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December
11, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 22Oakland,
CA
Madison bishop
elected chair of board of visitors
for Army school
FORT BENNING,
Ga. (CNS) -- Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, Wis., has been elected
chairman of the board of visitors of the Western Hemisphere Institute
for Security Cooperation at Fort Benning. He replaces Ambassador Jose
S. Sorzano.
The institute, established in 2001 as a successor to the 55-year-old School
of the Americas, instructs civilian, military and law enforcement leaders
from throughout the Western Hemisphere.
The board of visitors is charged with independent review, observation
and recommendations regarding the institute’s operations, administration
and curriculum.
It has 13 members, including members of the Senate and House Armed Services
Committees and representatives from the State Department, U.S. Southern
Command, and Army Training and Doctrine Command. Six members are designated
by the secretary of defense and represent the human rights, religious,
academic and business communities.
Board members, including the congressional representatives, made it clear
that in electing Bishop Morlino they sought to emphasize the priority
of ethics, human rights, democracy and civilian leadership of the military
in the education offered at the Western Hemisphere Institute, known as
WHINSEC.
“One of my priests recently wrote to me about my membership on the
board calling it an expression of authentic Catholic patriotism,”
Bishop Morlino commented. “As one who was exempted from the draft
when I entered the seminary in the ‘60s, I am grateful for the opportunity
to serve my country in a significant way.
“At the same time, I take most seriously the charge symbolized by
my election as board chairman, to assure that issues of ethics and human
rights always remain top priority, as WHINSEC carries out the mission
received from the Congress of the United States,” he said.
The board, which meets twice a year, is a body of the Department of Defense.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino
