FLORIDA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICERS AND EPISCOPAL MODERATORS

                                                                            

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 9, 2001
Contact:  D. Michael McCarron
Executive Director
(850) 222-3803
E-mail:  mccarron@flacathconf.org

TALLAHASSEE – At their September 29, 2001 meeting, the Florida Catholic Conference elected new officers of the Board as follows: President, Archbishop John C. Favalora, Archbishop of Miami; Vice President, Bishop John J. Nevins, Diocese of Venice; Secretary, Bishop Norbert M. Dorsey, C.P.., Diocese of Orlando; and, Treasurer, Bishop John H. Ricard, S.S.J., Diocese of Pensacola/Tallahassee.

In addition to this action, Archbishop John C. Favalora, President of the Conference, has appointed Bishop Victor B. Galeone of the Diocese of St. Augustine as Episcopal Moderator to the Respect Life Commission. This Commission includes the State Pro Life Coordinating Committee comprised of Diocesan Respect Life Directors, and representation from the Florida Catholic Medical Association, the Florida Council of Catholic Women and the Florida State Council of Knights of Columbus. The Commission also includes the Committee Against the Death Penalty which is comprised of representation from each of dioceses.

Bishop John H. Ricard, S.S.J. was appointed as Episcopal Moderator of the Social Development Commission which comprises the Diocesan Directors of Catholic Charities in each of the dioceses. Committees under the Social Development Commission include: Refugee Committee, Farmworker Committee, Rural Life Committee, Committee on Persons With Disabilities, Prison Ministry, Adoption Committee, Florida Catholic AIDS Network, Environment Committee and Disaster Preparedness Committee.

Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell was appointed as Episcopal Moderator for the Education Commission which involves committees on Catholic schools, religious education and youth ministry, as well as Florida Federation of Catholic Parents. These committees comprise the diocesan directors of the schools, on religious education and youth. The Catholic Schools Committee also involves the Accreditation Committee which includes representation from the Florida Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Florida Federation of Catholic Parents includes parent representatives from each diocese.

Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell was also appointed as Episcopal Moderator for the Catholic Volunteers in Florida.

Bishop John J. Nevins was appointed Episcopal Moderator of the Province Movements and Associations comprising the major apostolic movements within the Province, including Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, Charismatic Renewal, Knights of Columbus, Florida Council of Catholic Women, Serra Club, Society of St. Vincent de Paul , Legion of Mary and the Knights of Malta.

The following other Episcopal Moderator assignment remain in effect:
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski -- Health Affairs Advisory Commission, which includes Catholic Health Executives, the Task Force Against Assisted Suicide and the Florida Catholic Medical Association;

Bishop Robert N. Lynch -- Communication Committee (comprising Diocesan Directors of Communications) and Judicial Vicars Episcopal Moderator;

Bishop Norbert M. Dorsey, C.P. -- Vicars General/Chancellors and the Task Force on Compensation of Women Religious Episcopal Moderator.