Catholic Relief Services in the News

For Indonesia earthquake relief, true test comes in remote areas : From Christian Science Monitor

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST

The village of Sungai Sarik may be typical of the challenges faced in areas to Padang's north. Nearly 85 percent of homes there have been destroyed, according to an assessment by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which has a team of 30 people working on the ground. As survivors huddle in makeshift tents, little relief has made its way there. "You drive through it, and you see people with their makeshift tents right outside their destroyed homes," says Lauren Sheahen, of CRS, who visited Sungai Sarik yesterday. "Not a lot of people had been paying attention to it... It's really serious."

College students turn compassion to action as CRS ambassadors : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:09:00 EST

"Becoming a CRS ambassador is really the best thing college students can do for themselves," said Brittany Mitchell, a former CRS ambassador and recent graduate of Cabrini College. "It's really amazing the knowledge you obtain from participating in this program," Mitchell told Catholic News Service. "The organization taught me more than any book or news program. They really opened up my mind and my heart to the world. "As a recent graduate, I intend to take the knowledge and compassion taught by CRS and apply it to my life outside of college," she added.

Not enough rain, not enough food in Guatemala : From Miami Herald

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:09:00 EST

Almost half of Guatemala's children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, among the highest rate in the world, according to UNICEF, the United Nations' agency that focuses on children and development. Aid workers, food experts and government officials say the drought threatens to exacerbate the problem because it hit amid severe soil erosion, a major disease infestation, spike in food prices and a drop in remittances due to the global economic crisis. ``The problem of malnutrition won't be in just the dry corridor but in the whole country,'' said Luis Enrique Monterroso, a leading local nutritionist. ``There are indicators that next year will be worse.''

In Mombasa, A Unique Program Helps People With AIDS : From Voice of America

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:09:00 EST

(Please click "Video: Kenya AIDS" on the right side of the screen to watch a video of the story) Low-income Kenyans living with HIV/AIDS face a range of challenges. In the Catholic Diocese of Mombasa on Kenya's coast, people affected by AIDS have formed groups that enable members to increase their incomes and improve their nutrition.

Leadership Standoff Leaves Honduras In Limbo : From NPR - All Things Considered

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:09:00 EST

Even before the coup, the global financial crisis and a significant drop in money being sent home by Hondurans working in the United States were squeezing the country's economy. Now, the impoverished Central American nation is also losing hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance from the international community.

Mixing fighting and food : From Stars and Stripes

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:09:00 EST

Aid and development workers say their fiercely protected neutrality is jeopardized when foreign militaries deliver aid intending to fulfill strategic, rather than purely humanitarian, objectives.

"House of Mothers" Helps Pregnant Women Survive in Rural Guinea-Bissau : From Voice of America

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:08:00 EST

(Click "Listen" in the top right corner to hear the audio file) Guinea-Bissau is considered one of the worst places in the world to be a mother. The small West African country has soaring infant and maternal mortality rates, and consistently ranks at the bottom of economic, development and health surveys. But these bleak figures could change thanks to a place called the House of Mothers - a haven for pregnant women that provides life-saving pre-natal care.

Catholic Church in Kenya Promotes Alternative to Female Circumcision : From Voice of America

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:07:00 EST

(Click "Watch" on the top right of the screen to see the video that accompanies the article) The modified traditional training, called the Alternative Rite of Passage, is a project of the Catholic Diocese of Meru and Catholic Relief Services. Justa Mwenda, 16, wants to be a lawyer. She says the teaching given during the one-week seclusion has given her skills on how to express herself without fear and to stand up for human rights.

Vietnamese American returns to homeland to help disabled : From San Jose Mercury News

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:06:00 EST

At age 15 in 1968, Do Van Du lost a leg and part of an arm while serving as a combat interpreter for the U.S. Special Forces near the Cambodian border. He moved to the United States in 1971 and became a successful software engineer and systems analyst. Then, seven years ago, Du returned to his homeland to help found a college-level program run by Catholic Relief Services to train disabled young people to be software engineers and tech workers — a first for Vietnam.

Parents Circle : From Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:06:00 EST

It's a common observation that one of the most important paths to peace between enemies is to learn to see others not as demonized stereotypes, but as unique human beings. When she was in the Middle East last month, Kim Lawton learned about the Parents Circle-Families Forum — Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims who have lost loved ones in their long conflict but have learned to replace hate with reconciliation, even friendship.

Concerns raised over kids trying to get to U.S. : From Miami Herald

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:06:00 EST

A study funded by Catholic Relief Services due to be released later this month, shows that 74 percent of deported youths reported they had been robbed, extorted, intimidated or abused physically or verbally. ''This is absolutely a concern,'' said Betsy Wier, regional technical advisor for Catholic Relief Services in Latin America and project manager for the study. ``The question of child welfare and who is protecting these children needs to be taken seriously at all levels. ''

A Clash of Civilizations Between Islam and the West: Is it Inevitable? : From Huffington Post

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:06:00 EST

Is a clash of civilizations inevitable between the West and Islam? President Barack Obama doesn't think so. In his recent speech in Cairo to the Muslim world, he sought out the common ground and values that unite all people of good will, noting that America and Islam "share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings."

Combat hunger by investing in agricultural development : From Des Moines Register

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:05:00 EST

The world is hungry. The unprecedented global financial crisis is plummeting more people into poverty. Nearly 1 billion worldwide go hungry, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Our conscience tells us this is morally reprehensible; our intellect reminds us that hunger pangs can breed riots and civil unrest that jeopardize the peace for us all. This human calamity - with far-reaching consequences - demands that we strategically and smartly retool our thinking on how to tackle the scourge of global hunger.

