Washington, D.C: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has elevated its campaign against racial injustice to a permanent priority, announcing the creation of a Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation. The move transforms the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, first formed in 2017, into a standing body within the bishops’ national conference.
The decision, approved on September 9 by the USCCB’s Administrative Committee, was detailed in a press release on September 10. The new subcommittee will function under the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, signaling the bishops’ intention to confront racism not merely as a social challenge but as a spiritual and moral wound at the heart of the Church and society.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the USCCB, said the transition ensures long-term continuity in the Church’s witness. “As we call for a genuine conversion of heart that will compel change at both individual and institutional levels, I invite all Catholics to join us in recognizing and upholding the inherent dignity of every person made in the image and likeness of God.”
The Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, which now oversees the subcommittee, has long focused on issues of human dignity, economic justice, and the Church’s social mission. In adding a permanent arm dedicated to racial justice, the bishops are responding to what they describe as the “ongoing commitment to addressing the sin of racism.”
The conference emphasized that the new body will not only expose racism’s enduring presence in society and within the Church but will also seek concrete, collaborative solutions. The effort is designed to blend advocacy, evangelization, and pastoral outreach, giving parishes, dioceses, and Catholic institutions practical tools to confront prejudice and heal divisions.
Bishop Joseph Perry, who has chaired the Ad Hoc Committee since its inception, welcomed the change as a sign of continuity and determination. “I speak on behalf of the bishop members, staff, and consultants of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism in expressing gratitude for the transition of our committee to a standing subcommittee,” he said. “This ensures that the important work of evangelization of the faithful and the community at large may continue in the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The Ad Hoc Committee was originally launched in 2017 under then-USCCB President Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, in the wake of heightened racial tensions across the United States. Since then, it has produced pastoral resources, educational programs, and advocacy efforts aimed at dismantling systemic racism.
Now with permanent status, the Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation will officially begin its work following the bishops’ plenary assembly in November. Church leaders say the move demonstrates their conviction that racism is not a temporary crisis but a long-term challenge requiring permanent vigilance, prayer, and action.