WASHINGTON (January 8, 2007)—Ten new members have been added to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's (USCCB) National Advisory Council, a 56-member body which meets semi-annually to review documentation and offer recommendations concerning matters before the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Joining the Council in the Diocesan Priest Category, new diocesan priests representatives, elected to four-year terms, are: Reverend Anthony Cincinnati, Wheeling, WV; Monsignor Kurt H. Kemo, Steubenville, OH; Reverend Robert J. Schrader, Rochester, NY; Reverend James P. Shea, Mandan, ND.

From the fifteen regions of the Conference, those having regional elections in 2006 have announced the following new lay men and women representatives who will serve a four-year term: Region 5: To Be Announced. Region 9: James R. Wharton of Sioux City, IA, and Karen L. Tibbs of Omaha, NE. Region 12: Robert J. McCann of Spokane, WA, and Ernestine Fleece of Anchorage, AK. Region 13: Christopher R. Houk and Elvira Espinoza, both of Phoenix, AZ.

The 2007 officers of the Council are Dr. Marie T. Hilliard, Philadelphia, PA, Chairperson; Reverend Richard Vega, Chicago, IL, Chairperson-Elect; Mr. Hector Rodriguez, Edinburg, TX, Secretary; Mrs. Gwendolyn M. Mitsui, Mililani, HI, Internal Affairs Chairperson; Sister Shalini D'Souza, SCN, Nazareth, KY, Reactive Chairperson; Mr. Marcus Jones, Riverside, CA, Proactive Chairperson. The Past Chairperson of the Council is Dr. Daniel E. Otero, Cincinnati, OH.

For media inquiries, e-mail us at commdept@usccb.org
Department of Communications | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 © USCCB. All rights reserved.