Hope is alive in Pakistan : From Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Wed, 27 May 2009 12:05:00 EST

For anyone who doesn't feel hope when thinking about Pakistan, I urge you to reconsider. Without question, Pakistan has become volatile and fragile, with more than 1 million people having fled fighting in the northwest in recent weeks. But having recently visited that region, I have one basic message: Do not give up hope. Indeed, the search for stability in the country does not take you far from the Pakistani villages that I visited, where people are building stable, secure lives. Theirs are stories of good news rarely heard - stories worth repeating.

CRS to assist host families caring for displaced Pakistanis : From Catholic News Service (reprinted by Catholic Review)

Fri, 22 May 2009 12:05:00 EST

Catholic Relief Services' country representative in Pakistan said the agency will focus on helping families who are housing hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis displaced by an army crackdown in the northwestern part of the country. "These families are going out of their way to help the displaced people," Darren Hercyk, the CRS official, told Catholic News Service May 21 in a telephone interview from his office in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Food aid experts: 'world hunger can be eliminated' : From National Catholic Reporter

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:04:00 EST

Despite the global economic crisis, soaring food prices and reports that millions more people joined the ranks of the undernourished in 2008, key experts at a major food aid conference here April 6-8 shared a tangible optimism that both the will and means are now at hand to attack and even possibly conquer world hunger.

CRS leader cordial, modest and purpose-driven : From National Catholic Reporter

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

Talking as he leans over a hot cup of tea in the coffee shop of a Kansas City, Mo., hotel, Ken Hackett is cordial, modest and purpose-driven. President of Catholic Relief Services since 1993, he's viewed as an expert on global poverty and its ugly siblings, hunger and disease. His knowledge has been hard-earned; it comes, in part, from visiting the most forsaken spots on earth, where Catholic Relief Services is engaged.

He's made a Positive Impression : From Catholic New York

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:04:00 EST

Ken Hackett remembers well the day that Archbishop Timothy Dolan first stepped into the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) offices in Baltimore. It was March 13, 2008, a few months after Dolan had been named chairman of the board of CRS, the U.S. bishops' overseas relief and development agency.

Teens fast for a future with no hunger : From Catholic Virginian

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

In the spirit of challenging youth to help end global hunger, 18 teens and six adult youth leaders from St. Mary of the Presentation, Good Shepherd and Holy Angels Catholic Churches in Suffolk, Smithfield, and Portsmouth, respectively, gathered to fast and pray for 24 hours. Beginning at 10 Saturday morning, March 14, participants were permitted only fruit juice and water as they prayed, watched films, and participated in crafts and fellowship activities during the annual Catholic Relief Services Food Fast Retreat.

Filipino Catholics partner with Alaska churches : From Alaska Standard

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

Four years into what many hope to be a long-term relationship, the partnership between the Archdiocese of Cotabato, Philippines and the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska continues to evolve. "We've really been blessed in this relationship," said Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz, who signed the Catholic Relief Services-facilitated solidarity partnership with Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo in November 2004. "We are already beginning to profit from it, and we will achieve greater profit in the future."

Trying 'eco-palms': Local churches join effort to prevent overharvesting : From St. Cloud Times

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:04:00 EST

Millions of Christians will wave palm fronds this weekend during Palm Sunday services, probably giving little thought to where the branches come from. But a growing number of churches - including at least two in the St. Cloud area - have joined an effort to buy palms harvested in a way that sustains the forests where they grow and puts more money in the hands of the farmers who harvest them.

Kids get creative with Rice Bowl fundraisers : From Archdiocese of Seattle

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

At perennial Rice Bowl powerhouse Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, students and faculty are continuing their tradition this year of all-school, all-out commitment to Rice Bowl.

Micro banks improve lives of poor : From Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

On a recent visit to Cabrini, Guy Vanmeenen, Catholic Relief Services' senior technical advisor for microfinance in Africa, told the story of hundreds of communities that are experiencing greater financial stability because they founded and maintain what are called saving and internal lending communities. The program is known as SILC.

CRS representative aids student group with microfinance project : From Villanovan

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

Guy Vanmeenen, expert on microfinance and esteemed member of Catholic Relief Services, visited campus March 24 to speak with Peggy Chaudhry's international comparative management class. He also held an informal conversation with the Business/Engineering Sustainable Vision working group. The interdisciplinary group received a Sustainable Visions Grant from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance for a project in the Ifugao region of the Philippines to encourage entrepreneurship in the island nation.

Cooking up compassion : From Catholic Digest

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

On Friday nights during Lent, Voxland and seven other volunteers get together to prepare the ORB recipes.

Fair Trade Coffee: Brewed From Principles Of Faith : From Georgia Bulletin

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

In a global economy, even your morning cup of coffee has effects that ripple around the world. That message came as a wake-up call for a group attending Catholic Relief Services' third annual fair trade weekend held in Americus, Feb. 27-28.

Boland: Finding hope among despair : From Savannah Morning News

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST

We in the United States are understandably worried about our current economic woes. The fact is we have so many material things that we can be suffocated by them, given to despair because we are so fearful of losing them. I found out during my recent visit to Africa that the people of Zimbabwe can teach us a lesson. I was expecting to find such despair where the people have so little, but instead I was surprised to find so much joy.

