DATE:           November 11, 2008

BISHOPS VOTE ON USCCB SECRETARY-ELECT, CHAIRS OF FIVE COMMITTEES

BALTIMORE—The U.S. bishops voted on the secretary-elect of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and chairs-elect of five committees November 11, at their General Assembly in Baltimore.

            Bishop George V. Murry, SJ of Youngstown, Ohio was elected Conference Secretary-elect in a 150-69 vote over Bishop Steven Blaire of Stockton, Calif. Bishop Murry was elected secretary last year to complete the term of Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tuscon, Ariz., when Bishop Kicanas was elected USCCB vice-president. USCCB rules permit Bishop Murry to serve his own three-year term.

            The bishops also elected:

            Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, Texas chair of the Committee on National Collections in 139-84 vote over Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, WV.

            Bishop Jaime Soto, Coadjutor Bishop of Sacramento, Calif. chair of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in a 134-92 vote over Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD of Memphis, Tenn.

            Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities in a 165-59 vote over Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan.

            Bishop Gabino Zavala, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles as chair of the Committee on Communications in a 129-97 vote over Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo.

            Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington chair of the Committee on Doctrine in a 140-85 vote over Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse, Wis.

            Chairmen-elect will serve in that capacity for one year before becoming full chairmen of their respective committees.

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