The Vatican has renewed the appointment Dr. Janet Smith, visiting professor of life issues, as a consulter of the Pontifical Council for the Family. The Papal Nuncio in Washington, DC, announced her appointment to a second five-year term in a letter written on behalf of Pope John Paul II.

As a consulter, Dr. Smith is not a formal member of the Pontifical Council but instead serves the council in an advisory role. Her duties include evaluating textbooks and sex education programs to ensure they conform to Church teachings. She also evaluates Church documents on family and life issues prior to their publication.

Said the Papal Nuncio in his appointment letter, "In extending our sincere congratulations to you, we would like to express our deep satisfaction for the possibility to continue to profit from your competent and esteemed collaboration in the activities of this Dicastery."

Dr. Smith is in her second academic year of occupying the visiting chair of life issues at Sacred Heart. She is an internationally known expert   on bioethics who lectures throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit and the country. Dr. Smith conducts workshops on life issues with Catholic health care administrators, professionals and medical students, and has advised the U.S. bishops on medical-moral issues.

To enquire about scheduling an address by Dr. Smith to your organization, email ckuszynski@avemaria.edu.