Catholic teens participate in 24-hour food fast : From Times Record News (Texas)

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

Dozens of teens from across North Texas are spending part of this weekend gathered around the campfire. This isn't your typical campfire, though, and this is far from a run-of-the-mill weekend getaway.

Operation Rice Bowl 2009 : From Rhode Island Catholic

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

This year, it is more important than ever that we extend our actions of justice to reach out to our neighbors around the world through Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl. Our world faces a global food crisis and worldwide financial downturn that is impacting people in every developing country, as well as people here in the United States. Many families in developing countries are spending 75 percent of their income on food, leaving little remaining for other necessities.

Students learn about hunger from CRS representative : From Catholic Commentator

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

While the students ate the meager meal they heard from Dr. Hemmed Lukonge, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program officer for orphans and vulnerable children in Tanzania.

Williamsport Native Provides Catholic Relief in Africa : From Catholic Light

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

Amanda Rider Working with CRS As AIDSRelief Director in Uganda

Viewpoint: In Zimbabwe, hope amid the ruins : From Baltimore Sun

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

Hope is not a word that has often been associated with Zimbabwe in recent years. But it has been heard recently, with the swearing-in of a coalition government. And hope is exactly what I saw during a recent visit, even in places where you would expect to find despair, in places of dire poverty and hunger, in places where the difficulties that are everywhere in Zimbabwe have affected so many. Its presence made me realize that despite Zimbabwe's many problems - and I certainly saw evidence of those during my visit - we should not give up on this country. Its people have not given up.

Lenten Series Reminds Of Local And Global Hunger : From Philadelphia Bulletin

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

"We try to give people a greater sense of what Operation Rice Bowl is about and how their prayers and little sacrifices do make a difference," Anne Ayella, CRS diocesan director, said of the annual Lenten series. "The first week we had a speaker discuss Egypt and the second week was on Honduras. This week we had a local connection because it is so important for people to hear that 25 percent of Rice Bowl money stays in the local diocese where its collected."

Afghan Farmers Stabilize Eroding Slopes with Stones, Soil Ridges, and Native Plants : From Erosion Control

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

Farmers and landowners in six villages in the rugged mountains of the Gohr province in central Afghanistan are rehabilitating severely eroded watersheds that have suffered from years of harvesting of shrubs for fuel. They are installing a variety of practices to control gully and slope erosion and revegetating damaged areas with native species. Catholic Relief Services (CRS), founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to help the poor and disadvantaged outside of the United States, is providing technical assistance with funding from the United States Agency for International Development.

Catholic Relief Services: School Meals for Children Since World War II : From Los Angeles Chronicle

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

In the aftermath of the Bosnian war, poverty and hunger were widespread. School meals provided by Catholic Relief Services benefited many Bosnian children by improving their nutrition, class attendance, and education. Unfortunately, funding from the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program ran out. Subsequent funding applications by Catholic Relief Services were rejected, since Congress has never allocated enough funding for McGovern-Dole. However, Catholic Relief Services continues to help families and communities in Bosnia, including building new homes.

The Well : From America Magazine

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

No wonder Jesus referred to himself as "living water." No wonder C.R.S. is committed to digging wells. There is indeed mystery, meaning, depth, a hint of the beyond, life itself, in a well.

In one Kenyan diocese, an alternative rite of passage for girls : From Catholic News Service

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

A Kenyan diocese is giving girls a chance to grow up without participating in the traditional tribal rite of female circumcision, a practice that carries the risk of disease or death.

Catholic Relief Services offers help worldwide : From Michigan Catholic

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

Around the world, Catholic Relief Services is at work, assisting refugees, aiding disaster victims and fighting endemic poverty and hunger.

In Kenya, dioceses fight to control ever-present ethnic tensions : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

Once the violence began, Catholic officials focused on helping the displaced and victims of violence. For instance, the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services helped set up water and latrines in the Eldoret church compound when the refugees were camped there.

CRS brings comfort to the persecuted in India : From Catholic Herald

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

Just as he connected with members of his new staff in the Archdiocese of New York, greeting them with warm smiles and hand clasps, Archbishop Dolan connected with India's poor, reaching out to them with the same pastorally concern.

CITA expands worker center : From Yuma Sun

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

A not-for-profit, binational, grassroots farm worker membership organization, CITA is funded by Catholic Relief Services of Mexico. Its mission is to help agricultural employers attain and retain a viable work force and to help raise the standard of living and working for farm workers.

'Lord, when did we see you hungry?' : From Criterion

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:03:00 EST

Lent provides us with the perfect time to join the cause to help provide some relief from hunger and the many resulting health issues. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) developed the idea nearly 35 years ago of providing us with a "rice bowl" in which we can place money that we have saved through fasting and self-sacrifice during the Lenten season.

Nun helps Bolivia's street kids build future from past of addiction : From Catholic News Service

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:03:00 EST

El Alto's Light of Hope Center is now a beacon for boys living on the streets in La Paz, but Sister Doris knows that its hold on them is tenuous. The center is home to 18 boys, with beds for about a dozen more. Some stay for awhile, then succumb to the lure of the streets.

The Catholic Relief Services Collection Gives Hope in Troubled Times : From DFW Catholic

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST

The Catholic Relief Services Collection confronts international issues such as food security, HIV/AIDS, education and peace building. In addition to the vital efforts of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the collection supports refugee resettlement programs, legal aid to immigrants, advocacy and emergency and disaster relief.

