He has served the Nebraska Catholic Conference for more than 25 years 23 as the pro life director, and the past two as executive director.
As the state conference’s pro life director, he engaged in extensive speaking, writing and lobbying on a wide range of matters, especially abortion, stem cell research and end of life issues. wholesale nfl jerseys from china As executive director he was in charge of the overall operation of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, overseeing public policy lobbying activities and educating Catholics on public policy matters in relation to church teaching.
“Greg Schleppenbach has been a respected friend and colleague for many years,” Doerflinger said. “He thoroughly understands the church’s pro life witness, and has always found new ways to bring people together in support of life. I will keep working on these issues in retirement, but am delighted to leave this particular job in very capable hands.””Greg is a friend, a wise collaborator, and a trusted adviser,” said Bishop James Conley of the Lincoln diocese. “In Nebraska, he’s supported the unborn child, the poor, the family, the immigrant, the prisoner, and the forgotten. He is a man of the Gospel, and I know he’ll serve the church in the United States with integrity, courage, and mercy.”
Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha said:
“Greg Schleppenbach has done so much to proclaim the gospel of life and to build up the common good here in Nebraska. He will be a great asset to the work of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. We wish him well, even as we will miss his leadership and collaboration.”
Born and raised in Pierce, Schleppenbach grew up working on pro life causes. Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973. His mom immediately got involved in the pro life movement and started the pro life chapter in Pierce County.
“I grew up with the pro life cause in my house, and a passionate advocate with my mom,” Schleppenbach said.
As a student at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, he was active with Students for Life. In 1991, he applied for and received the brand new full time position of director of pro life with the Nebraska Catholic Conference. The couple married two years ago, and have been very involved pro life work and service to the church.
Schleppenbach begins his full time post at the USCCB on May 16.
In 2011, he was appointed to the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life. He also serves as a public policy fellow at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Ethics and Culture and at the National Catholic Bioethics Center.
“It’s humbling to succeed a pro life giant like Richard Doerflinger,” Schleppenbach said. “But I come to this position with confidence in God’s amazing grace and a heart filled with passion for His precious gift of human life. I am grateful for the honor of serving the bishops of Nebraska for so many years and am equally grateful for this opportunity to now serve the bishops of the United States.”
