Outgoing Republican state Rep. Chuck Weber, a key supporter of the faith-based adoption bill that passed the Legislature this year, will be joining the Kansas Catholic Conference.
Weber, whose 85th District covers parts of Sedgwick and Benton counties, will join the group as its executive director starting July 15. He did not file for re-election last week.
“We are very excited about the skills that Chuck will bring to this position,” said Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan.
“His background in public policy and communications will be a great asset to the organization,” Naumann said in a statement released late Sunday afternoon.
“Most important, however, is the fact that Chuck is a deeply committed Catholic. He has our full confidence.”
Precinct committee members elected Weber in 2016 to fill the spot previously held by conservative Republican state Rep. Steve Brunk.
At the Kansas Catholic Conference, Weber will replace Michael Schuttloffel, who served as executive director for 10 years.
“We are profoundly grateful for Michael’s hard and successful work on behalf of the church over the last decade,” Naumann said.
Schuttloffel said in an email he is going to Washington to run the Council for American Private Education, an organization that advocates for private schools.
Schuttloffel capped off his career successfully lobbying for the faith-based adoption bill that supporters said would allow adoption and foster care organizations contracting with the state to refuse placements based on religious grounds. Critics said it will discriminate against LGBT parents.
Weber will resign from the Legislature when he takes the new position. Democrat Monica Marks and Republican Michael Capps have filed to run for the seat.
The Kansas Catholic Conference is the public policy arm of the Catholic Church in Kansas and represents the state’s four bishops at the Capitol.