Blueprint for Peace: Pope Benedict's Call to Fight Poverty : From Commonweal

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Commentary by Archbishop Timothy Dolan about Operation Rice Bowl and the new initiative "Catholics Confront Global Poverty"

Acting in good faith : From Victoria Times Colonist

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Those horrors were nothing compared to the genocide in Rwanda that fuelled her involvement with Catholic Relief Services, the international humanitarian and relief organization. "They're just everywhere helping and serving, not proselytizing," Hicks said.

A View from the Field : From Sustainability: The Journal of Record

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Sustainability: The Journal of Record interviewed Michael Sheridan, a Guatemala City-based regional technical advisor for agro-enterprise for Catholic Relief Services, an international humanitarian agency. Sheridan provides technical advice on projects to help small-scale farmers compete more effectively.

There's more to Rice Bowl than coins in a box : From Michigan Catholic

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:02:00 EST

There is more to Operation Rice Bowl than just throwing some coins into a cardboard box at meals during Lent.

Speaker discusses CRS transformation : From Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Michael Weist's "Solidarity Will Transform the World: History, Catholic Social Teachings and Organizational Development at Catholic Relief Services," showcased the organizational transformation of Catholic Relief Services over the last 60 years as part of the Oscar Romero Lecture Series on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

U.S. cardinal says displaced Georgians are resentful, face challenges : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

eorgians displaced by the August conflict with Russia feel some resentment against the Georgian government and are challenged by trying to find jobs in their new provinces, said a U.S. cardinal who visited them.

Lenten meals give families chance to teach important lessons : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

It's not always easy to bring family members together for a tasty, nutritious and affordable meal. When Lent comes around, the need for meatless Fridays and the hope of teaching children about why Catholics fast and abstain from meat can make meal planning seem nearly impossible.

ORB: Changing Lives From Cameroon To Atlanta : From Georgia Bulletin

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

My experience in Cameroon has changed my life and made me a lifelong supporter of CRS. Now, as I work with Parish and Social Justice Ministries at Catholic Charities in Atlanta, I share my experience with others and encourage parishes and schools to get involved in CRS activities, like Operation Rice Bowl.

Interview: Laura Sheahen of Catholic Relief Services on Sister Maria Tolledo's Efforts to Fight Child Hunger in Moldova : From Blog Critics Magazine

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:02:00 EST

Children have been especially impacted by the harsh economic conditions in the country. While in Moldova, Laura witnessed the heroic efforts of Sister Maria Tolledo, who runs a day care/school center. At the center, needy children are provided meals and an education. Laura discusses Sister Maria's programs and how similar initiatives need to reach more children in Moldova.

Catholics focus on Lent as time of reconciliation and renewal : From Catholic Review

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

"Having the Rice Bowl as the focal point for their Lenten observance helps families to think beyond their daily realities and to focus on making a difference in the lives of others," said Beth Martin, program manager for Operation Rice Bowl.

Called to be peacemakers : From Diocese of Paterson, NJ

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

To end the ongoing crisis in the Holy Land, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community, didn't reach out to a president of a country, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient or a Harvard graduate of international development, for a global solidarity retreat for peace.

Pray, fast, learn, give : From Pittsburgh Catholic

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Students at St. Gabriel School in Whitehall will once again focus on the plight of needy children around the world by participating in Operation Rice Bowl during Lent.

'Rice Bowl'; feeds hungry here and abroad : From Catholic Sentinel

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:02:00 EST

Operation Rice Bowl

Students work to solve social justice issues : From Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Studies show that this year, more than ever, college students are involved in working to solve social, political and world issues. Many Cabrini students over the past year have exemplified this trend through both academic and personal projects.

USCCB, CRS seek 1 million Catholics for global poverty initiative : From Catholic News Service

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are seeking 1 million Catholics during the next two years to join an initiative designed to show that the difficulties Americans are facing during the current financial crisis are intricately intertwined with the plight of the poor around the world.

Fighting Poverty to Build Peace : From America Magazine

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

In response to the pope's call "to fight poverty to build peace," the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services will reinvigorate the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty soon. An initiative called "Catholics Confront Global Poverty" will be launched on Feb. 23.

Interview: Hani El-Mahdi, Catholic Relief Services, Sudan : From Blog Critics Magazine

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

If there is to be any hope of a peaceful future in the war-torn region of Sudan, food and education must be provided for all children. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is helping the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) provide school meals in Darfu, but there is far more to this work than delivering the food.

Golden Rice Bowl honors priest for doing good : From Catholic New World

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Father Richard Valker was an associate pastor at St. Norbert Parish in Northbrook when he first heard about Operation Rice Bowl, Catholic Relief Services' annual Lenten program to raise money for anti-hunger programs around the world while raising awareness about global hunger.

Students spread social justice through forum : From Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Promoting peace and awareness was what students from different universities had in mind on Thursday evening, Jan. 29. Approximately 50 students from four colleges and universities met to exchange ideas about social justice programs they participate in.

Good Egg : From Catholic Digest

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

Allie gave the money to CRS because she wanted it to go where it would do the most good and help people right away. CRS used the money to help Banda Aceh, Indonesia, one of the hardest hit areas. The money helped build sanitation systems, roads, schools, hospitals, and homes.

Film to be shown at Catholic parishes puts spotlight on fair trade : From South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:02:00 EST

Before he volunteered to act in a short film for a school club, Jason Touw never thought much about fair trade. But Touw, 25, got a quick and eye-opening education last week and said he will start looking at chocolate, coffee, tea and sugar with a new eye.

