.- As Archbishop William Levada of San Francisco prepares to head to Rome and serve as the prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Bishop Arthur Serratelli was elected to succeed him as the chair of the national Committee on Doctrine. The 61-year-old bishop of Paterson, New Jersey, was elected Friday by his fellow bishops at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ spring meeting in Chicago. He will complete the 18 months remaining in Archbishop Levada's term, and could be nominated for another three years.
The Committee on Doctrine promotes and clarifies the Church’s teachings in the United States and studies Catholic writings to determine if they are true to the faith.
Bishop Serratelli, who was ordained a priest in 1968, told The Star-Ledger of Newark that the committee will likely issue guidelines on whether Catholic politicians who support abortion are eligible to receive Communion.
Prior to his departure for Rome in August, Archbishop Levada is performing a number of episcopal duties in his diocese. On Sunday, thousands packed St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco to see Archbishop Levada ordain 14 deacons. On Saturday, the archbishop will ordain a priest.
