BREAKING: Catholic Relief Services vice-president is in a gay ‘marriage’, promotes gay agenda

LIFe Site News ^ | April 20, 2015

[NYer]

Update April 20: In keeping with our regular practice, we contacted Catholic Relief Services on Friday morning for a response prior to publication, and gave them a deadline of 4pm. In this case they did not respond. However, by Monday morning, Estridge's LinkedIn and Facebook profiles were taken down.

BALTIMORE, MD, April 20, 2015 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- As Catholic bishops throughout the U.S. face attacks for requiring Catholic teachers not to support same-sex “marriage,” new evidence shows that a vice-president at the bishops’ own foreign relief agency is himself “married” to another man.

Critics say the news confirms Catholic Relief Services’ history of hiring high-level employees who openly oppose fundamental Catholic moral teachings, and raises further doubts about the organization’s stewardship of Catholic funds.

‘Flouting Catholic moral teaching’

Public records show that Rick Estridge, Catholic Relief Services’ Vice President of Overseas Finance, who has worked for the U.S. Bishops’ official international humanitarian agency since as long ago as 2001, “married” his homosexual partner in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 4, 2013.

The Lepanto Institute obtained the public marriage record from the City of Baltimore for Estridge and William Goretsas, Jr. The document confirmed the homosexual “marriage,” which took place the same month that Estridge was promoted by CRS to a vice president role, according to Estridge’s LinkedIn profile.

Estridge’s information on the professional networking site details his employment history totaling 14-plus years within CRS, including positions as Director of Overseas Finance for five years, Senior Technical Advisor for Finance and Emergencies for two years, and Manager of Finance and Administration for Relief for nearly four and a half years. CRS records from 2001 indicate Estridge was a Country Representative for Kosovo.

Estridge has also used social media to promote his views against Church teaching.

On his Facebook page, he “likes” numerous pages for homosexual activist groups, including Gay Rights, Human Rights Campaign, Matthew Shepherd Foundation, Freedom to Marry, The Next Family, and NO H8 Campaign.

On the Human Rights Campaign Facebook page, Estridge thanked four politicians that introduced legislation benefitting homosexual couples “for their courageous leadership.” In a post on the Facebook page for Progressive America, Estridge suggested sending Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern to the prison for terrorists at Guantanamo Bay because she filed legislation against homosexual “marriage” and indicated the idea that ‘homosexuality is normal and healthy’ is more dangerous to young people than terrorism.

"This vice president is flouting Catholic moral teaching by living in a homosexual union and engaging in homosexual activism online,” said Michael Hichborn, president of the Lepanto Institute, which uncovered the documentation. “Personnel is policy, so it's a fair question to ask how his lifestyle and activism have influenced policy at CRS."

"If CRS is willing to elevate a man in a homosexual union to an executive position, would it do the same for someone who commits surgical abortions in his spare time?” Hichborn asked. “It's a fair question since both acts are so violently opposed to Catholic teaching."

A history of hiring employees opposed to Church teaching

Catholic Relief Services claims that it “seeks to advance the common good of the world through the uncommon excellence of our staff, partners and programs,” but the organization has a history of hiring employees with strong ties to pro-abortion and pro-contraception organizations.

The most flagrant perhaps was Daphyne Williams, who was hired despite the fact that her LinkedIn resume showed she had previously worked at two openly pro-abortion groups, one of them called “Pro-Choice Resources.” (According to her LinkedIn profile, Williams left CRS in 2012, the month after LifeSiteNews highlighted her in a report.)

Another employee, Charisse Espy Glassman, was convicted of assault in 2011 for ramming her car into a crowd at the DC March for Life. A victim of the assault, who suffered two herniated disks, reported that Glassman had seemed to laugh as she drove into the crowd.

Dr. Amy Ellis, currently CRS’ Health Policy Advisor & Regional Advisor for Asia, was hired in 2011 directly from the pro-abortion group Population Services International, which CRS has funded in the past despite the fact that its purpose is population control and one of its major projects is marketing abortion drugs.