Humanitarian Neutrality : From Washington Post

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST

To deliver aid effectively and protect staff, it is essential for humanitarians to uphold the basic principle of neutrality.

Letter To The Editor: Catholic Relief Services Active In Gaza : From Georgia Bulletin

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:01:00 EST

The highlights below offer just a sample of the work by the U.S. Catholic Church that has taken place on this issue to date through CRS and USCCB.

Catholic schools gather to honor Bishop Kevin Boland : From WTOC channel 11 (Savannah)

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:01:00 EST

Students also gave the Bishop a $5,000 check to donate to the Catholic Relief Services. Bishop Boland is planning to take the money with him as heads for Zimbabwe on behalf of the Catholic Relief Services.

UN Launches Emergency Appeal to Help Gaza : From Vatican Radio

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:01:00 EST

ne of the aid organisations currently working in Gaza is Catholic Relief Services. Their Country Representative for Gaza, Matthew Davies told us what the immediate needs are.

'Nets for Nets' more than the score : From Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:01:00 EST

"With every basket scored by the Cabrini team, I was visualizing a child receiving the gift of life and protection from malaria," Arlene Flaherty, CRS justice and peace partnership liaison, said. "Cabrini not only 'educates for the heart' but also 'plays with a global heart.' CRS is proud to be partners in global solidarity with Cabrini."

Crisis in the Holy Land: call for Catholic response : From Catholic San Francisco

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:01:00 EST

CRS and partners on the ground have already begun helping civilians affected by the air strikes.

Living Their Faith in Afghanistan : From Washington Post

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

The world is still blessed with many actual Franciscans. But in our time, there is another community of "strangers and pilgrims" whose satisfaction comes not from accumulating material goods or political power.

Q&A: William Brindley : From Stanford Social Innovation Review

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

Catholic Relief Services is a tremendously wired-in organization. They've done a lot of fascinating, innovative work over the years and pioneered a number of programs. Their goal in this project—which is funded by the Gates Foundation—is to enable 1 million farming families to improve their livelihoods and their security by controlling cassava diseases through better access to improved cuttings, which will lead to improved production and marketing of cassavas.

Sale for charity : From Herald News

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

For the first fundraiser of the 2008-09 school year, they chose to have a garage sale to raise money for Catholic Relief Services. Each student donated used toys, stuffed animals, games and videos. They gave up lunch and recess times to conduct sales. By the end of the second day, the students raised more than $250 to send to Catholic Relief Services.

His sister and her family wait as refugees in Syria : From Michigan Catholic

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

Nazar Shamoun and his sister Dahlia J. Shamoun were always close growing up in Baghdad. He remembers her love of stray cats and the time he saved her from a big rooster who knocked her down. She remembers sharing a walkie-talkie set, running out of sight of each other to talk. These days, they share something else. Both are Iraqi refugees, having fled their country when violence touched their lives. He and his family now live in Madison Heights. She and her family are in Damascus, Syria, awaiting resettlement. Here is her story.

Women enter Egyptian politics with help from church-sponsored program : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., claimed she put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling to women's electoral participation during the U.S. presidential primaries. In Egypt, the glass ceiling is much lower, yet a church-sponsored program is helping a handful of courageous women chip away at the restrictions of a political culture that would otherwise exclude them.

Congolese bishops call on U.S. for support : From Catholic Review

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

Speaking in a Dec. 5 conference at the Baltimore headquarters of Catholic Relief Services, Bishop Fridolin Ambongo of Bokungu-Ikela and Bishop Fulgence Muteba of Kilwa-Kasenga, said assistance is desperately needed to stop a resurgence of fighting.

Former Longmeadow man's work focuses on aiding Afghans : From The Republican

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:12:00 EST

Mention Afghanistan and most people picture a desolate, war-torn country half a world away, both physically and culturally. But for Matthew T. McGarry, this country wedged between Iran, Pakistan and three other countries is not that different from ours in many basic ways.

Africa's deadliest conflict : From Baltimore Sun

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

The desperate plight of civilians caught between warring militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo was underscored last week by three Congolese church leaders who visited Baltimore to deliver an urgent appeal for help. The two bishops, accompanied by a nun, spoke at the Catholic Relief Services headquarters in downtown Baltimore, where they related the havoc wrought by militia groups and bandits who have raped and massacred thousands of innocent civilians and driven a quarter-million refuges from their homes since fighting flared up again in August.

Bishops fear for survival of Chaldeans in Iraq, Christians in the Middle East : From Michigan Catholic

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

Chaldean Catholics who remain in Iraq "are all in danger. They never know if they will be killed or kidnapped today or tomorrow," says Chaldean Bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim.

Operation Rice Bowl: helping feed the hungry : From Catholic Key

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

Several urban schools, food pantries and rural parishes with food pantries in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph were recent beneficiaries of funds from Operation Rice Bowl. Fifteen thousand dollars were disbursed in an effort to alleviate hunger and support school breakfast programs.

A hunger to help others Hamilton native is working to solve Africa's food issues : From Times of Trenton

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

The global economic crisis that pushed up the prices of fuel and food earlier this year had far worse consequences in poorer nations, according to Megan McGlinchy, a Hamilton native and agricultural economist who works in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Summit focuses on economic, spiritual needs of produce workers : From Yuma Sun

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

For example, Catholic Relief Services has developed a project to address labor issues in Yuma County by facilitating the H2A guest worker program, helping Mexicans access that program so they can work in the fields here.

