Washington D.C., Oct 25, 2011 / 00:38 am
As religious freedom becomes an issue for the Church in the U.S., the American conference of Catholic bishops has appointed Anthony R. Picarello Jr. as associate general secretary for policy and advocacy.
“His legal expertise and background in religious liberty matters provides a depth of knowledge and experience that is uniquely suited to the needs of the bishops’ conference,” said the conference’s general secretary Msgr. Ronny Jenkins, who made the appointment in consultation with the conference’s executive committee.
Picarello has served as the conference’s general counsel since 2007 and will retain the title. He will join Msgr. Jenkins, associate general secretaries Linda Hunt and Fr. J. Brian Bransfield and secretary of communications Helen Osman in conducting the regular business of the general secretariat.
Msgr. Jenkins said Picarello’s broader background will “support well” the bishops’ initiatives in policy and advocacy.