Terms of Use
Effective date: June 2026•Last updated: June 2026
Please read these Terms of Use (“Terms”) carefully before using Hierarchy.Directory (“the Site,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you should not use the Site.
1. Description of Service
Hierarchy.Directory is a free, independent, informational reference directory of the bishops and dioceses of the Catholic Church in the United States. The Site provides biographical, historical, and structural data compiled from publicly available sources, along with portrait photography and tools for generating custom printable directories.
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.
2. Directory Data and CC0 Dedication
All factual directory data presented on the Site — including but not limited to names, dates, assignments, titles, diocesan structures, geographic information, and hierarchical relationships — is published under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
To the extent possible under law, we have waived all copyright and related rights to this factual data. You are free to copy, modify, distribute, and use this data for any purpose, including commercial purposes, without asking permission or providing attribution, though attribution is appreciated.
This CC0 dedication applies solely to the factual data and does not extend to:
- Portraits, photographs, and images displayed on the Site;
- The Site’s design, layout, code, branding, logo, and visual identity;
- The Hierarchy.Directory name and trademark;
- Any third-party content linked to or referenced by the Site.
3. Portraits and Images
Portraits and images displayed on the Site are the property of their respective copyright owners, which may include (arch)dioceses, news agencies, photographers, or other rights holders. These images are displayed on the Site for informational and reference purposes.
Images on the Site are not covered by the CC0 dedication described in Section 2 and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used outside of the Site without the permission of the original copyright holder. Photo credits and license information are displayed where available.
If you believe an image on the Site is being used without proper authorization, please contact us at info@hierarchy.directory with the following information: (a) identification of the image in question, including the URL where it appears; (b) your name and contact information; (c) a statement of your ownership or authority to act on behalf of the copyright owner; and (d) a description of the basis for your claim. We will review all such claims promptly and remove or replace images where appropriate.
4. Generated Directories
The “Build a Directory” feature allows users to select bishops from the directory and generate custom printable PDF documents. These generated directories are provided for personal, educational, and institutional reference use.
Generated directories may incorporate portraits that are the property of their respective copyright owners. Accordingly, generated directories should not be commercially distributed, sold, or published without obtaining the necessary permissions from the relevant copyright holders.
The factual data contained in generated directories remains subject to the CC0 dedication and may be freely reused.
5. Accuracy and Disclaimer of Warranties
While we strive for accuracy, Hierarchy.Directory is an independent project maintained by a single individual. The information presented on the Site may contain errors, omissions, or outdated information.
The site and all information, content, and materials contained herein are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness, and non-infringement.
Hierarchy.Directory should not be relied upon as the sole or authoritative source for any official, legal, canonical, liturgical, or administrative purpose. Users should verify critical information against primary sources, including the USCCB, the Holy See Press Office, the Official Catholic Directory, and relevant (arch)diocesan offices.
6. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Hierarchy.Directory and its owner, operator, contributors, and affiliates 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 access to or use of (or inability to access or use) the site, its content, or any generated directories, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), statute, or any other legal theory, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
In no event shall our total liability to you for all claims arising out of or related to the site exceed one hundred U.S. dollars ($100.00).
7. Intellectual Property
The Hierarchy.Directory name, logo (including the mitre mark), and visual identity are the property of Hierarchy.Directory. The Site’s design, layout, code, and non-data content are protected by copyright. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from these elements without our prior written permission.
The CC0 dedication described in Section 2 applies only to the factual directory data and does not constitute a license or waiver of any rights in the Site’s intellectual property.
8. Third-Party Links and Content
The Site contains links to third-party websites, including but not limited to Catholic-Hierarchy.org, GCatholic.org, the USCCB, Wikidata, Wikipedia, individual diocesan websites, and Wikimedia Commons. These links are provided for informational purposes only.
We do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and policies of those sites.
9. User Submissions
By submitting corrections, portraits, biographical information, or other content to Hierarchy.Directory through the contact form, email, or any other means, you represent and warrant that: (a) you have the right to submit such content; (b) the content is accurate to the best of your knowledge; and (c) you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to use, display, and incorporate the submitted content into the Site.
If you are submitting a portrait or image, you represent that you are the copyright holder or have obtained the necessary permissions for the image to be displayed on the Site, and you agree that the image will be credited as specified.
10. Modifications to the Site and Terms
We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Site (or any part thereof) at any time without notice. We also reserve the right to update these Terms from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date.
Your continued use of the Site after any changes to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you should discontinue your use of the Site.
11. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in King County, Washington.
12. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
13. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Hierarchy.Directory regarding your use of the Site and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, whether oral or written.
14. Contact
If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at info@hierarchy.directory.