Catholic-Hierarchy.org

In the 1990s, David M. Cheney created a simple internet website that documented the Roman Catholic bishops in his home state of Texas—many of whom did not have webpages.[2] In 2002, after moving to the Midwest, he officially created the present website catholic-hierarchy.org and expanded to cover the United States and eventually the world.[2] The database contains geographical, organizational and address information on each Catholic diocese in the world, including Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See, such as the Maronite Catholic Church and the Syro-Malabar Church.

It also gives biographical information on current and previous bishops of each diocese, such as dates of birth, ordinations and (when applicable) death.

The website is cited as a reference by Vatican Radio[4] as well as by numerous Catholic dioceses around the world,[5][6][7] academic institutions,[8][9][10][11] libraries,[12][13][14] newspapers (both mainstream[15][16][17][18][19] and Catholic),[20] and in published works.[21] Vaticanologist Sandro Magister lists it as a recommended site on Catholicism.[22] It is also used as a reference by other church writers including John L. Allen Jr.,[23] canon lawyer Edward N. Peters,[24] and Rocco Palmo.[25] The Zenit News Agency states that the webpage provides a "silent, unique service to the Church".[26]

Among the printed sources used are the Holy See publications: Annuario Pontificio, Acta Apostolicae Sedis and Acta Sanctae Sedis. Historical studies by authors whose surnames range from Andrade to Zúñíga are also utilized.[27]

The Vatican Information Service provides news about changes affecting dioceses and bishops. Another primary source of informations for bishop's appointing, biographies and eventual resignations, has been the archive of the Holy See Daily Bulletin given by the Holy See Press Office,[28] and the monthly official publication named Acta Sanctae Sedis (about members of the Roman Curia or Apostolic Nuncios).[29]

• Official website