ST. LOUIS -- Catholic bishops in the United States are considering a national gathering of bishops, priests and lay people to discuss problems facing the Catholic Church.

The Boston Globe reported the bishops, who are conducting a semiannual meeting, are prayerfully reflecting on the issues that might form the agenda for such a gathering. Next June, instead of their annual spring gathering, they will conduct a retreat in Denver to decide whether to go forward with the first "plenary council" since 1884.

The council, which could be convened within three years, was proposed last year by about 100 bishops. They signed petitions calling for such a gathering to discuss the state of the church in the wake of the sexual abuse crisis.

Topics being considered for the gathering include "the identity and spiritual life of priests and bishops," "the need for catechesis of the faith," the role of the laity," and "concern for the decline of participation in the sacramental life of the church," the newspaper reported.

The bishops will hear presentations on those subjects during their current meeting, then offer their thoughts as they prepare to decide whether to propose the plenary council. Convening such a gathering would require Vatican approval. Participation is restricted by canon law, and would include priests and lay people in a limited, nonvoting role.

Bishop Richard G. Lennon, administrator of the Archdiocese of Boston, told the newspaper he would support convening such a council.

"Being a history major, I'm all for it," he said. "We had a number of them during the 19th century, and they were a wonderful exercise of church life."

Asked what topics such a meeting should include, Lennon said: "Catholic life -- the whole reality of how we live as Catholics. It would be a mistake to have it be one-dimensional. It's a real moment for looking to the future."