Rev. Mr. Lawrence Weber
Executive Director, General Counsel
weberl@mocatholic.org

Issue Areas:
Promoting the Common Good
Racism
Economic Justice
Civil Liberties and Constitutional Freedoms
Health Care
Family Life

Deacon Larry Weber was awarded a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1983 and a bachelor's degree from Central Missouri State University. He was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Jefferson City in 1999, and assigned to St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Mokane, Missouri and St. Andrew Parish in Holts Summit, Missouri. Larry is active with El Puente, which provides ministry to Hispanics in the Jefferson City area. He is an active member of the Missouri Bar, and makes presentations regarding legal and governmental ethics. Before coming to the Missouri Catholic Conference in July, 2000, Deacon Weber was Commission Counsel for the Missouri Supreme Court. From 1992 - 1995 he was the Director of Ethics and Intergovernmental Relations in the Missouri Attorney General's office. Prior to that he served as Staff Attorney and Counsel to the Missouri Senate, and as a Hearing Officer and Assistant Counsel for the Missouri State Tax Commission. He maintained a general civil and criminal law practice from 1983-1987 in Kansas City and Independence, Missouri. Larry led MCC's efforts to protect rights of conscience for health care providers; and orchestrated efforts to ensure that state funded life science research would be life affirming.

Larry is married to Suzy Weber who teaches at St. Joseph Catholic School in Jefferson City. They have two daughters: Jennifer and Abby; and a son, Teddy.

Mike Hoey
Assistant  Director
hoeyjm@mocatholic.org

Issue Areas:
Agriculture
Education
Immigration

Mike Hoey holds a bachelor's degree in Education from Central Missouri State University. He is a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson City. He has been with the MCC since 1979, and has served as the Assistant Director since 1994. He is a frequent speaker on statewide social justice issues. He is the author of, "Missouri Education at the Crossroads: The Phelan Miscalculation and the Education Amendment of 1870," Missouri Historical Review (July 2001); He co-authored with Sister Margaret Mary O'Gorman, With My People: A Handbook for the Farm Crisis (1986). He has written numerous articles for the MCC Messenger including "Religious Liberty and the School Choice Question" (August 2001) and "Missouri Family Farmers: Harvesting More than Food" (November 2001). Among his significant contributions to public policy in Missouri, Mr. Hoey led the MCC effort to pass a new day care health and safety law, 1993; led the lobby effort to pass legislation providing English language instruction for immigrants, 1998; and, coordinated the Knights of Columbus efforts to override Governor Carnahan's veto of the partial birth abortion ban, 1999.

Mike is married to Mary Beth Hoey and they have three grown daughters: Jessica, Gina, and Kate; and a son: Brendan.

Rita Linhardt
Research Associate
Lobbyist on issues related to criminal justice and the death penalty
linhardtr@mocatholic.org

Issue Areas:
Criminal Justice
Death Penalty
Corrections

Rita Linhardt holds a bachelor's degree in Education  in Social Studies from Lincoln University. She is a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Loose Creek Missouri. Rita is a former Catholic schoolteacher, and is currently involved in youth activities including the parish youth organization, confirmation classes and Boy Scout activities. She has been with the MCC since 1988. Rita was a founding member of the advocacy group, Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, and currently assists the organizations with numerous educational projects and workshops. Among her significant contributions to public policy in Missouri, she led the MCC effort to pass the death penalty exemption for persons with mental retardation in 2001; coordinated two statewide conferences on corrections issues; and evaluations of school children's health grants for the Missouri Department of Health and is a frequent speaker and guest on area news programs regarding the death penalty.

Rita is married to Dwight Linhardt. She has two sons: Bret and Josh, and two stepchildren, Amy and Richard.

Kathleen Lavery
Communications Director
Editor of the MCC Website, Good News, MCC Messenger
laveryk@mocatholic.org

Kathleen joined the MCC in 2004 as the Communications Director. She has a background in Catholic publications, marketing, theatre and video production. She received her BA in Communications from Fontbonne College in St. Louis and her MFA from Yale University School of Drama in Stage Management. Kathleen is happy to return to her home state of Missouri after having spent the last 20 years in Connecticut.

Marie Bruns
Fiscal Officer
brunsm@mocatholic.org

Marie has been with the MCC since1969. Among various other duties, Marie processes payroll and accounts payable.

Norma Bexten
Secretary
bextenn@mocatholic.org

Norma has been with the MCC since 1979. Among various other duties, Norma coordinates the scheduling and efforts of MCC volunteers. She is available to assist you in joining the MCC Citizen Network, provide information on how to contact your legislators, process donations, or fill requests for MCC documents. Norma and her husband, Charlie, have four grown children: Carla, Shari, Gregg and Mark. They also have four granddaughters and four grandsons.

Joan Backes
Secretary
backesj@mocatholic.org

Joan has been with the MCC since 1989. Among various other duties Joan maintains the MCC databases. She is available to assist you in joining the MCC Citizen Network, provide information on how to contact your legislators, process donations, or fill requests for MCC documents.

Joan and her husband Herb have three grown children, Kevin, Julie and Lori and four grandchildren.