Catholic advocate's advice sought to help state's financial crunch
Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published January 19, 2007
Sister Monica Kostielney, R.S.M., Michigan Catholic Conference President and Chief Executive Officer | Detroit A prominent advocate for Catholic social teaching, Mercy Sr. Monica Kostielney, is among the 12 members of a special panel charged with reviewing the state's current budget crisis and making recommendations to avoid future crises.
Sr. Kostielney, president and CEO of the Michigan Catholic Conference, was appointed Jan. 10 by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the Emergency Financial Advisory Panel being co-chaired by two former governors, William G. Milliken and James J. Blanchard.
It is to report its recommendations to the governor by the end of January.
The MCC, which is chaired by Cardinal Adam Maida, is the public policy voice of all seven Catholic dioceses in the state. As its administrative head, Sr. Kostielney has directed the organization's efforts to bring a Catholic perspective to the debate over public policy issues.
"Sr. Monica has earned the respect of people on both sides of the aisle for the depth of her knowledge on state issues and her honesty and fairness in debating issues of the day," said Liz Boyd, press secretary to Gov. Granholm. "Although the Catholic Conference has not always agreed with the administration on every issue, we know that Sr. Monica will be fair and objective in her advice on how to resolve this very difficult issue," Boyd added.
Sr. Kostielney said she was "honored to have been chosen to serve with many distinguished leaders from both the public and private sectors in our assigned task to suggest policies that work toward an economically just society for all Michigan residents."
"The conference views the state economy and budget as a moral statement that ensures the protection of its most vulnerable individuals," Sr. Kostielney added.
Other members of the panel are:
John Porter, former president of Eastern Michigan University and former state superintendent for public instruction.
Paul Hillegonds, senior vice president of DTE Energy and former co-speaker of the state House of Representatives.
Dan DeGrow, superintendent of St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency and former Republican state Senate majority leader.
Lou Anna K. Simon, president of Michigan State University.
Frank Kelley, former Michigan attorney general.
S. Martin Taylor, University of Michigan regent.
John "Joe" Schwarz, M.D., former U.S. congressman and former chair of the state Senate appropriations committee.
Don Gilmer, Kalamazoo County administrator and former state budget director.
Doug Roberts, former state treasurer
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