Fair trade products make Christmas shopping meaningful : From Catholic Standard and Times

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

You give to the person who you buy the gift for and the one that produced it," said Joanne Kratz, a Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Ambassador and member of St. Maria Goretti Parish in Hatfield. "Catholic social teaching instructs us to give priority to the poor because these are the least of our brothers and sisters. You can help by purchasing fair trade products."

Parishes prepare to participate in annual hunger-fighting initiative : From Catholic Courier

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

The Diocese of Rochester is one of the top dioceses in terms of participation in Operation Rice Bowl and is one of the few dioceses that is working to set up global-solidarity teams in each of its parishes, Fisher said. During the 2008 Operation Rice Bowl Campaign, $78,381.89 was raised by the Rochester Diocese's parishes, schools, campus ministries and organizations.

Nativities around the world: support artisans with Work of Human Hands : From Catholic Digest

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

Fair Trade

AIDS fight is worth it : From Baltimore Sun

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST

In remote villages throughout Africa, most people appear far removed from the financial crisis rolling through much of the world. The economy these villagers encounter is unconcerned with complex financial instruments and liquidity on Wall Street. But millions of these men, women and children will suffer the consequences of this crisis unless the new administration and Congress refuse to let the poorest of the poor suffer due to the mistakes of the richest of the rich.

Corner of Hope helps curb world hunger : From Catholic Witness

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

FRB article

How to save the world in small steps : From Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Happy holidays, by which I'm referring to World Toilet Day. It was last week. You may have missed it.

Study: Overseas aid needed to keep poor from falling further behind : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Officials from a variety of nongovernmental organizations have urged the United States to continue overseas development assistance despite the current global financial crisis.

Despite incentives, Iraqi refugees not returning home, say officials : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Refugees from Iraq are not going home any time soon, despite Iraqi government enticements, say church officials and others who work with the exiles in the Middle East.

24 hour fast educates and inspires teens : From Frederick News-Post

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Katherine, Sarah and 25 other teens participated this weekend in Food Fast, a Catholic Relief Services program that links the Catholic tradition of fasting with global hunger. With materials provided by CRS, the teens learned about global hunger and poverty in the developing world.

Iraq: Refugees in Egypt : From Chicago Public Radio (audio file)

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, at least 2.5 million Iraqis have fled their country since 2003. An additional 2 million have been displaced within Iraq from their homes. Most Iraqis who have left their country go to Syria or Jordan, but a sizeable number went to Egypt as well. Vivian Manneh is Program Manager at Catholic Relief Services/Middle East. She's based in Egypt, but I talked with her when she was in the U.S. for training from the Middle East Iraqi Refugees Trauma Project. Jerome asked her how many Iraqi refugees live in Egypt...

Siblings witness charity firsthand in Africa : From Today's Catholic (incorrect HIV stat in story)

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Ken MacLean, CRS Kenya country representative, says of the Tippmanns involvement with CRS, "The donation from the Tippmanns is critical to our program because without resources we cannot enact social change and help some of the world's poorest people. Their visit itself is so important because it breathes life into the word 'solidarity.'"

Web Sites Let You Give The Gift Of Giving : From Investor's Business Daily

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Donors are enthusiastic about buying shares of the organization's efforts, says Jean Simmons, annual giving director for CRS. "We get amazing comments back from our donors saying: 'This is so fantastic. Instead of buying a tie for my dad, I can buy a share in this project,' " Simmons said.

Students seek answer to human trafficking : From The Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Each year, millions of people around the world are trafficked into slavery and prostitution; 175,000 reaching the United States. Many of these people are children between the ages of 17 and 19 who are misled and forced into becoming sex slaves or labor workers. ECG 100, "Engagement with the Common Good: Our Independent World," was part of a global video conference, held by Catholic Relief Services, to provide information on this international crisis.

Que Peque�o es el Mundo : From National Association of Hispanic Priests (Spanish language site)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Spanish language article by CRS' Juan Molina about his advocacy trip to Ethiopia

CRS workers deal with trauma of Iraqi refugees : From Catholic Virginian

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Recognizing the growing effects of post-traumatic stress among the refugees, CRS brought the staff to Harrisonburg for specialized training through EMU's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.

New Milford native calls Senegal home : From New Milford Times

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

The New Milford High School graduate, who joined the Peace Corps and served a community in Cote D'Iviore (formerly Ivory Coast) before a rebel coup forced her and other volunteers to leave the country. She now works in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, and is employed by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a U.S.-based non-governmental organization that works in more than 100 countries.

Former teacher helps with AIDS project in Africa : From Cincinnati Enquirer

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

"I knew there was something better I could be doing. I wanted to do something that makes a difference in the world."

Rice Bowl helps fund Knoxville food pantry : From The Messenger

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

For two years, the Diocese of Davenport has provided a grant to Helping Hands Food Pantry from the 25 percent local share of Catholic Relief Service's Operation Rice Bowl campaign. Murphy calls the support from Operation Rice Bowl funds "a blessing for this area."

Pope's encyclical said to give charities encouragement, guidance : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Hackett said CRS, which is based in Baltimore, sees its role as embodying the concern of Catholics in the United States for their brothers and sisters who live in poverty around the world, grounded in the belief "in the sacredness and fundamental dignity of every human life."

