Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem of Central Pennsylvania was re-adopted by the former Diocese of Harrisburg. Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem covers fourteen counties in Pennsylvania to the north and west of Philadelphia. Following the retirement of Paul Marshall on December 31, 2013, the diocese's ecclesiastical authority rested in its Standing Committee. A special convention took place on March 1, 2014, electing Sean Rowe, Bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania, as Provisional Bishop. On April 28, 2018, Kevin D. Nichols was elected as Bishop, and pending the consent of the majority of the dioceses will be seated in September 2018. The cathedral is
Episcopal conference the conference must achieve a two-thirds majority and seek the "recognitio", that is, recognition of approval, of the Holy See, which they will not receive if the majority "is not substantial". In the 2013 apostolic exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium", Pope Francis expressed his concern that the intent of the Second Vatican Council, which would give episcopal conferences "genuine doctrinal authority, has not yet been sufficiently elaborated." On September 9, 2017, Pope Francis modified canon law, granting episcopal conferences specific authority "to faithfully prepare … approve and publish the liturgical books for the regions for which they are responsible after the confirmation