HISTORY:                               Home  Constitution    Local Role     National Role 

In 1975, Cardinal Krol, as President of the American Bishops, established the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Catholic Charismatic Renewal, under the Chairmanship of Most Rev. Gerald Frey, Bishop of Lafayette, Louisiana. Bishop Joseph McKinney suggested to the committee that it may be helpful for each Bishop to have someone from his diocese who would be his representative to the Charismatic Renewal Movement. This representative would be aware of what was going on in the diocese in the area of Charismatic Renewal and would refer pastoral problems to the Bishop in order that he might then provide pastoral direction. On behalf of the committee, Bishop Frey wrote to the Bishops throughout the United States suggesting that each name someone as a diocesan liaison to the Charismatic Renewal in his diocese.

In 1976, at the end of the Steubenville Priests' Conference, several liaisons met with the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee. At that meeting, roles, relationships and expectations were explored.

The liaisons decided to meet in New Orleans in the fall of 1977. (The Bishops would also be meeting in New Orleans at that time, and the liaisons hoped to have further dialogue with then concerning their role.)

It was at that meeting that the liaisons decided to form a Steering Committee to prepare and oversee the business of what was to become the Association of Diocesan Liaisons to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Through the Annual Theological Symposia and Spring Conferences, Association members have made an effort to further theological understanding, to network and lend mutual support, as well as to foster professional growth of the Charismatic Renewal throughout the United States.