Religion

Archbishop Coakley Elected New US Catholic Bishops President

Published NOV 12 2025

Story

Above: Archbishop Paul S. Coakley on June 29, 2011, at The Vatican. Image credit: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City on Tuesday was elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) after three rounds of voting during the fall plenary assembly in Baltimore, Maryland.
National Catholic Reporter
Vatican News
Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, was elected vice president of the USCCB, finishing second in the presidential balloting with 109 votes compared to Coakley's 128 votes in the final round.
The New York Times
Catholic News Agency
Coakley previously served as secretary of the USCCB and holds a licentiate in sacred theology. He was ordained as a priest in 1983 and appointed archbishop of Oklahoma City in 2010. His background includes defending a culture of life, opposing gender ideology and supporting migrants.
Catholic News Agency
Vatican News
The bishops addressed immigration enforcement concerns during their assembly, with outgoing president, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, stating that enforcement actions prevent people from bringing children to church or school.
National Catholic Reporter
Catholic News Agency
Although he's known to be conservative, Coakley has criticized mass deportation efforts. In February, he stated that they create fear among immigrant communities, while also acknowledging that illegal immigration is wrong and border protections may be needed.
Newsweek
Catholic News Agency
The USCCB launched the You Are Not Alone initiative for migrants, focusing on emergency support, pastoral care and solidarity, as bishops expressed unity in defending immigrants' human dignity and religious liberty.
National Catholic Reporter
Catholic News Agency

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Narrative A

Coakley's election signals dangerous accommodation with U.S. President Donald Trump's agenda and betrays Catholic values. Coakley's shameful 2018 support for the excommunicated Vigano's attacks on Pope Francis shows alarming disrespect for papal authority. The bishops have chosen partisan politics over Gospel principles.

National Catholic Reporter

Narrative B

Archbishop Coakley's leadership brings unified Catholic opposition to Trump's immigration crackdowns. The bishops are courageously defending migrant families and standing with Pope Leo's call for compassion. This election shows remarkable episcopal unity on protecting the vulnerable.