Ethiopian trip inspires head of Catholic Charities to advocate for CRS global programs : From Diocese of Paterson, NJ

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

The impoverished villagers of remote Kufansik weren't showing delegation members their latest science experiment, but instead, they were making a statement of hope without saying a word. A partnership between Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Hararghe Catholic Secretariat has provided the delighted village with an irrigation system and better sanitation.

A Hungry World : From America Magazine

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Smart organizations, like Catholic Relief Services, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Warren Buffett's foundations, are not only providing emergency rations, but are working to help poor farmers grow more, to raise themselves and their communities from hunger.

Wilson graduate finds work in Africa rewarding : From Reading Eagle (PA)

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:11:00 EST

Orth-Moore stressed that CRS seeks to improve the lives of the people in Africa over the long term. "It's not just a handout, but a hand up so they get a better future," he said.

Peace activist Katunga reviews conflicts, peace efforts in Africa : From Today's Catholic

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Katunga said that Catholic Relief Services has been supporting interfaith dialogue and election review, publishing solution scenarios, and promoting truth and reconciliation to help communities move beyond historical conflicts.

'The Wall': Palestinians 'locked up in a vast prison' : From Catholic San Francisco

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

(George Wesolek, director of the archdiocesan Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns, took part in a fact-finding trip to the Middle East Sept. 21 to Oct. 6 sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, the overseas relief agency of U.S. Catholics. Following is the second of three reports on that journey.)

Church works to protect human trafficking victims in Ecuador, India : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

The Catholic Church in India and Ecuador is working to protect women, children and indigenous people, the most vulnerable victims of human trafficking, said church workers.

Ten years after Mitch, Central Americans remain vulnerable : From Catholic News Service

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

CRS works with diocesan Caritas aid organizations in three regions of Nicaragua, providing training in disaster prevention and response. Walsh said the church-based groups have proved invaluable, reacting quickly to Hurricane Felix in 2007 as well as to flooding caused by a tropical depression in October of this year.

Austinite travels to Ethiopia with Catholic Relief Services : From West Texas Catholic

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

Father Molina noted that much of the funding for CRS' lifesaving programs comes from the U.S. government and from parishes throughout the United States. One of the purposes of the trip, he added, was to highlight the works of CRS and to strengthen the relationship between U.S. diocesan leaders and CRS staff.

CRS evacuates workers from eastern Congo amid increased conflict : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EST

Although two Catholic Relief Services workers in eastern Congo have been evacuated to neighboring Rwanda amid the escalating conflict, they are planning to return to another part of the country as soon as possible to help with relief efforts, said a CRS official.

Every choice matters: Responsible consumer practice highlighted in fair trade month : From Catholic Spirit

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EST

The purchase of fairly traded products helps farmers who work modest plots in many developing countries throughout the world. Despite the fact that agriculture is a major industry, many of these farmers see few benefits without the support fair trade provides.

Global Solidarity Tour Comes to the South Lounge : From Fordham Observer

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EST

The Peace Building Conference was just one destination for the CRS' Annual Global Solidarity Tour, which, according to Acayo, came to Fordham to bring attention to the CRS' efforts—in the absence of action by the United Nations (UN)—to reestablish peace in Uganda in light of the recent civil war. Acayo, the CRS Peace Building officer in Uganda who has witnessed the violence firsthand and advised the International Criminal Court (ICC) in handling the issue, was this year's speaker.

Aid agencies: world's poor will be biggest victims : From Associated Press

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:10:00 EST

In impoverished Haiti, funding for projects to rebuild from tropical storms that killed nearly 800 people and destroyed more than half the nation's agriculture hangs in the balance.

Can Citizenship Be Earned? : From America Magazine

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EST

Amnesty": Just include this lightning rod of a word and any proposal for legalizing undocumented immigrants or for achieving comprehensive immigration reform quickly plummets to defeat.

CRS helps Sudanese refugees fight Egypt's school-system hurdles : From Catholic News Service

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EST

Frustrated in their hopes to emigrate to countries like the United States or Australia and unable or reluctant to return to their shattered homeland, the parents struggle, with the help of grants from the Catholic Church, to educate their children for an uncertain future.

Refugees say security issues keep them from returning to Iraq : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

Editors: Paul Jeffrey, who won a 2008 Egan Award from Catholic Relief Services for a CNS series on gangs in Honduras, traveled to the Middle East with CRS to look at the situation of Iraqi refugees. This is the second of three stories he filed.

USCCB, CRS urge presidential nominees to ponder world poverty issues : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

The campaigns of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain have failed to adequately address the global food crisis, the increasing role of the U.S. Defense Department in humanitarian work, the refocusing of U.S. foreign assistance, and how the government should help the poor adapt to climate change, said Bill O'Keefe, senior director for the advocacy department of the Baltimore-based CRS.

Keep military aid separate from aid organizations : From Christian Science Monitor

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

One of the fundamental principles that relief organizations live by is simple: Aid must be directed toward the alleviation of human suffering, without regard for race, creed or nationality, and certainly without strategic military intent.

Catholics worldwide reach out to Haiti following devastating storms : From Catholic News Service

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

Catholic relief agencies and parishes worldwide are responding to the devastation in Haiti, battered by four deadly hurricanes.

South Asia has challenges, rewards, CRS official says : From St. Louis Review

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

The Catholic Church plays a disproportionate role in social outreach in South Asia, Hartigan said. In India, where Catholics are about 2.5 percent of the population, the Church operates about 19 percent of education programs and health institutions.

