“The Affordable Care Act for all of its flaws was a movement in favor of comprehensive health care,” Bishop Robert McElroy said.

On the same day the bishops decided to establish a permanent committee on religious liberty, they agreed to extend the work of an ad hoc committee on immigration.

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory made the comments in the homily at an evening Mass said to commemorate a "Day of Prayer and Penance" for victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

Catholic bishops pledged to be more proactive in laying out a vision for comprehensive immigration reform.

Live updates from Indianapolis as the bishops gather for their annual spring meeting.

Local law enforcement and local jurisdictions should not be required to enforce federal immigration law, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo said.