Three New Members Named To National Review Board On Child And Youth Protection

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
May 19, 2015

http://www.usccb.org/news/2015/15-081.cfm

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2015 – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently named three people to the National Review Board that advises on child and youth protection. Mr. Donald Wheeler, a former federal investigator, Mrs. D. Jean Ortega-Piron, an attorney and child welfare services expert, and attorney Mr. Howard Healy were appointed by USCCB President Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville.

“The Church is grateful for the time and talent these individuals will bring to our shared work of ensuring safe environments,” Kurtz said. “None of us has a more important responsibility than protecting children.”

Donald Wheeler lives in the Diocese of Arlington and is a Senior Investigator with the law firm of Hunton & Williams, LLP. He served for 30 years in various federal law enforcement and investigative positions with the U. S. Department of Labor and the General Accountability Office (GAO).

D. Jean Ortega-Piron lives in the Diocese of Joliet, retired from the Illinois Department of Children of Family Services in 2013 and continues to serve as a consultant on child welfare services. While with that state agency, among other positions, she served as its acting Director and the statewide legal guardian for all the children in foster care in Illinois. She is an attorney and has worked in the Office of Special Counsel for Child Welfare Services for the Governor of Illinois.

Howard Healy lives in the Diocese of Green Bay and is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Winnebago County Bar Association. He is a partner at the Di Renzo and Bomier Law Firm and served in the U.S. Army Reserve as an Officer in the Judge Advocate General Corp.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops established the National Review Board during their meeting in June of 2002. The functions of the Board were revised slightly and reconfirmed in June of 2005 when the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was revised and extended. The purpose of the National Review Board is to collaborate with the USCCB in preventing the sexual abuse of minors in the United States by persons in the service of the Church.