Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) is the episcopal conference of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
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[edit] About
The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is the permanent assembly of Catholic bishops in these two countries. It is an expression of the collegiality of the bishops. Through it they proclaim the Gospel to the people of England and Wales.
All the bishops of England and Wales meet together twice a year to decide policies for the Church at a national level. These week-long gatherings occur soon after Easter (Low Week) and in November.
Each bishop chairs a committee of experts dealing with a specific area of concern for the Church. Committees are grouped into departments for practical purposes.
The administration of the Bishops' Conference is funded by a levy on each diocese, varying according to its size. A General Secretariat in London co-ordinates and supervises the Bishops' Conference administration activities. Attached to the General Secretariat is the Catholic Communications Network, which deals with media relations.
[edit] Structure
- President
- Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
- Vice-President
- Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark
- Membership
- Diocesan, auxiliary and emeritus (retired) bishops of England and Wales
- Apostolic Exarch for the Ukrainians
- Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
[edit] Departments
The conference is divided into departments each dealing with specific topic matters. There are seven departments, these being:
- Catholic Communications Network
- Catholic Education and Formation
- Christian Life and Worship
- Christian Responsibility and Citizenship
- Dialogue and Unity
- Evangelisation and Catecehis
- International Affairs
Each department consists of bishops and staff, and is chaired by one bishop. Other bishops contribute as episcopal staff, and there are a few other members serving as staff. Each department is further subdivided into committees; a separate member of the episcopal staff of that department oversees the reports and work of their committee.
[edit] Other agencies
Other agencies of the Bishops' Conference include:
- CAFOD, the international development and humanitarian agency
- Caritas - Social Action
- Catholic Education Service