Ellis contributed to a paper by PSI employees on “global contraceptive needs” that was delivered at the International Conference on Family Planning in Senegal from Nov 29 – Dec 2, 2011, while she was on CRS’ staff. And in May 2012, she represented CRS at the Women Deliver conference in Bangladesh, a regular gathering of pro-abortion activists focused on achieving “universal access to reproductive health.” The session she joined included a focus on “revitaliz[ing] family planning.”

Stephen Phelan, Human Life International's director of mission communications, pointed to Article 7 of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s 2012 Apostolic letter On the Service of Charity, which states that Catholic charitable agencies “are required to select their personnel from among persons who share, or at least respect, the Catholic identity of these works.”

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“To ensure an evangelical witness in the service of charity, the diocesan Bishop is to take care that those who work in the Church’s charitable apostolate, along with due professional competence, give an example of Christian life and witness to a formation of heart which testifies to a faith working through charity,” the Motu Proprio added.

‘Is the Catholic faith central to the mission of CRS?’

Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute, said CRS should be held to the same standard as a Catholic high school in West Des Moines, Iowa, that recently faced criticism for declining to hire a man engaged to another man.

Commenting on that issue recently, Bishop Richard Pates said, “While we respect all persons and civil law in regard to civil unions, the Church teaches based on natural law, Scripture and the Church's 2,000-year tradition that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman. The Catholic faith is central to our mission as a Catholic school and is an exercise of religious liberty. To deliver on that mission, it is our expectation that staff and teachers support our moral beliefs as they are the models of our Catholic faith.”

According to Mosher, “Bishop Pates’ comments here could also apply to CRS.”

“I would add that the bishops of the U.S., especially those elected to serve on the Board of Directors of CRS, should be asked the same question,” Mosher said. “Is the Catholic faith central to the mission of CRS? If so, then to delivering on this mission requires that the staff of CRS, especially the senior staff, will support the moral beliefs of the Catholic Church as they are--or should be--models of the Catholic faith, and representatives of the Catholic community in the United States.” 

Hichborn also directed attention to recent steps on the part of dioceses in Ohio and California to strengthen Catholic identity in their schools and confirm that faculty uphold Catholic teaching, as examples for CRS to follow.

“CRS needs to follow suit,” said Hichborn. “If they don't, then CRS is operating above and outside the actions of local bishops.”

“An organization that touts itself as being Catholic should--of course--hire practicing Catholics in good standing,” Mosher said. “This CRS steadfastly refuses to consistently do. And we see the results here.”

“Catholic donors may wish to reconsider whether they would like their donations to go to an organization whose employees, by their actions, make a mockery out of the sacraments of the Church,” Mosher continued.

Hichborn asked how CRS’ internal oversight could be taken seriously when its own vice president of overseas finance is living in a homosexual “marriage,” and further questioned how many other CRS employees could be openly living lifestyles in violation of Church teaching while paying lip-service to Catholic principles.

"With a vice president living in a same-sex union, CRS has lost all credibility and cannot be trusted to conduct its own investigations,” he said. “It's high time the bishops took a closer look at our research and stopped taking CRS execs at their word. A full and complete, independent audit of all of CRS projects must be conducted."

Read: Catholic Relief Services: We’re ‘proud’ that we don’t discuss faith

[HurriKane]

Regarding your comment about the SSPV & SSPX... I am coming to believe that “Rome” may have separated itself from the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church... it kills me to see Christ’s Mystical Body suffer at the hands of the deniers and betrayers of the Church within the Church... maybe the Church really lives in these pockets of tradition like the SSPV & SSPX... I don’t know... but this business with CRS is sickening, especially in light of what’s happening to tradition & traditionalists everywhere who are trying to hold on to truth...

[Elsie]

I will assume; since you’ve posted this (instead of some hateful PROT) that you disagree with retaining this fella in his present position.

[Elsie]

What a hypocritical religion, eh???

Now now....

I am proud that my Catholic Brothers and Sisters in the Lord in this FR thread are ALSO appalled at this revelation of SIN in high places.

Here are some things the BIBLE says about such goings on:

 

Genesis 13:13

Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."

Genesis 19:4-7
4. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.
5. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
6. Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
7. and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.

Psalms 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

Ezekiel 16:49-50
49. "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
50. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

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2 Peter 2

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

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But there IS hope!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

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If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape...
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Health Risks of gay sex.

