American Catholic priests are becoming more conservative, even as their flocks are becoming more liberal.

U.S. Catholic bishops elected conservative leaders last month, continuing to resist a push from Pope Francis to put social issues such as climate change and poverty on par with the bishops’ declared priority of opposing abortion.  

The U.S. hierarchy’s orientation reflects the wider trend of an American clergy with values at odds with those of an increasingly liberal laity and a pope who has encouraged the questioning of once-taboo subjects and leniency on some teachings of sexual morality.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops declined to comment. ...