Conservative Catholic named as spokeswoman for USCCB president, Cardinal Dolan
April 30, 2013
Kim Daniels, a prominent conservative Catholic activist, has been hired as spokeswoman for the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
Daniels has been a director of Catholic Voices USA, a group formed to improve the visibility of faithful Catholics in the mass media. An attorney as well as a wife and the mother of 6 children, she has served with the Thomas More Law Center, which handles religious-freedom issues. She was an adviser to Gov. Sarah Palin during her 2008 campaign for the vice-presidency.
The announcement of Daniels’ appointment sparked statements of concern from liberal Catholics who feared that the spokeswoman’s connections with controversial political causes might distract attention from the concerns of the US bishops’ conference.
Daniels will be taking a new position, as spokeswoman for the president of the USCCB rather than for the full bishops’ conference. Sister Mary Ann Walsh, who heads the public-relations office for the USCCB, told the Religious News Service: “Kim Daniels is not in the Communications Department.” The Daniels appointment was not prominently announced on the USCCB web site.
The appointment of a separate spokeswoman for the USCCB presidency brings a new dynamic to the American bishops’ public activities, and raises some questions about her future role. In effect she will be representing Cardinal Dolan in his position as USCCB leader, but the cardinal’s presidential term will end in November of this year.
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Posted by: mgreen32234 -
May. 01, 2013 9:34 AM ET USA
Cardinal Dolan desperately needs solid traditional advisors. He is a stubborn thicknecked man when ordinary Catholics have cried scandal. I hope Mrs. Daniels is someone he will listen to. Her resume suggests, she would probably have advised him not to give the Elizabeth Seton award to the (catholic) CEO of the Girl Scouts a few weeks ago!
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Posted by: extremeCatholic -
Apr. 30, 2013 9:42 PM ET USA
The USCCB should speak with one voice. If Sister Mary Ann Walsh and Kim Daniels are not singing from same hymnal, then let one of them be separated, or as we used to say "anathema sit". Who knew that employees of the USCCB had identification as "liberal" and "conservative"?
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Posted by: -
Apr. 30, 2013 8:56 PM ET USA
This sounds peculiar and there must be a back story here. The bishops agreed last fall to the notion of having a spokesmanperson. Now it seems that this woman will speak only for the jolly Cardinal and is not part of USCCB "communications"? A job lasting only 6 months? Tell us what's really happening here!
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Posted by: Ken -
Apr. 30, 2013 6:47 PM ET USA
So, "The announcement ... sparked statements of concern from liberal Catholics who feared that the spokeswoman’s connections with controversial political causes" hu? What a laugh! The USCCB likes to stick its nose into every political issue it can! The fear isn't over her connection to political causes - its a fear of her CONSERVATIVE political connections. The terse statement from Sister Walsh highlights that concern. Just why I ceased donating to this organization years ago.
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Posted by: Gil125 -
Apr. 30, 2013 3:47 PM ET USA
Would that it were true, jg237.... That when you say Catholic, 'nuff said. Alas...it's not. There are a great many of what might call CINOs. (Not entirely my coinage: a cognate of RINO---Republican in name only.)
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Apr. 30, 2013 1:45 PM ET USA
If so called "liberal Catholics" are upset, this must be good news for Catholics like me who don't give a hoot about 'conservative' or 'liberal' but care a great deal about the "Catholic" part of the label. We have had enough of the hyphenated brand name; it's time for "Catholic" pur et dur, as the French say. When you say "Catholic", nuff said.