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[Elsie]

**Do NOT give CRS any money until they get straight with Catholicism.**

PERIOD!

[Elsie]

‘Flouting Catholic moral teaching’

More like flouting the definition of marriage.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?

Four.

Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.

-- Abraham Lincoln

[Elsie]

"It follows that the Church is essentially an unequal society, that is, a society comprising two categories of per sons, the Pastors and the flock...the one duty of the multitude is to allow themselves to be led, and, like a docile flock, to follow the Pastors." (VEHEMENTER NOS, an Encyclical of Pope Pius X promulgated on February 11, 1906),

Jeremiah 23:1-4   King James Version (KJV)

1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.

² Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.

³ And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

⁴ And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.

[detective]

I am very familiar with CRS. I know several people involved with them. I know they have contempt for Catholic values and faithful Catholics. I don’t need to do “research”.

[Elsie]

[daniel1212]

Regarding your comment about the SSPV & SSPX... I am coming to believe that “Rome” may have separated itself from the one, holy, Catholic, and Apostolic church... it kills me to see Christ’s Mystical Body suffer at the hands of the deniers and betrayers of the Church within the Church... maybe the Church really lives in these pockets of tradition like the SSPV & SSPX... I don’t know... but this business with CRS is sickening, especially in light of what’s happening to tradition & traditionalists everywhere who are trying to hold on to truth.

I understand your angst, for an institution must be consistent with itself, esp. one that claims to be the one true and unchanging church. I myself affirm that Rome is not consistent with her past teachings, though i also see many of her teachings as not supported and often not consistent with Scripture .

. However, the liberal character of the vast multitudes of RCs is consistent with the Roman model for unity and ideological conformity. Which is not that of determining the veracity of RC teaching by examining what Scripture and or the historical sources say, the latter of which is what conservative Cath sects and schisms engage in, but as this make the veracity of a teaching dependent upon the weight of the evidence, and may thus allow for dissent (which is how the church began, instead Rome presumed perpetual ensured magisterial infallibility (conditional) and veracity at least in all salvific matters. Under which dissent is supposed to be disallowed or discreet if allowed (depending on the magisterial level). Yet this same model cannot dispense with the need for interpretation, both as to which magisterial level belongs to, as well as its meaning to varying degrees.

But which interpretation is expressed by the popes and prelates in their comments and actions/inactions, which effectually conveys what they really believe. The hearers of teaching tend to look for the meaning of it by how the preachers of it translate into their own lives, and Rome encourages implicit obedience to Roman pastors. While conservative RCs placate others who are alarmed by how liberal popes and prelates are seen to violate church teaching as they understand it by assuring them that the authorities have not changed any dogma, they miss the fact that dogma is meaningless unless souls see it as authoritative, and liberal prelates indicate it can be interpreted contrary to past ones.

"The intolerance of the Church toward error, the natural position of one who is the custodian of truth, her only reasonable attitude makes her forbid her children to read or to listen to heretical controversy, or to endeavor to discover religious truths by examining both sides of the question. This places the Catholic in a position whereby he must stand aloof from all manner of doctrinal teaching other than that delivered by his Church through her accredited ministers."

“The reason of this stand of his is that, for him, there can be no two sides to a question which for him is settled; for him, there is no seeking after the truth: he possesses it in its fulness, as far as God and religion are concerned. His Church gives him all there is to be had; all else is counterfeit... Holding to Catholic principles how can he do otherwise? How can he consistently seek after truth when he is convinced that he holds it? Who else can teach him religious truth when he believes that an infallible Church gives him God's word and interprets it in the true and only sense? — (John H. Stapleton, Explanation of Catholic Morals, Chapters XIX, XXIII. the consistent believer (1904); Nihil Obstat. Remy Lafort, Censor Librorum. Imprimatur, John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York ; http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18438/18438-h/18438-h.htm)

