USCCB- international affairs?

[ac_claire]

(Since one of the forum topics is “Vatican rules” I thought this might be the right place to post this…)

Can anyone think of a reason why a national conference of catholic bishops needs a department of international affairs? Do the US bishops have a mandate to deal with international affairs, or is that Rome’s job?

Am I wrong in this nagging feeling I have that the USCCB is slowly usurping the authority of the Holy See?

 

[Digitonomy]

Can anyone think of a reason why a national conference of catholic bishops needs a department of international affairs? Do the US bishops have a mandate to deal with international affairs, or is that Rome’s job?

Are you referring to the Office of International Justice and Peace? I’m not an expert in Vatican documents, but I think there are a limited number specific things that a national conference is mandated to do by Rome, such as certain liturgical issues. Anything else a national conference chooses to take upon itself is its own affair. If the USCCB wants to set up an office that helps advocate for US-based foreign missions in whatever way, or tries to influence Congress and the president on US foreign policy, I don’t see a problem.

Is there a particular action by the USCCB that you object to?