Print Issue: July 4, 2002

Frank Mulcahy Named Executive Director Of Georgia Catholic Conference

By Rebecca Rakoczy, Staff Writer

ATLANTA - Francis J. (Frank) Mulcahy officially took over the reins as executive director of the Georgia Catholic Conference July 1. The conference serves as the church's primary "voice" in the state government in all matters of public policy, and serves both the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Diocese of Savannah.

Mulcahy was elected to the post by Archbishop John F. Donoghue and Bishop J. Kevin Boland of Savannah. Hodges officially retired June 30, after nearly 30 years as executive director, and as president of the conference since 1999. "I have known Cheatham for 18 years and we have worked together for the last two years," Mulcahy said.

As executive director, Mulcahy, 56, will continue the work of the conference by speaking to government officials about moral and ethical implications of public policy in such areas as abortion, capital punishment, health care education, child welfare, immigration and similar issues.

"Our objectives are to really look at legislation and try to change legislation that is more consistent with the common good as reflected in Catholic social policy," Mulcahy said.

The conference "seeks to foster public understanding of the church's social teachings and its concern for the condition of all citizens of Georgia." For example, Mulcahy said, the current focus is on children's issues and funding for children's programs such as the TANF welfare-to-work legislation.

"They are revising that bill on a federal level and it will have a state impact," Mulcahy said. "We will be looking at the state implementation of that bill."

While many of the issues concerning the conference revolve around right to life and protection of children, another area of concern and one of the key bills supported by the conference was to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. "We supported that bill," Mulcahy said.

"We look on people from wherever they come from as human beings . . . and try to have legislation that will help them while they're here," he said of immigration issues.

A Philadelphia native, Mulcahy has worked in Atlanta since 1978. He has been a registered lobbyist since 1984, and is currently an attorney with the law firm of Tinsley Bacon Tinsley, LLC, and a principal in Global Dispute Resolution, LLC, in Alpharetta. The firm offers a mediation and arbitration service to help people work out disputes as an alternative to litigation. He received his bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College, Philadelphia, and his law degree from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. He has practiced law as corporate counsel for several corporations, and has been in private practice since 1997.

Although he will continue with his work at his firm, Mulcahy said he will be "at the state Capitol almost every day they are in session, and in the interim, when they have hearings, I will be available for those as well."

Mulcahy, his wife Claudia, and son David have been members of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Alpharetta, since 1978. Mulcahy is also active in the Cursillo movement and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

For matters of legislative concern please contact Mulcahy at (770) 521-8799.