Committee on International Justice & Peace

The committee assists the bishops, both collectively and individually, in advancing the social mission of the Church on international justice and peace through policy development, advocacy, education, outreach, and acts of ecclesial solidarity. The committee advises the bishops on international public policy issues, especially integral human development, human rights, religious freedom, and peace.

This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility: International policy, advocacy, justice and peace concerns, solidarity with the Church in other countries, outreach to dioceses on international issues, and international dimensions of Catholic social teaching education.

Committee Members

Most Reverend A. Elias Zaidan, Chairman
Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon

Most Reverend Italo Dell'Oro
Auxiliary Bishop of Galveston-Houston

Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane
Bishop of Venice

Most Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz
Bishop of Jackson

Most Reverend David J. Malloy
Bishop of Rockford

Most Reverend William F. Murphy
Bishop Emeritus of Rockville Centre

Most Reverend Thanh Thai Nguyen
Auxiliary Bishop of Orange

Most Reverend Jorge H. Roriguez-Novelo
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver

Most Reverend Peter L. Smith
Auxiliary Bishop of Portland in Oregon

Bishop Consultant

Most Reverend Borys Gudziak
Archbishop of Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia

Most Reverend Nelson J. Peréz
Archbishop of Philadelphia

Lay Consultants

Dr. Bianca Adair
Assistant Professor & Director of Intelligence Studies Program
Department of Politics
The Catholic University of America

Dr. Thomas F. Farr
President Emeritus
Religious Freedom Institute

Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly
Knights of Columbus

Mr. William L. Saunders, J.D.
Director of the Program in Human Rights
The Institute for Human Ecology
The Catholic University of America

Dr. Susan Yoshihara
President
American Council on Women, Peace, and Security

Organizational Consultants

Mr. Sean Callahan
President, Catholic Relief Services 

Reverend Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari
President, Catholic Near East Welfare Association

Staff

Lucas Koach, Director, Office of International Justice and Peace

Christopher Ljungquist, International Policy Advisor

Virginia Farris, International Policy Advisor

Stephen Hilbert, International Policy Advisor

Elizabeth Dietz, Staff Assistant