For Immediate Release
Holy Land Christians Society
Contact: 703-893-4138
Toll Free: 1-877-4HOLYLAND
www.holylandchristians.org

One of America's most prominent higher education leaders has agreed to assist a group helping Christians in the Holy Land. The Reverend Theodore M. Hespburgh, C.S.C. has joined the Advisory Board of the Holy Land Christians Society. The Society, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to peace and helping people in the Holy Land. The group's focus is bringing assistance, education and job opportunities to the Christians in this troubled region. "Amidst the anger and violence," says Society President, Butros Qumseya, "we feel that traditional Christian communities need to know they are not forgotten in the present struggle."

Father Hesburgh is a recognized leader in promoting civil rights, international peace, help for developing countries and increased educational opportunities around the world. The public service career of Notre Dame's president emeritus was as distinguished as his educational contributions. At the University of Notre Dame, he was instrumental in founding the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Reflecting his interest in strengthening religious tolerance in the Middle East and at the request of Pope Paul VI, Fr. Hesburgh founded Notre Dame's Ecumenical Institute in Tantur, Jerusalem over 30 years ago. It is still operating today.

Father Hesburgh served four Popes, three as permanent Vatican City representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna from 1956 to 1970. He has held 15 Presidential appointments over the years — mostly recently to the U.S. — civil rights, peaceful uses of atomic energy, campus unrest, treatment of Vietnam offenders, Third World development and immigration reform, to name only a few. Recently, he served together with HLCS Board Member, Mary Kay Turner, on the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.