Advisory Council

CMN's Advisory Council is composed of individuals whose expertise, experience, resources, or prominence can support CMN in achieving its mission: the abolition of the death penalty and promotion of restorative justice. The council was inspired during the global Catholic Church's Synod on Synodality, in light of the synod's invitation to experience and encounter the larger community of the People of God.

Except narrowly in regard to ending the death penalty and advancing restorative justice, CMN does not endorse or reflect the views, policies, or political positions of any advisor.

Stephen Schneck, Ph.D.

Chair

Stephen Schneck serves as Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. A political philosopher by training, Schneck retired from The Catholic University of America in 2018, after more than thirty years as a professor, department chair, and dean. At the university he was also the founder and long-time director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies. He received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame.

John Carr

John Carr is the founder and co-director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. He served for over 20 years as director of the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, directing the Conference’s public policy and advocacy efforts on major domestic and international issues as well as sharing Catholic social teaching on human life and dignity, solidarity, faithful citizenship, and care for creation.

Dr. Arturo Chávez

Dr. Arturo Chávez currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Mission at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio, TX. He develops, supports, and oversees the University’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs and initiatives. Previously, he served as the President of MACC, the Mexican American Catholic College – also in San Antonio, Texas. He helped transition MACC from a Cultural Center to a Catholic College that offers B.A. and M.A. degrees in Pastoral Ministry in partnership with UIW.

Kathleen A. Curran

Kathleen A. Curran is senior director of public policy at the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA). Ms. Curran coordinates the development of public policy positions for the association and works with other CHA staff to interact with Congress and the Executive Branch to promote CHA's advocacy agenda. Previously, Ms. Curran was with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops where she served as interim director of the Office of Domestic Social Development and as a policy advisor on health and welfare issues.

Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson

Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson is an author, global ecumenical leader, and widely respected voice relating faith to pressing issues of public life. His extensive international travels have helped him interpret how the changing face of Christianity is reshaping the future, and his pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain enriched his commitment to the inward spiritual journey and contemplative practices.

Alexia Kelley

Alexia Kelley serves as the President and CEO of FADICA, where she manages and oversees the organization’s strategy, staff and programs. In partnership with the Board and members, she developed the organization’s current comprehensive strategic framework which includes a strong focus on member-driven research and initiatives, communications, and the spirituality of Catholic philanthropy. Ms. Kelley served for 10 years at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Fr. David Kelly, C.PP.S

Fr. David A. Kelly is the founder and Executive Director of Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation (PBMR) in Chicago, IL. In 2000, he, along with other members of his religious congregation, began PBMR to create a place for those who have been impacted by violence and conflict. PBMR reaches out to the one who has been harmed, to the one who has done harm, and to the community. They also strive to be a resource to other groups and communities who seek reconciliation.

Leonard Rubio

Leonard, executive director of the Insight Prison Project, spent over 23 years incarcerated within California’s jail and prison system for a 15-year-to-life sentence for second degree murder. While incarcerated at San Quentin, Leonard created the Responsibility, Rehabilitation, & Restoration Interfaith Roundtable to promote restorative justice by including prisoners and volunteers from many faith and ethnic backgrounds to work together.

Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero

The Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero is pastor of The Gathering Place, a Latino-led multi-ethnic Assemblies of God congregation in Orlando, Florida. Salguero is also the president and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NALEC), a national coalition of several thousand evangelical congregations in the United States. He was the former Director of the Hispanic Leadership Program (HLP), and the Institute for Faith and Public Life at Princeton Theological Seminary. Salguero is also a powerful voice on issues that affect the close to 9 million Latino evangelicals in the United States.

Syl Schieber

Sylvester J. Schieber has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Notre Dame. He has spent much of his career consulting with private and public sector organizations on retirement and health issues. He has also done extensive research and writing on policy issues related to these matters. He was appointed to the 1994 Social Security Advisory Council by the Clinton Administration. He served on the U.S. Social Security Advisory Board from 1998-2009. He was appointed Chairman by President George W. Bush and served in that position his last three years on the board.

Debra Soltis

Debra is a founding partner of the law firm of Kiyonaga & Soltis, PC in Washington, DC. Her primary practice areas are criminal defense and employment/civil rights. Debra also has extensive experience in criminal appellate matters. She has been recognized as a top lawyer for some 20 years by Washingtonian Magazine and has been voted repeatedly a Super Lawyer by her peers. For over twenty years, Debra was on the adjunct faculty of Georgetown Law School, co-teaching a course of original design on critical film theory.

Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr.

The Reverend Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr., is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) US and Canada. He serves as executive director of the Columbus-based Ohio Council of Churches. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Sullivan is an internationally-known ecumenist, preacher, justice advocate, and death penalty abolitionist. In recognition of his work to stop executions, Dr. Sullivan was given the 2018 African American Liberation Award from the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Michael Williams

Mike Williams is a trial lawyer and appellate advocate who leads the representation of individuals, businesses, and governments in high-stakes litigation. Mike’s practice focuses on complex, multi-jurisdictional cases before juries, judges, and administrative agencies. Mike is a leader in providing pro bono representation to those in need. He has successfully represented death-penalty petitioners in actual-innocence and intellectual-disability proceedings in state and federal courts.