Twin Cities Archbishop John Nienstedt has been elected chairman of a Catholic bishops' committee tasked with addressing theological and doctrinal issues for the Church in the U.S.

This week at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops annual fall assembly, the bishops voted Nienstedt chairman-elect of the Committee on Doctrine.

The committee assists bishops in areas of faith and morals of the Church. It collaborates with the other committees of the conference, providing expertise and guidance concerning theological issues that confront the Church in the U.S., according to the bishops' group.

The committee addresses issues relating to science and health care and "supports the bishops' efforts in the area of development and review of Scripture translations."

The committee often deals with concerns regarding U.S. theologians. The bishops also recently decided on a doctrinal subcommittee on health care. The bishops' ethical directives on health care come from doctrine.

As a committee chair, Nienstedt will also sit on the Administrative Committee, which directs the work of the conference between plenary sessions.