Sept. 12, 2004

The Tennessee Catholic Public Policy Commission has redesigned its website, www.tncppc.org, to make it more user friendly and informative, CPPC executive director Jennifer Murphy announced recently.

During the legislative session the site will feature weekly updates on legislation along with alerts and in-depth reports on issues being followed by the CPPC board.

The site includes public-policy–related news and events; statements of the Tennessee bishops’ positions on human life, tax reform, and a number of other issues; links to the websites of Tennessee dioceses and Catholic newspapers, the state and national legislatures, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; details on the annual Catholic Day on the Hill; and information on how to become involved in public policy.

The CPPC, formed in 1983, is composed of clergy and lay members from throughout the state. The state’s three bishops chair the commission, which serves as a forum for the three Tennessee dioceses to represent the Catholic perspective in public-policy issues.

Five of the 16 CPPC board members represent the Diocese of Knoxville, with six representing the Nashville Diocese and five the Memphis Diocese.

Members from the Diocese of Knoxville are Father Xavier Mankel, vicar general and pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville; Eileen Widmer of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg; Leo Brown of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Chattanooga; Sister Judy Raley, SCN, vice president of mission for Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga; and Father Ragan Schriver, executive director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.