How the U.S. Bishops Differ over Time and by Theological Orientation in What They Perceive to be the Greatest Hopes and Challenges in the U.S. Church.

This article analyzes changes over six years in U.S. Catholic bishops' perceptions of the Church's greatest hopes, challenges, and steps to improve priests' trust in bishops, with attention to bishops' self-identified theological orientation (very/moderately traditional vs. moderate/moderately progressive). Compared to 2016, bishops in 2022 expressed more tempered hopes—youth involvement remains a key hope, especially for traditional bishops, while moderate bishops emphasize lay leadership, Church evolution under Pope Francis, and cultural diversity. Challenges have shifted toward internal issues such as loss of faith, polarization, lack of unity, and leadership failures, with traditional bishops more likely to highlight external threats like secularism and threats to religious freedom. Despite these differences, bishops across orientations agree that building personal relationships and improving communication between priests and bishops are essential to enhancing trust.