Kathleen McChesney’s appointment was announced by Monsignor William Fay, general secretary of the bishops’ conference.
«We look forward to her leadership in addressing the problem of child and youth sexual abuse so that there can be no question about the protection of children and young people in our church,» Monsignor Fay said Thursday.
McChesney, 51, is currently the FBI’s executive assistant director, Law Enforcement Services Division. She oversees the activities of 4,700 employees.
The Office for Child and Youth Protection was established by the U.S. bishops last June in Dallas, Texas, when they passed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The work of McChesney will be assisted and monitored by the National Review Board, headed by Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating.