USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - 9 New Members are Announced for Bishops' Advisory Council

9 New Members are Announced for Bishops' Advisory Council

WASHINGTON -- Nine new members have been added to the Catholic Bishops' National Advisory Council, a 63-member body which semi-annually reviews and offers recommendations concerning matters before the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and the United States Catholic Conference (USCC).

Joining the Council from the membership of the NCCB Administrative Committee and USCC Administrative Board for a three-year term are Bishop George V. Murry, S.J., Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago; Bishop James A. Tamayo, Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston, and Bishop G. Patrick Ziemann, Bishop of Santa Rosa.

Joining the Council as representatives of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men are Reverend Bernard Smith, OFM Cap., of White Plains, NY, and Reverend Kevin Smith, OSF, of Brooklyn, NY.

Also joining the Council as a representative from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious is Sister Sean Peters, CSJ, of Latham, NY.

In the Council's at-large category, joining the membership for a four-year term are Carolyn C. Jenkins, Philadelphia, PA; Timothy D. McCauley, Helena, MT; and Olga I. Seim, San Jose, CA.

The National Advisory Council membership is composed of bishops, diocesan priests, deacons, laymen, laywomen, men and women religious. Diocesan priests and regional laymen and laywomen representatives are elected by their peers in the 13 NCCB/USCC regions. At-large members, representing all categories of membership, are appointed from names proposed by the heads of the 193 dioceses and are selected to provide an occupational, ethnic and regional balance. Regional elections are staggered to provide continuity to the Council's work.

The body meets twice annually for three days. The NAC reports directly to the NCCB Administrative Committee and the USCC Administrative Board.

Current officers are Kathleen Dyer, Fulton, NY, Chairperson; Helen Boettcher, Evansville, IN, Chairperson-Elect; Rita Wray, Brandon, MS, Secretary; Joseph Russo, Harwood Heights, IL, Internal Affairs; Antonio Gonz�lez, El Paso, TX, Reactive Chairperson; Rhonda Lohkamp, Wichita, KS, Proactive Chairperson. The Past Chairperson of the Council is Brother Donald Mouton, FSC, Santa Fe, NM.