WASHINGTON (September 5, 2002) –- Belleville Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), announced today the restructuring of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse (AHCSA) and its new membership.

At their June 13-15 meeting in Dallas, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as part of their "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," voted that "the membership of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse will be reconstituted to include representation" from each of the fourteen episcopal regions into which the nation's dioceses and eparchies (dioceses of the Eastern Catholic Churches) are grouped (Article 10).

Ad hoc committees are appointed by the Conference president and usually have about five members.

The AHCSA prepared the draft Charter which the Bishops discussed and voted on at the June meeting, and it will be responsible for overseeing the review of the Charter to take place in two years.

St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop Harry J. Flynn will continue as chairman. Also continuing as members are Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport (Region 1), Bishop John R. Gaydos of Jefferson City (Region 9), Coadjutor Bishop Joseph A. Galante of Dallas (Region 10), and Bishop George H. Niederauer of Salt Lake City (Region 13).

Newly appointed are Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany (Region 2), Archbishop Stefan Soroka of Philadelphia for Ukrainians (Region 3), Auxiliary Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Baltimore (Region 4), and Bishop Thomas J. Rodi of Biloxi (Region 5).

Also, Bishop James A. Murray of Kalamazoo (Region 6), Bishop Thomas G. Doran of Rockford (Region 7), Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City (Region 8), Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton (Region 11), Bishop Robert F. Vasa of Baker (Region 12), and Bishop Robert J. Baker of Charleston (Region 14).


Among the matters that the AHCSA will be considering is development of materials to be used by provinces and regions as audit mechanisms in accord with Article 8 of the "Charter." This article refers to "provinces and regions" developing "appropriate mechanisms to audit adherence to policies." The AHCSA will also prepare for a meeting with representatives of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, in accord with Article 15 of the "Charter" which states that the AHCSA "and the Officers of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men will meet to determine how this Charter will be conveyed and established in the communities of religious men in the United States."

The AHCSA will also consider advice to dioceses with regard to Article 7 of the Charter which states that "each diocese/eparchy will develop a communications policy that reflects a commitment to transparency and openness."

It will discuss the possibilities for provincial, regional, and national victims meetings and its relationship to National Review Board.

The AHCSA was established in 1993. It issued three Restoring Trust reports, of which the first contained a thorough analysis of existing diocesan policies with recommendations for strengthening them.

It sponsored meetings with victims and victims' organizations, and its representatives attended their national meetings.

In conjunction with the 1998 Spring general meeting of the USCCB, the AHCSA sponsored an extensive symposium for the bishops on various aspects of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The AHCSA originated formal consultations with other bishops' conferences of English-speaking countries and participated in other international church consultations on the problem.



Pictures and biographies of the member bishops follow.

Archbishop Harry J. Flynn, Chairman

Archbishop Flynn was born May 2, 1933, in Schenectady, New York. After receiving B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from Siena College, Loudonville, NY, he attended Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1960, in Albany. Then-Father Flynn served as an associate pastor, pastor, high school teacher, retreat master, and spiritual leader in assignments in the Albany diocese. He also served as the Dean, Vice Rector and Rector of Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, 1965-1979. He was ordained Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana on June 24, 1986 and became diocesan bishop in 1989. He served there until being named Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in February, 1994. He became head of the archdiocese on October 1, 1995. Archbishop Flynn is currently Chairman of the Saint Paul Seminary Board of Trustees; President of the Saint John Vianney Seminary Board of Directors; and on the College of Saint Catherine Board of Trustees. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse (AHCSA), Archbishop Flynn is a member of the USCCB Committee on African American Catholics and a member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Relief Services (CRS).


Bishop William E. Lori
Region 1

Bishop Lori was born in Louisville on May 6, 1951. In 1973 he earned a B.A. degree from the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, KY, then entered Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, to study for the priesthood of the Archdiocese of Washington. Following ordination, May 14, 1977, his first assignment was as Associate Pastor of Saint Joseph parish in Landover, MD. He earned a Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) from the Catholic University of America in 1982, after which he became secretary and theologian to James Cardinal Hickey of Washington and Director of the archdiocesan Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. He was Chancellor, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Washington, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Maryland Catholic Conference. Named Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, February 28, 1995, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport on January 23, 2001. Bishop Lori is a member of the USCCB committees on Doctrine and Pro-Life Activities, and a consultant to the Domestic Policy Committee.


