"NE had the lowest church affiliation, and that is a harbinger for the nation."

In one way, many bishops wish it were a "harbinger, " as it were  -- that the CC in NE could be replicated, duplicated elsewhere -- especially that Southern NE (i.e., RI, CT, and MASS.) could be "reproduced" in other regions of the country, especially in the Northwest, US (and even in parts of the South). The CC in southern New England has one of the most sophisticated and successful educational networks of primary and secondary schools,  Catholic colleges and universities in the country, educating well over 100,000 students -- in an geographical area only a third the size of Oregon. The CC in NE is also the largest faith community in the region. Compare that data with the CC in Oregon, with its single Catholic university (the University of Portland), and one begins to understand why Oregon and Wash. CC bishops would welcome a duplication of southern NE (especially its educational network) in their states.