Dear brothers and sisters,
Some years ago, I served as the chairman of the bishops’ Committee for International Justice and Peace. In that capacity, I traveled each year to parts of the world facing some of the gravest hardships in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The purpose of these pastoral trips was, first of all, to express solidarity on behalf of the church in the United States with those suffering hardship. Secondly, I would observe the local situation and listen to a variety of voices (church lay and clergy, civil society, diplomatic, governmental, etc.) in order to understand deeply the dynamics of the conflicts, their humanitarian and spiritual needs, as well as their thoughts on possible solutions to such conflicts. I would then return to the U.S. and advocate on behalf of the U.S. bishops to Congress and the State Department for policy that would help those particular situations.
After making first contacts with local church leaders, I always connected with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) serving in those particular locations. CRS is the global humanitarian arm of the church in the United States. Up until now CRS has offered humanitarian relief to people in over 100 countries across the globe. I was a witness to the tremendous and strategic work of CRS, as it adapted to the needs of the local circumstances. When ISIS had massacred Yazidis, Muslims, and Christians on the Nineveh heights, survivors fled to the northern regions of Iraq. I was heartened to find CRS present in Duhok, in northern Iraq, not only providing humanitarian supplies for families and emotional support for traumatized children; they also negotiated with the owners of unfinished houses, offering to weatherize the houses in exchange for allowing the families who had fled Nineveh to stay in their homes during the bitterly cold winter months. This is just one example of the kind of strategic humanitarian aid that CRS provides around the globe.
Unfortunately, the world is not scarce when it comes to humanitarian crises. Thankfully, CRS has been present to provide assistance without regard to race, religion, or ethnicity.
CRS is funded by both private donations and government contracts (USAID). The total budget of USAID, while sizable, represents less than 1% of the total federal budget. Concerns have been raised that USAID funds have been misused. Those concerns should be investigated and the allocations discontinued, if true. However, let us not throw out the proverbial baby with the bath water! Programs should be scrutinized and investigated, and discontinued when inappropriately allocated.
While the Judeo-Christian tradition heavily influenced the foundation of the United States, our beloved country is a pluralistic one. Yet, I believe that all major religions, as well as secular humanists, would agree that helping fellow human beings in dire need is essential to humanity. In our Christian tradition, I think of Jesus’ parable about Lazarus and the rich man, teaching that care for the poor is essential to human and Christian living (Lk 16:19-31). The United States is the wealthiest country in the world, and one that has been a beacon of hope in many instances across the world. I pray that we will continue to be so. At less than 1% of our budget, I believe we can afford it.
Bishop Oscar Cantú
Diocese of San Jose