OKC archbishop elected president of group considered US arm of Roman Catholic Church

An Oklahoma leader has been named to head the group widely considered the American arm of the Roman Catholic Church , a prestigious — and influential — post that will place him at the apex of the nation's largest largest single Christian denomination.

The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, was elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Tuesday at the organization's fall plenary assembly in Baltimore, Maryland. He will step into the role immediately, according to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.