NCBC President Appointed to Pontifical Council

I just received this email.....

 Dr. John Haas Appointed to Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers

On Tuesday, January 4, Dr. John M. Haas, NCBC President was notified by Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, that  the Holy Father had appointed him a Consultor to the Council. In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI appointed Dr. Haas an Ordinary Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life and then in June 2010 named him to the eight member Governing Council of the Academy.

Following notice of the appointment Dr. Haas released the following statement:
I am humbled by the expression of trust shown in me by Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care to Health Workers, and by the Holy Father in confirming this appointment.  It is a clear indication of the high regard in which the Holy See holds The National Catholic Bioethics Center and my colleagues who labor so diligently and who are so committed in their fidelity to the Catholic moral tradition and the magisterium.  I pray that this appointment will enable the Center and me to be of greater service to the Holy See, to the Bishops, and to the Catholic healthcare ministry.

The Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers was established by Pope John Paul II in 1985 to coordinate the activities of different dicasteries of the Roman Curia as they relate to the health care sector. It spreads, explains and defends the teachings of the Church on health issues and upholds the moral teaching of the Church in health care practice. It also maintains contacts with the local Churches and especially with the various national bishops' conferences as they interact with the health care industry in their respective countries.

The staff of The National Catholic Bioethics Center extends their congratulations to Dr. Haas with thanks for his leadership and gratitude to the Holy Father for this, another recognition of the significant contributions he has made to the Church and the Culture of Life through his years of dedicated service.

This is great news indeed.  Dr. Haas is a great champion for Catholic Ethics in medicine.