..having discovered the authority established by God, you must submit to it at once. There is no need of further search for the doctrines contained in the Christian Gospel, for the Church brings them all with her and will teach you them all. You have sought for the Teacher sent by God, and you have secured him; what need of further speculation?" “All that we do [as must be patent enough now] is to submit our judgment and conform our beliefs to the authority Almighty God has set up on earth to teach us; this, and nothing else.” —“Henry G. Graham, "What Faith Really Means", (Nihil Obstat:C. SCHUT, S. T.D., Censor Deputatus, Imprimatur: EDM. CANONICUS SURMONT, D.D.,Vicarius Generalis. WESTMONASTERII, Die 30 Septembris, 1914 ); http://www.catholictradition.org/Tradition/faith2-10.htm]

The strength of the sola ecclesia model, in which what the church says is the sole supreme authority, not Scripture, for doctrinal purity and unity is that it is the easiest path to achieving doctrinal conformity, when the leaders to which the people look to above all are committed to this and require implicit obedience and effectually punish dissent. As was seen in medieval Rome and is seen in cults today.

However, this is contrary to how the NT church began, and is not the Scriptural means of unity, moreover, as souls are to give assent of faith toward the teaching men and not ascertain the veracity of teaching by Scripture, then when the leadership goes South then so do the multitudes. Meanwhile conservatives can be charged with being like Protestants because they dissent from aspect of V2 teaching based upon their interpretation of what the church teaches.

[terycarl]

I am glad I belong to the only true church, because no one can be saved unless they belong to the only true church, which is the previously mentioned church. 😄😃😀😱😎 I am comfortable with my choice. If others are not? Oh well. 😀😃😮😱🙉🙈🙊

Actually, when you were in the Catholic church, you had all the answers....but like too many others, you didn't listen.

I condemn no ones choice to follow a what's happening now denomination, but to put your immortal soul in the hands of a bunch of nice guys called navigators, and deny the true church of Jesus, which He, Himself founded....sounds a little dangerous to me. I think I'll stay with His word and His Eucharist and His sacraments and just see what happens.

I would wager a lot of money that I and Catholicism are right and you and all Protestantism are wrong....a lot!!!

[Mark17]

Actually, when you were in the Catholic church, you had all the answers....but like too many others, you didn't listen

LOL, I disagree. The priest could not answer my questions, so I went my own way. Thank God for that. YOPIOS is a beautiful thing. Don't knock it till you've tried it. 😱😅😎👍

I condemn no ones choice to follow a what's happening now denomination, but to put your immortal soul in the hands of a bunch of nice guys called navigators, and deny the true church of Jesus, which He, Himself founded....sounds a little dangerous to me.

Not to worry. I am now a member of the only true church, the one started by Jesus Christ, millions of years ago. His church has been around longer, so I trust Him more. 😄😀😃 People can believe whatever floats their boat, whether there is any truth to it or not. When Gabriel blows his horn, then we will all know where the truth lies. Just remember, by then, it is chiseled in stone. People will be irrevocably committed forever, to follow the course they have chosen, right or wrong. Have a nice eternity, but if you reach the pearly gates ahead of me, pray a nice prayer to St Peter, that if my good works outweigh my bad works, that he might be so kind as to let me in. 😄😀😃🙊🙈🙉

[metmom]

I condemn no ones choice to follow a what's happening now denomination, but to put your immortal soul in the hands of a bunch of nice guys called navigators, and deny the true church of Jesus, which He, Himself founded....sounds a little dangerous to me.

Catholics can just never seem to wrap their minds around not trusting man or some human organization, can they? They claim to not do that and yet constantly accuse us of that revealing that they think that way. They presume everyone does like they do.

We DON'T.

Born again believers have reiterated time and again that they are trusting Christ for their salvation. Not a priest, or a committee, or their works, baptism, sacraments, communion, Mary, whatever or whoever, essentially, anyone or anything BUT Christ.

I think I'll stay with His word and His Eucharist and His sacraments and just see what happens.

Quite a chance you're taking just to " see what happens".

God in Scripture tells us we can know for sure.

[caww]

There are people who “need” the assistance of “stuff” that makes them think and feel they're being religious. Even pagans and cults like their crutches or comfort things... because it's too scary to stand on the Rock of Jesus Christ by themselves. They ‘need’ something else to hold onto...or set their minds on.