Bishop Howard J. Hubbard
Region 2

Bishop Hubbard was born in Troy, New York, December 31, 1938, and ordained a priest for the diocese of Albany in 1963. Prior to ordination he attended Mater Christi Seminary, Albany; St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, NY; and North America College, Rome. He received a licentiate in sacred theology from the Gregorian University, Rome. He was named bishop of Albany in 1977. His earlier assignments included associate pastor, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany; chaplain, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Kenwood, NY; Director of the Albany Diocesan Catholic Inter-racial Council and Coordinator of the Urban Apostolate. He also served as Vicar General for the Albany diocese until he was elected administrator of the diocese prior to being named bishop. He also served as Chairman of the Priests Personnel Board and Director of the Pastoral Planning Commission, and chairman of the Albany diocesan Ecumenical Commission. Bishop Hubbard was a delegate to the White House Conference on Families in 1980. He has served as Chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Human Values, Marriage and the Family, and as a member of the U.S. bishops' Administrative Board, and committees on communication, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Social Policy and World Peace, the Laity, and North American College, and has been episcopal liaison to the National Catholic AIDS Network. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II as a member of the Secretariat for Non-Believers (1983-1988).


Archbishop Stefan Soroka
Region 3

Archbishop Soroka was born November 13, 1951, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He earned M.S. and M.S.W. degrees at the University of Manitoba and, in 1982, an S.T.B. degree at the Catholic University of America. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Winnipeg for Ukrainians on June 13, 1982. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Winnipeg for Ukrainians on April 17, 1996 and ordained a bishop on June 13, 1996. Archbishop Soroka was appointed Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians on November 29, 2000, and installed February 27, 2001. The Archbishop is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Aid to the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe.


Bishop W. Francis Malooly
Region 4

Bishop Malooly was born in Baltimore on January 18, 1944. He studied for the priesthood at St. Charles in Catonsville and at St. Mary's Seminary and University. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore by his uncle, the late Bishop T. Austin Murphy, on May 9, 1970. After a series of pastoral and administrative assignments, Bishop Murphy was named, in 1984, as Director of Clergy Personnel for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He was appointed Chancellor and Vicar General in 1999. Bishop Malooly was ordained Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocse of Baltimore on at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on March 1, 2001.


Bishop Thomas J. Rodi
Region 5

Bishop Rodi was born in New Orleans, March 27, 1949. He earned an A.B. degree at Georgetown University in Washington in 1971, a Master of Divinity degree at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans in 1978, a doctorate in law at Tulane University in 1974, and the J.C.L. degree at the Catholic University of America in 1986. Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of News Orleans, May 20, 1978, he was appointed Bishop of Biloxi, Mississippi on May 15, 2001 and ordained July 2, 2001. He is a member of the Committee on Women in Society and in the Church.




Bishop James A. Murray
Region 6

Bishop Murray was Born July 5, 1932, in Jackson, Michigan, He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth. He was ordained a priest of the Lansing diocese on July 7, 1958. Following ordination, he was named Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Church in St. Joseph, Michigan and in 1961 assistant pastor of St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing. He earned a Licentiate in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America in 1964. Bishop Murray was appointed Rector of St. Mary Cathedral in 1973 and moderator of the curia in 1991. He also served as diocesan ecumenical officer, chaplain of the Lansing police, and worked on several committees of the Michigan Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the state's bishops. He was serving as Chancellor of Lansing when he was appointed Bishop of Kalamazoo, November 18, 1997. He was ordained a bishop on January 27, 1998. He is a member of the Committee for the American College of Louvain.


Bishop Thomas G. Doran
Region 7

Bishop Doran was born in Rockford, Illinois, February 20, 1936. He attended Rockford College and the Gregorian University in Rome, where he was awarded a licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1962. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Rockford on December 20, 1961, in St. Peter's Basilica. Upon his return to the Diocese of Rockford, he served in many capacities in the administrative, judicial and pastoral areas. He returned to Rome, 1975-1978, to complete a doctorate in Canon Law. In the spring of 1986, the Holy Father appointed him to be a Prelate Auditor of the Roman Rota. In 2000 he was appointed to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. he was named bishop of Rockford on April 19, 1994 and ordained on June 24, 1994. Bishop Doran has served on the Administrative Committee of the Conference and is currently Chairman-elect of the Committee on Canonical Affairs.


Bishop Blase J. Cupich
Region 8

Bishop Cupich was born in Omaha on March 19, 1949. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy at the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, and an M.A. in Theology at the North American College and the Gregorian University in Rome, and the S.T.L. and S.T.D. degrees from the Catholic University of America in Washington. He served on the staff of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, and was rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio. Bishop Cupich is a member of the Committee on Communications of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the committees on Liturgy, Native American Catholics, Review of Scripture Translations and the subcommittee on Youth and Young Adults. Bishop Cupich was appointed Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota on July 7, 1998.


