Original Founders
CCSP was legally dissolved in 2012
(Catholics Committed to Support the Pope)
Mario Luigi Cardinal Ciappi, O.P
(1909 – 1996)
Coat of Arms of Mario Luigi Cardinal Ciappi, O.P.
Mario Luigi Cardinal Ciappi, OP
Founding Board member
The initial inspiration for the magisterial publishing mission derived from George Morse’s guidance from the late Papal Theologian Mario Luigi Cardinal Ciappi, O.P.
The initials “OP” after a name in the Catholic Church stand for “Ordo Praedicatorum” which translates to “Order of Preachers”. The Dominican Order is also known as the Order of Preachers. The initials “OP” are used by members of the Dominican Order
Cardinal Ciappi, served as personal theologian to five popes from 1955 to 1989; (including Popes: Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II.
Cardinal Ciappi’s official title was ‘Theologian of the Pontifical Household.’
George P. Morse
(1917 – 2013)
Award of Grand Cross of the Order St. Gregory (GCSG)
An eight-pointed cross, the insignia of the order, bears a representation of St. Gregory on the obverse and on the reverse the motto Pro Deo et Principe (“For God and Ruler”). The cross is suspended from a red and gold ribbon.
George Morse, GCSG
Founder, Editor, Publisher
Together with his wife Margaret, they devoted three decades of their lives, to their Apostolate, Catholics Committed to Support The Pope (CCSP).
They accomplished the preparation, publication, and distribution worldwide, of the thirteen-volume series called the Précis of Official Catholic Teaching. He had served as associate editor of Inside the Vatican magazine.
In 1984, he founded Catholics Committed to Support the Pope. He joined with Cardinal James Hickey of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., (deceased) and Dr. William May (deceased), a theologian, to produce the 13-volume Précis of Official Catholic Teaching.
He was a Knight of Malta, a Knight of St. George, a Knight of St. Gregory, and a Knight of the Grand Cross.
An attorney, he was head of security for the National Institutes for Health. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Dr. William May
(1928 – 2014)
Dr. William E. May
Founding Board Member
Dr. May was emeritus Michael J. McGivney, Professor of Moral Theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.
He taught there from 1991 to 2008, after teaching moral theology at The Catholic University of America from 1971 to 1990. He was the author of many books and awards.
For his book, Christ in Contemporary Thought, the College Theology Society gave May its award for the best book published by a member in 1971. For his contributions to Catholic scholarship, the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars gave him its Cardinal Wright Award in 1980. For the best essay in medical ethics published in The Linacre Quarterly in 1984, the Catholic Physicians Guilds of America gave him its Thomas Linacre Award in 1985.
Dr. May wrote: “These summaries marvelously complement the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Catechism is the compendium of Catholic doctrine; the se summaries apply this doctrine to Christian living throughout 2000 years.”