Vatican Asks US Agency to Lead Haiti Effort: Catholic Relief Services Coordinating Earthquake Aid

Zenit.org ^ | JAN. 14, 2010 | Vatican

[Salvation]

Vatican Asks US Agency to Lead Haiti Effort

Catholic Relief Services Coordinating Earthquake Aid

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, JAN. 14, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Catholic Relief Services, the international humanitarian agency of the U.S. bishops' conference, was asked by the Pontifical Council Cor Unum to coordinate aid for earthquake victims in Haiti.

The country's capital, Port-au-Prince, was destroyed Tuesday in an earthquake that measured 7.0 on the Richter scale.

Although the number of casualties is unknown, it is estimated that 50,000 were killed, and 3 million others injured or homeless.

The country, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, is having trouble responding to the needs on its own.

A Vatican communiqué affirmed today that "as with other tragedies, Catholics are already being zealous in providing tangible aid."

"Several Catholic agencies are at work and are sending manpower, which is especially urgent," it added.

The council, "in direct contact with Catholic Relief Services," asked it to "coordinate the relief efforts at this stage," the communiqué stated.

It explained: "The 300 plus on-the-ground personnel, who have long been active in Haiti, and the past experience, expertise and resources of [Catholic Relief Services] will enable prompt and effective coordination of the Church's efforts, which, in the words of Pope Benedict, must be generous and concrete to meet the pressing needs of our Haitian brothers and sisters."

Wednesday in his general audience, Benedict XVI appealed to the "generosity of all people so that these our brothers and sisters who are experiencing a moment of need and suffering may not lack our concrete solidarity and the effective support of the international community."

He affirmed that the "Catholic Church will not fail to move immediately, through her charitable institutions, to meet the most immediate needs of the population."

Catholic Relief Services has set up a special Web site to respond to increased online traffic after the disaster.

Through the Web page, it offers a way to send donations by mobile phone to the earthquake victims.

--- --- ---

On the Net:

Catholic Relief Services: http://crs.org/

[Salvation]

Somehow we don't hear this information in the secular media.

[Salvation]

Go here to donate to Catholic Relief Services -- CRS -- (secure site) -- they do not have the overhead for office, etc. that Red Cross does, and you know that your MONEY does not support abortions!

[notaliberal]

Thank you for posting link again. This is a trusted charity.

[cranked]

Is it not a bit ironic that the US is looked upon as the cause of most of the world’s ills and yet, in times like this, who is the first they call? =.=

[seemoAR]

They will hate us no matter how much we give. Why isn’t Spain responsible since Haiti is a formal Spanish colony and they brought African slaves to that island?

[silverleaf]

This is one group that puts virtually every donated dollar to use helping the intended victims- some stories coming out indicate the virtual heroism of the priests now working in Haiti, many of whom run hospitals and orphanages- the director of Father Damien hospital spoke this morning of his staff’s efforts to treat the many wounded coming to him

Just sent CRS a donation

http://saintdamienhospital.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/singing-at-the-nph-orphanage/

[Sporaticus]

NPR radio ran a nice story on CRS and the Haitian Crisis.
Unbelievable isnt it!
However, knowing NPR they probably ran 40 stories on their favorite secular charity and only one on CRS.

Anywho CRS is my favorite charity and having a favorite
charity, I snub my nose at the supermarket sidewalk charities
and other less credible charities. I figure those charities are for people who dont have favorite charities, are impulsive, or worse are wasteful of their money on charitable scams.

[Salvation]

Thanks for that link.

[Salvation]

That is unbelievable. NPR really ran a story on CATHOLIC Relief Services???????

[cherry]

done the other day....its one charity I trust....

[Biggirl]

My Archbishop had called this weekend for a special emergency second collection in all the parishes with a special letter to be read as well this weekend for CRS Haiti earthquake relief.

[Sporaticus]

yes, it made note of CRS plan to buy food in Dominican Repub. and truck it in because the port at Port au Prince is damaged.
Yes Catholic Relief Services.
BTW Salvation, CRS is run by the USCCB, which mean it should be dirty in some significant non-Catholic way, I keep searching but I dont find anything. The USCCB has in my recent memory done very little correctly. Know of any dirt?

[Sporaticus]

I also read a story in the last 3 months where the LDS church lauds CRS as a model for them in relief services.
Maybe I read it here?

[Coleus]

5-Star Rating

NonProfit Times' Top 100

Valued Partner of Guidestar

Awarded Best in America Seal

you can also donate to the Knights of Columbus Charities

[Pyro7480]

Nope, Haiti is a former French colony. The other half of the island was Spanish.

[seemoAR]

The Island of Hispaniola was discovered by Columbus and was ruled by Spain. French pirates later inhabitated the western part of the island. A dispute between the French and Spaniards was settled by the “Treaty of Ryswick”. The western part of the island was handed over to the French. That part of the island was then known as Saint Domingue. The name was later changed to Haiti.

[SuziQ]

Catholic Relief Services is an excellent organization, and we’ve supported them for years! You always know that the people who NEED the help are going to get it, without waste and corruption.

[Sun]

I did see CBS news stating that Catholic Charities gave out food and other items, and then I saw someone wearing a Catholic Relief Services hat.

[Salvation]

I didn’t know all these awards at all.

[Salvation]

I heard Catholic Relief Services mentioned today on Fox News Channel. They were the agency giving our water. Tons of it from the looks of the picture.