Archbishop, bishop leave religious freedom commission

Published: 2007-05-15

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The two Catholic bishops serving on the Commission on International Religious Freedom, Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and Bishop Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces, N.M., are both leaving the panel. Each has served on it for four years. One of their slots will be taken by Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the Federalist Society and one of the founders of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. Also stepping down will be Khaled M. Abou El Fadl, a law professor from the University of California-Los Angeles who specializes in Islamic law. He also has been on the commission since 2003. To fill two of the open slots, President George W. Bush named Leo and Imam Talal Y. Eid, founder and director of religious affairs at the Islamic Institute of Boston. Bush also reappointed member Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a senior adviser to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., named Don Argue, president of Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., to fill the third open slot.

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