Bishop Skylstad, 70, is completing a three-year term as vice president, a traditional steppingstone to the presidency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. But battles within the church over the sexual abuse scandal and the church's role in American politics added an element of tension to this year's selection, and he won with just over 50 percent of the vote instead of the customary 70 or 80 percent, according to people involved in the meeting of the bishops in Washington, D.C.

Prominent conservative Catholics said they had lobbied the bishops to pass over Bishop Skylstad, pushing for one of a group of younger, more conservative bishops, including Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver, Bishop Donald W. Wuerl of Pittsburgh, and Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee.

Many Catholic conservatives and a handful of bishops argue that church officials should more forcefully insist that Catholic teachings on the fundamental importance of opposing abortion and same-sex marriage should guide Catholic voters and public officials. They had hoped to elevate one of the bishops who helped lead their charge in the last election.

Bishop Skylstad is considered a liberal within the church because he sometimes emphasizes issues like poverty, the death penalty and war, as well as abortion. In an Oct. 21 column in a diocesan newspaper, for example, he urged Catholics to vote, reminded them of church teaching on abortion, and then posed 10 questions to take into the voting booth about health care, peace, religious bigotry and other issues.

William Donohue president of the conservative Catholic League called the elevation of Bishop Skylstad a setback. "There is this fight, between the social justice and the pro-life sides of the Catholic Church," Mr. Donohue said. "It sends a message that the bureaucrats are in charge.''

But the conservatives won a victory when a prominent conservative, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, was elected as vice president of the conference, putting him next in line to succeed Bishop Skylstad in three years, just in time for the next presidential election.

Austin Ruse, president of the conservative Culture of Life Foundation, said Cardinal George's elevation would encourage the younger, more conservative bishops who had been "energized" by their opposition to Senator John Kerry because of his support for abortion rights. "That group is going to increasingly flex their muscles with the conference," Mr. Ruse said, predicting changes to the conference staff.

"There is increasing resistance to the leftism of the staff at the U.S.C.C.B., like the way some on the staff try to equate the life issues with the minimum wage," he said.

Bishop Skylstad was elected just days after announcing that his diocese would file for bankruptcy protection after a breakdown of settlement talks with more than two dozen abuse victims.

In a statement, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests said that Bishop Skylstad had "a long and painful track record'' in dealing with abuse accusations, adding: "We hope his election will not serve as a green light to bishops who want to backslide on clergy sexual abuse."

David Clohessy, executive director of the group, argued that no bishop who threatens bankruptcy should be elevated because bankruptcy can prevent victims from seeking redress in court. "He has done virtually nothing positive to distinguish himself from his brother bishops," Mr. Clohessy said.

Bishop Skylstad could not be reached for comment. But the Rev. Steven Dublinski, vicar general of the Diocese of Spokane, disputed those characterizations.

"We are a diocese of limited means," Father Dublinski said. "In the face of the breakdown of mediation there really is no other option for the diocese but to file for bankruptcy."

He said the bishop had been at the forefront of efforts to address sexual abuse problems, including releasing the names of guilty priests, arranging counseling for victims, and traveling to meet with them.

"He made heroic efforts,'' Father Dublinski said. "Some people don't appreciate those efforts. Others victims are very happy with the way the Bishop has responded."