Episcopal Conferences Aid But Don't Substitute Bishop, Says Pope

For those who put much weight in what comes out of the USCCB, heed the Holy Father's words,

In order for a conference to fulfill its proper function, care should be taken to ensure that the offices or commissions within a conference strive to be of help to the bishops and not to substitute for them, and even less to create an intermediate structure between the Apostolic See and individual bishops.

I recommend Father Richard Neuhaus' piece on the changes occuring in the USCCB, in this month's issue of First Things.