Bishop John R. Gaydos
Region 9

Bishop Gaydos was born August 14, 1943 in St. Louis. He studied at Cardinal Glennon College, St. Louis and the North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned the S.T.B. degree in Dogmatic Theology. He was ordained a priest on December 20, 1968, in St. Peter's Basilica. Following ordination, Bishop Gaydos was parochial vicar of St. Joseph parish, Manchester, 1969-1974; pastor of St. Cecilia, in St. Louis, 1974-1977; Secretary to Cardinal John Carberry and Vice Chancellor, 1977-1981; Secretary to Archbishop John May, and Chancellor, 1981-1990; and pastor of St. Gerard Majella parish, Kirkwood, 1990-1996. Named Vicar General of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Vicar for Clergy in 1996, Bishop Gaydos was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, on June 25, 1997. He was ordained a bishop August 27, 1997. Bishop Gaydos is Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, and a member of the Administrative Committee and the Committee for Communications.


Bishop Joseph A. Galante
Region 10

Bishop Galante was born July 2, 1938, in Philadelphia. He studied at St. Charles Seminary, Overbrook, PA, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on May 16, 1964. He was appointed titular bishop of Equilium and auxiliary bishop of San Antonio Oct. 13, 1992, and ordained Dec. 11, 1992. He was appointed Bishop of Beaumont April 5, 1994. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Dallas on November 23, 1999. Bishop Galante also served as Vicar for Religious of the Philadelphia Archdiocese and for six years as the Undersecretary of the Congregation for Religious in Rome. He holds a doctorate in canon law from the Lateran University. Bishop Galante is Chairman of the USCCB Committee for Communications, and a member of the Administrative Committee, the Committee on Canonical Affairs, and the Committee on the North American College, Rome, and a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Dallas on November 23, 1999.


Bishop Stephen E. Blaire
Region 11

Bishop Blaire was born in Los Angeles on December 22, 1941. He earned an M.A. at St. John's Seminary, Camarillo, California. He was ordained a priest of the Los Angeles archdiocese on April 29, 1967. Appointed Titular Bishop of Lamzella and Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles February 17, 1990, he was ordained May 31, 1990. He was appointed Bishop of Stockton January 19, 1999 and installed March 16, 1999. Bishop Blaire is Chairman-Elect of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and a Consultant to the Committee on Migration.


Bishop Robert F. Vasa
Region 12

Bishop Vasa was born May 7, 1951, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He studied at Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas, the University of Dallas, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1976, and the Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned the J.C.L. in 1981. Bishop Vasa was ordained a priest of the Lincoln diocese on May 22, 1976. Appointed Bishop of Baker, Oregon on November 19, 1999, he was ordained on January 26, 2000. Bishop Vasa is a member of the Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry.


Bishop George H. Niederauer
Region 13

Bishop Niederauer was born June 14, 1936 in Los Angeles. He studied at Loyola University, Los Angeles, where he earned the S.T.B.; the Catholic University of America; and at the University of Southern California, where he earned a doctorate. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles April 30, 1962, after studying at Queen of Angels Seminary, San Fernando, and St. John's Seminary, Camarillo, California. He was assistant pastor at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Los Angeles, in 1962. Appointed to St. John's College, he was a faculty member, 1965-1972, spiritual director, 1972-1987, and Rector, 1987-1992. He was serving as Co-director of the Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests when he was named Bishop of Salt Lake City, Utah, on November 3, 1994. Bishop Niederauer is Chairman of the Committee on Priestly Formation, and a member of the Administrative Committee, the Committee on Bishops and Catholic College and University Presidents, Budget and Finance, and the Subcommittee for Catholic News Service.


Bishop Robert J. Baker
Region 14

Bishop Baker was born in Willard, Ohio, June 4, 1944. From 1962 to 1970 he studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum where he earned an A.B. in Philosophy and a Master of Divinity degree in Theology, and was ordained a priest of the Toledo diocese, March 21, 1970. From 1972 to 1975 he studied in the graduate program at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned S.T.L and S.T.D. degrees. Bishop Baker served on the faculty of St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, and was pastor of the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine, Florida, and pastor of Christ the King Church in Jacksonville. Appointed Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina on July 13, 1999, he was ordained 12th bishop of Charleston, September 29, 1999. He is a member of the Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry and the Ad Hoc Committee on Stewardship.

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