Chairman
Most Rev. John W. Yanta
His Excellency Bishop John W. Yanta was the Ordinary of the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, from 1997 until his retirement in 2007. He was appointed auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio in 1994. Bishop Yanta was one of the founders and the first Executive Director of Catholic Television of San Antonio. In 1981 he was appointed editor-in-chief of Today’s Catholic newspaper and archdiocesan director of communications.
Bishop Yanta served in many ministries in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He was the Director of the San Antonio Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) and the founder of SANYO (San Antonio Youth Organization), put into action in 1965 to help underprivileged youth of the city. He is widely known as a dedicated and faithful defender of and advocate for unborn life.
Spiritual Advisory Board Members
Most Rev. Rene H. Gracida
His Excellency Bishop Rene H. Gracida was the Ordinary of the Diocese of Corpus Christi from 1983 until his retirement in 1997. He was appointed the first Bishop of the New Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida in 1975. In recognition of his leadership in the pro-life movement in the State of Florida (Province of Miami) in the years 1971-76, he was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by Saint Leo College in 1976.
Bishop Gracida has been a fearless defender of the unborn, family life, and marriage. He writes and comments frequently in his blog, Abyssus Abyssum Invocat/Deep Calls to Deep, on a wide range of subjects that touch on religion, public life, and cultural trends. Before entering the priesthood, Bishop Gracida served in the U.S. Air Corp in World War II, flying 32 combat missions over Germany as a tail gunner and flight engineer.
Rev. John A. Leies, S.M., S.T.D
Fr. John A. Leies is a priest of the Society of Mary. He is past president, past academic vice-president, former Theology Department Chair, former Head of Campus Ministry, a tenured Professor of Theology and President Emeritus of St. Mary’s University of San Antonio, an institute at which he has spent 37continuous years. He has been named as an Outstanding Faculty Member of the School of Arts and Social Sciences and also of the Graduate School.
Fr. Leies has written and lectured in the area of medico-moral problems, is a Consultant for the National Catholic Bioethical Center (NCBC), and holds memberships in professional groups such as the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and Faculty for Life. He has edited two books for the NCBC: Handbook of Critical Life Issues and Handbook of Critical Sexual Issues, college texts that have been used at St. Mary’s University and a number of other schools. He also co-hosts a weekly news show on Catholic Television of San Antonio (CTSA) and is a regular contributor to Today’s Catholic, the San Antonio archdiocesan newspaper.