We know that Jesus can do all of that and more just by being who he is to and for us and through out our life. We understand His all sufficiency because we've been tested and tried to learn how to simply trust....to rest and abide in Him.

I think some catholics use all these other things to steady themselves sort of...just in case it doesn't go as they hoped for....they can either point the finger at someone else for misleading them if things go bad...or hold onto something when they are uncertain....and in some cases because the leadership teaches them to do so.

[metmom]

It’s part of the flesh to fear to trust, but who better to trust than the God of the universe who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Course, if you have the twisted view of God that the Catholic church puts forth, that He’s the OT God of judgment, ready to zap you for the least little infraction, you’re going to have a harder time doing that.

[Elsie]

I condemn no ones choice to follow a what's happening now denomination, but to put your immortal soul in the hands of a bunch of nice guys called navigators, and deny the true church of Jesus, which He, Himself founded....sounds a little dangerous to me.

Instead; it's better to follow the example of the leaders of the Catholic Church.

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Pope Stephen VI (896–897), who had his predecessor Pope Formosus exhumed, tried, de-fingered, briefly reburied, and thrown in the Tiber.^[1]

Pope John XII (955–964), who gave land to a mistress, murdered several people, and was killed by a man who caught him in bed with his wife.

Pope Benedict IX (1032–1044, 1045, 1047–1048), who "sold" the Papacy

Pope Boniface VIII (1294–1303), who is lampooned in Dante's Divine Comedy

Pope Urban VI (1378–1389), who complained that he did not hear enough screaming when Cardinals who had conspired against him were tortured.^[2]

Pope Alexander VI (1492–1503), a Borgia, who was guilty of nepotism and whose unattended corpse swelled until it could barely fit in a coffin.^[3]

Pope Leo X (1513–1521), a spendthrift member of the Medici family who once spent 1/7 of his predecessors' reserves on a single ceremony^[4]

Pope Clement VII (1523–1534), also a Medici, whose power-politicking with France, Spain, and Germany got Rome sacked.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bad_Popes

[Elsie]

I condemn no ones choice to follow a what's happening now denomination,

Speaking of this; how is your current pope meeting with your approval?

[Elsie]

Have a nice eternity, but if you reach the pearly gates ahead of me, pray a nice prayer to St Peter, that if my good works outweigh my bad works, that he might be so kind as to let me in.

Sounds like the god of Islam.

[Mark17]

Sounds like the god of Islam.

Well, don't they worship the same God?

[Mark17]

Quite a chance you're taking just to " see what happens"

Yes, it is not just taking a chance, it is downright dangerous, and MOST foolhardy to take a "wait and see what happens" attitude. That is not good enough for me. That was the unanswered question I had, that the catholic priest could not answer. I wanted to know, if I was supposedly in the "one true church" why was I sure I was going to Hell? He tried to hem haw and dance around the subject, and gave me non answers. I was a faithful catholic. I demanded an answer. I did NOT get one. It seemed like I was interrupting a football game. I left more angry and disgusted than I was before. Several years later, I found the answer to my question, through simple faith. The key word being "simple" We are not discussing brain surgery here. It is a lot simpler than that. The moral of the story is, I figured out if I had unanswered questions, I knew who I was NOT going to see. Now, you might ask, why do people continue to worship Him in vain, and teach for doctrine the commandments of men? I still haven't figured that one out, but I would suspect it could be hazardous to one's soul health. It seems so much simpler to me, to put my faith in God, rather than some behemoth, mysterious, cloudy, nebulous organization, that weighs its people down with enormous heavy burdens, and doesn't doesn't lift a finger to help them bare it. I finally took my anger directly to God, and found out that His yoke really is easy, and His burden is light. If someone wants to remain in a gigantic organization, that's on them. All I can say is, have a nice eternity. See you at the pearly gates, maybe.

[HurriKane]

Thank you for your considerate and thoughtful reply, you have given me food for thought, even though I consider myself a traditionalist, it is a new position for me, and so it is important for me to understand why others are not, I have been studying traditional Catholic apologetics (pre-VII) for the past half year, in my small book group we are really having a great time struggling with new/old concepts, and also challenging each other with different points of you, there is so much to learn, thank you again for taking the time to share your view... Blessings, HK