Terms of Use
Effective date: June 2026•Last updated: June 2026
What this is
Hierarchy.Directory is a free, independent reference for the bishops and dioceses of the Catholic Church in the United States. We compile factual information from publicly available sources, display portraits where we have permission to do so, and offer a small set of tools for working with the data. There are no advertisements, no paywalls, and no payments accepted for inclusion or placement.
The Site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), any (arch)diocese, the Holy See, or any other ecclesiastical or governmental entity.
These Terms of Use describe the rights and responsibilities that come with using the Site. By accessing or using it, you agree to be bound by them. If you don't agree, please don't use the Site.
The data is free
We dedicate all factual directory data on the Site (names, dates, assignments, titles, diocesan structures, geographic information, hierarchical relationships, and similar facts) to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
In practice, that means: you can copy it, mirror it, build on top of it, fold it into your own project, and use it commercially, all without asking us. Attribution is appreciated but not required.
This dedication applies only to the factual data. It does not extend to portraits and images, the Site's design and code, the Hierarchy.Directory name and logo, or anything else linked or referenced from the Site.
Portraits and images
Portraits and images are a different matter. They belong to their original copyright holders (which may include (arch)dioceses, news agencies, photographers, or other rights holders) and they appear here for informational and reference use only. They are not covered by the CC0 dedication above and should not be copied, redistributed, or reused outside the Site without permission from the rights holder. Where credit information is available, we display it.
If you believe an image is being used without proper authorization, please write to info@hierarchy.directory and include: the URL where it appears, your contact information, a statement of your ownership or authority to act on behalf of the copyright owner, and the basis for your claim. We'll review it promptly and remove or replace the image where appropriate.
"Build a Directory"
The Build a Directory tool lets you assemble a custom printable PDF from any combination of bishops in the directory. It's intended for personal, educational, and institutional reference use.
Because the resulting PDFs may include portraits that aren't ours to license, please don't commercially distribute, sell, or publish them without the relevant permissions from the copyright holders. The factual data inside remains CC0 and can be reused freely.
A word about accuracy
We aim for accuracy and update the directory regularly, but we are not infallible. Information can become outdated, transcription errors creep in, and our sources sometimes disagree.
The directory and all of its content are provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness, and non-infringement.
Please do not rely on the directory as the sole or authoritative source for any official, legal, canonical, liturgical, or administrative purpose. For anything that matters, check primary sources: the USCCB, the Holy See Press Office, the Official Catholic Directory, and the relevant (arch)diocesan offices.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Hierarchy.Directory and its operator shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, data, use, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your use of (or inability to use) the Site, its content, or any directories generated through it, under any legal theory, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall our total liability to you exceed one hundred U.S. dollars ($100.00).
Intellectual property
The Hierarchy.Directory name, logo (including the mitre mark), visual identity, design, layout, code, and other non-data content are protected by copyright and trademark law. Please don't reproduce, distribute, or build derivative works from these elements without our prior written permission. The CC0 dedication described above covers only the factual directory data; it doesn't grant a license to anything else.
Links to other sites
The directory links to many third-party websites, including Catholic-Hierarchy.org, GCatholic.org, the USCCB, Wikidata, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and individual diocesan websites. We provide these links for convenience and reference. We don't control those sites and aren't responsible for their content, terms, or privacy practices.
When you send us something
When you submit a correction, portrait, biographical detail, or any other content to the Site (through the contact form, by email, or otherwise), you confirm that you have the right to send it, that it's accurate to the best of your knowledge, and that you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to use, display, and incorporate it into the Site.
If you're sending a portrait, you also confirm that you are the copyright holder or that you have obtained the necessary permissions for it to be displayed here, and you agree to the credit we'll display alongside it.
Privacy
How we handle the information you give us is described in our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.
Changes
We may modify, suspend, or discontinue the Site (or any part of it) at any time. We may also update these Terms; when we do, we'll post the new version here with a fresh "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Site after an update means you accept the revised Terms. If you'd rather not, please stop using the Site.
Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes arising under them are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in King County, Washington.
Severability
If any part of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, that part will be limited or removed to the minimum extent necessary, and everything else will remain in full force.
Entire agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, are the entire agreement between you and Hierarchy.Directory regarding your use of the Site, and they supersede any prior communications on the subject, whether written or spoken.
Contact
Questions about these Terms: info@hierarchy.directory.