of Chicago
Sr. Sara Butler, M.S.B.T.
St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers, New York
Dr. Peter J. Casarella
DePaul University
Dr. Joseph Capizzi
The Catholic University of America
Dr. John C. Cavadini
University of Notre Dame
Rev. John M. McDermott
Sacred Heart Major Seminary