11.   The bishops could change elements of the recommendations, said Michael Hurley, a spokesman for the bishops conference.

12.   The eight American cardinals who are in charge of their own archdioceses are also members of the bishops conference, and each cardinal has one vote.

13.   The heads of two archdioceses confirmed that, saying no objections were raised in the bishops conference.

14.   The Globe lodged a protest Thursday with the bishops conference at being excluded.

15.   The U.S. Roman Catholic bishops conference elected the Fiorenza as its president.

16.   They can still water that down at the bishops conference in June.

17.   A spokesman for the bishops conference said in a telephone interview that the report reflects the official policy of the French Catholic Church.

18.   Ablondo, a well-liked figure, is vice president of the Italian bishops conference and president of the Italian Biblical Society.

19.   Activists filed a Supreme Court lawsuit to block mining in Imataca and won support from native Indian groups, key congressmen and the influential Roman Catholic bishops conference.

20.   Archbishop Karl Lehmann, president of the German bishops conference, said there had been no consultation previously about what the pope might drop from his speech.