The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has made its anti-racism arm permanent, per an announcement Wednesday in Washington. The decision was approved by the USCCB Administrative Committee.
The newly renamed Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation, known since its 2017 founding as the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, will fall under the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.
“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,” wrote chairman Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Joseph N. Perry of Chicago, “so 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.”
U.S. Bishops’ Administrative Committee Approves Transition of Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism to a Permanent Subcommittee https://t.co/E1Nnxfwn2D
— Anthony J. Granado (@AnthonyJGranado) September 10, 2025
The Ad Hoc Committee was originally founded in the wake of the 2017 Charlottesville car attack, which saw a White supremacist drive into a crowd of counter-protestors at a “Unite the Right” rally in Virginia, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring dozens of others.
The committee was created to address the “sin of racism” and was authorized on a temporary basis, with its mandate renewed twice since. It has been led by African-American bishops throughout its history, including the late Jesuit bishop George V. Murray of Youngstown and Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville. Fabre resigned from the committee in 2023 and was elected chair of the domestic justice committee last fall.
Following Fabre’s departure, Bishop Perry was appointed by the USCCB president, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services, to lead the Ad Hoc Committee. Perry's age-mandated episcopal retirement went into effect shortly thereafter, but he has continued to chair the committee by way of a special USCCB vote in November 2023.
The same ballot stipulated that Perry serve until the end of his two-year term or until the subcommittee becomes permanent—the latter being assigned to the conference leadership for a final decision.
During its eight-year history, the ad hoc committee has accomplished a number of initiatives, including the 2018 pastoral letter issued under Fabre, “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love,” which was accompanied by implementation resources for institutions, ministers, and families. The committee has also held listening sessions across the country concerning racism, published resources during the 2020 U.S. racial reckoning, and helped organize racial justice tours for bishops.
Broglio called the committee’s new permanence a signal of the U.S. bishops’ continued commitment to ending racial discrimination.
“As we call for a genuine conversion of heart that will compel change at both individual and institutional levels,” he said, “I invite all Catholics to join us as we carry forward this work to recognize and uphold the inherent dignity of every person made in the image and likeness of God.”
The new racial justice subcommittee will begin its work this fall, following the conference’s November plenary assembly, the date of which is yet to be announced. At the same meeting, Archbishop Fabre will take over as chair of the domestic justice committee and will be able to nominate a subcommittee chairman.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
