This has been the problem confronting the Catholic hierarchy in countries where devotion to shrines and alleged miracles have got a little out of hand.

The Greek Catholic hierarchy was fully restored in 1990.

Until 1970, the Irish Catholic hierarchy discouraged Catholics from attending the university.

No one on either side had excelled the patriotic rhetoric of the German Catholic hierarchy.

The groups opposing divorce, led by the enormously influential Catholic hierarchy, are well financed.

In 1904 the Catholic hierarchy needed to formulate a public statement of opposition to the campaign for bible reading in the state primary schools.

Cleary's appointment brought new life to an ageing Catholic hierarchy.

He also approved the appointments of all the Irish Catholic hierarchy, who were drawn from his most fervent supporters.

One church official described the new appointee as "smart, methodical, capable" and likely to play an important future role in American Catholic hierarchy.