San Angelo Bishop Withdraws After Tie in National Leadership Vote

BALTIMORE, MD — Bishop Michael J. Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo tied in a key leadership vote at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Wednesday before withdrawing, clearing the way for Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon, to become the next chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty.

Sis and Sample each received 111 votes from the bishops gathered for the plenary assembly in Baltimore. Because Sis withdrew his name, Sample was appointed chairman and will begin serving Thursday. His term runs through November 2029.

The vacancy in the committee chairmanship was created when Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne–South Bend was elected Conference secretary, shifting him out of his previous role leading the religious liberty committee.

Rhoades was elected secretary in a 126-95 vote over Archbishop James F. Checchio, and he will serve through November 2027. His election was part of a larger round of leadership decisions made at the assembly, where bishops also selected new chairmen-elect for six standing committees:

• Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance: Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of Milwaukee won 113-108 over Bishop Edward M. Lohse of Kalamazoo.

• Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs: Bishop Peter L. Smith of Portland, Oregon, prevailed 139-83 over Bishop Daniel J. Felton of Duluth.

• Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis: Bishop William A. Wack of Pensacola–Tallahassee was elected 116-106 over Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus.

• Committee on International Justice and Peace: Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia won 154-68 over Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger of Detroit.

• Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People: Bishop-designate Mark O’Connell of Albany was elected 116-106 over Bishop John P. Dolan of Phoenix.