General Counsel

General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel acts as the source of legal advice to the USCCB. OGC also supports the work of diocesan attorneys, State Catholic Conferences, and other national, regional, and local Catholic entities by providing uniform assistance on constitutional, tax (including the administration of the Group Ruling), litigation, and other matters.

OGC attorneys have special expertise in the law of tax exemption, pensions, immigration, education, civil rights, pro-life, intellectual property, and communications. These areas are practiced in the context of church-state relations, and with particular attention to their impact on not-for-profit entities.

OGC participates in rulemaking and other federal agency proceedings on behalf of USCCB, and provides legal support to the USCCB’s Committees and Subcommittees when they speak to matters of public policy and pastoral concern. OGC represents USCCB in litigation as a party or as amicus curiae. OGC supports the various efforts of diocesan counsel, principally through the National Diocesan Attorneys Association.

OGC attorneys also publish scholarly works and engage in public speaking on issues of law and policy.