U.S. Catholic Bishops Name Cathleen Cleaver New Spokesperson for Pro-Life
By Kathleen Sweeney Activities

Cathleen Cleaver, former chief counsel for Rep. Charles Canady (R-Fl.), author of the original Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, is the new director of planning and information for the Pro-Life Secretariat of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB). Ms. Cleaver succeeds Helen Alvare, who resigned in order to take up a law professorship at Catholic University after holding the spokesperson position for 10 years.

Appointed November 13 at the bishops' fall conference, Ms. Cleaver comes to her new position as chief spokesperson on pro- life issues for the U.S. bishops with extensive experience in pro-life legislative activity.

She's had direct experience with constitutional amendments, pro- life issues, free speech issues, and other family and religious rights issues. For instance, she served as counsel for the House Subcommittee on the Constitution from March 1998 until February 1999, at which time she became chief counsel. A number of major pro-life bills originated in this subcommittee under the leadership of Rep. Canady.

After leaving Rep. Canady's office, she was director of legal policy for a pro-life/pro-family organization, and filed briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts in abortion and euthanasia-related cases.

Ms. Cleaver also brings to her new job as the bishops' new spokesperson experience testifying before the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, in addition to making appearances in national and international media.

"Cathleen Cleaver's distinguished background provides her with a deep understanding of the sanctity of human life," said Msgr. Dennis M. Schnurr, who was the NCCB's general secretary last year. "She has a gifted ability to effectively communicate on such issues. I am grateful to Ms. Cleaver for placing her talents at the service of the Church."

A 1986 University of South Florida graduate, Ms. Cleaver went on to earn her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1989.

"I am honored by this opportunity to help promote the voice of the Catholic community on the most important issue facing America today - - the sanctity of human life," Cleaver said. "Ours is a voice of compassion, recognizing the dignity of each human being, and I am humbled to have a role in advancing this understanding."