Part of a larger study entitled "The Church's Expanding Role in Adult Education," this paper is concerned with the Roman Catholic Church's efforts in the adult education movement. Divided into 3 parts, this background study begins with an historical review of the church's and church-related institutions' contributions to the adult education movement in the United States. The central section of the paper identifies and analyzes current efforts of the church in adult education. Initiatives at the papal, national, and diocesan level are discussed. Part III contains a comment on the current trend toward the use of Directors of Religious Education at the parish level and its implications for adult education. (Author/RS)