Commission Congratulates Theodore McCarrick on His Appointment as Archbishop of Washington, D.C.

Nov 21, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2000

Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

The Vice Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Firuz Kazemzadeh, today congratulated Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, a Commission member, on his appointment as Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington, D.C. by Pope John Paul II.

"Archbishop McCarrick has impressed his fellow Commissioners by his gentle nature, clear-mindedness, and strict devotion to the cause of religious freedom for all peoples," Dr. Kazemzadeh said. "I'm sure the Catholic faithful of the Washington archdiocese will quickly come to value those qualities as well."

As a member of the Commission, Archbishop McCarrick has participated in its regular monthly meetings and periodic public hearings and has represented the Commission on trips overseas. He was appointed by Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle (D) of South Dakota under the terms of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which created the Commission. Archbishop McCarrick's two-year term, like that of all Commissioners, expires May 14, 2001, and he is eligible for reappointment.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress." src="https://www.uscirf.org/images/layout/subbottomtext1.gif" />

Hon. Elliott Abrams,Chair
  • Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh,Vice ChairRabbi David SapersteinLaila Al-Marayati, M.D.Hon. John R. BoltonDean Michael K. YoungArchbishop Theodore E. McCarrickNina SheaJustice Charles Z. SmithAmbassador Robert Seiple,Ex-OfficioSteven T. McFarland,Executive Director