The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church, serving as the metropolitan archdiocese for the District of Columbia and five counties in southern Maryland: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's, and Saint Mary's. Established in 1939 as the Diocese of Washington and elevated to an archdiocese in 1947, it oversees more than 655,000 Catholics across approximately 100 parishes, numerous schools, and various ministries. The archdiocese is headquartered in Hyattsville, Maryland, and plays a central role in the spiritual, educational, and social welfare activities of the Catholic community in the Washington metropolitan area. It operates institutions such as the St. John Paul II Seminary and the Redemptoris Mater Seminary for priestly formation, and supports vocations for priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. Through affiliated organizations like Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, founded in 1929, the archdiocese provides extensive social services, including counseling, shelter, health care, immigration and legal aid, and affordable housing to thousands of individuals annually in the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland counties. It also engages in youth ministry, marriage preparation, and community initiatives such as the Catholic Youth Organization and the Catholic Civil Dialogue Initiative. The archdiocese maintains an active media presence, including newspapers, news releases, and events, to foster dialogue and evangelization. The archdiocese has faced significant controversies, particularly regarding clergy sexual abuse. In the early 2000s, it was involved in litigation and settlements related to allegations of sexual abuse by priests, with multiple victims coming forward and the archdiocese paying substantial compensation as part of broader Catholic Church efforts to address the scandal. Additionally, under Cardinal James Hickey in the 1980s and 1987, the archdiocese ordered the cessation of operations by New Ways Ministry, an unauthorized LGBTQ+ Catholic group, on its property and compelled Georgetown University to end Masses by DignityUSA, a national LGBTQ+ ministry, reflecting historical tensions with LGBTQ+ advocacy within the Church. These actions have drawn criticism from progressive Catholic groups for perceived discrimination.