Relief Operations Under Way In Devastated Haiti : From NPR - All Things Considered

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

Relief operations continue in Haiti for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by two tropical storms and two hurricanes in the last month. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed and large parts of Haiti remain cut off from the rest of the country.

Pope prays for Haitians as they battle to survive series of storms : From Catholic News Service

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

Pope Benedict XVI offered prayers and requested international aid for the people of Haiti, battered by four hurricanes in the space of three weeks.

Newtown students honored : From Delaware County Daily Times

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

By making decorative pens and holding a school bake sale, Allie and her more than 640 fellow students from preschool to eighth grade raised more than $5,300 for Catholic Relief Services to help the victims in Indonesia.

Catholic Relief Services responds to global food crisis : From Catholic News Service

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

From the Horn of Africa to Haiti, rising food prices are driving millions of families to the brink of starvation. Catholic Relief Services has set aside an initial $1 million to help hungry people in a half-dozen countries buy food and prepare for the next planting season.

Haitians flee Gonaives before Ike reaches island : From Associated Press

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

Hundreds of people fled this waterlogged city Saturday for higher ground as powerful Hurricane Ike threatened to unleash heavy rain and compound a disaster caused by a previous storm.

Couple helping Africa's orphans : From Los Angeles Daily News

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

CRS volunteers

Aid agencies scramble to help flood victims : From CNN

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Caroline Brennan, a Catholic Relief Services spokeswoman, said the hard-hit regions aren't regularly hit by monsoons, so the people in these poverty-stricken areas are particularly unprepared.

Teens gather to learn about building peace : From Catholic Standard and Times

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Whether it's Darfur, Georgia, Iraq or the Middle East, the need for peace is a top priority for Catholic Relief Services, the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. That is why CRS in the United States started a "Global Peace Builders" retreat three years ago in Chicago, Ill., to teach peace-building skills to youths.

A Week in Georgia: An Aid Worker's Journal : From Commonweal

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

As the bombs fall and thousands of people in Georgia flee their homes, Catholic Relief Services aid workers in my region (Europe/Middle East) watch the news anxiously. On Friday and Saturday, we try to call our CRS colleagues in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, but only a few calls go through. The staff there is safe.

Human trafficking: Modern-day slavery with high stakes : From Catholic News Service

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

From fruit-packing plants in Britain to plantations in Malaysia and West Africa to fishing boats on the high seas, a globalized economy and the incessant quest for lower costs grease the wheels of a system in which policies favor forced labor and human trafficking even as countries claim to crack down on illegal immigrants.

Speak Out: Faith, hope, fertilizer give poor people new life : From San Antonio Express-News

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Ibania Flores has faith and hope. Faith and Hope (Fe Y Esperanza) is also the name of the small cooperative she leads producing organic fertilizer in the tiny village of La Tejera near the city of Esteli in northwest Nicaragua.

Catholics discuss fear, instability, humanitarian aid in Georgia : From Catholic News Service

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Laura Sheahen, regional information officer with the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services, reported from Georgia that CRS was working with Caritas Georgia to provide emergency aid.

Rebuilding in Peru : From Maryknoll Magazine

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Brian Goonan, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) regional representative for South America, says the U.S. Church agency initially committed $100,000 in immediate aid, working through the Peruvian arm of Caritas, the Church's humanitarian aid and development agency. But CRS is looking at the long-term need to rebuild devastated communities.

Old Bombs, New Deaths in Vietnam : From Maryknoll Magazine

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Catholic Relief Services educates children to dangers of decades-old mines, bombs.

Diocese, U.S. Senate candidates discuss immigration at forum : From Colorado Catholic Herald

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Father Molina said that efforts must continue to be made to increase development in poorer countries. He said that if small businesses can flourish in those countries, its residents will not want to migrate.

Making Something Beautiful out of Broken Pieces : From The Nation (Philippines)

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

In 1998 she left Manila for Mindanao to work with Catholic Relief Services "to help strengthen the organizational capacities of communities." Soon she was also taking photos of children in teeming camps in North Cotabato, where the CRS provided relief assistance for communities displaced people by "Erap's all-out war" against Muslim rebels in 2000.

Nigeria trip brings new perspectives : From Catholic Courier

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Versluys, who serves as Rochester's diocesan coordinator of youth ministry, was among 12 people nationwide who took part in "Called to Witness" April 15-28, visiting the Nigerian archdioceses of Abuja and Jos. The visit was a joint effort of CRS and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry.

Relief worker is right at home in Nepal : From Baltimore Sun

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Underwear was nobody's biggest concern in March when fires raced through a refugee camp in Nepal, leaving behind a smoldering expanse of ash and ruin. Food, water, shelter, pants and shirts ranked higher for the 10,000 inhabitants who'd lost everything. But thanks to a relief effort that Cockeysville native Robin Contino helped coordinate, these refugees from neighboring Bhutan got all that plus undergarments, school uniforms and other valued items that could easily have been forgotten amid the chaos.

First female treatment centre commissioned : From Kaieteur News

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Guyana's first female substance abuse treatment centre was inaugurated yesterday and is expected to cater to an initial 12 patients even as plans are engaged to expand its operation.

Bishop Ricard: aid to Africa must be balanced : From Florida Catholic

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

The U.S. Catholic Church will continue to provide humanitarian relief to Africa, but it also has pledged to help build up the rapidly growing Catholic Church on the continent.

In fight against AIDS, agencies consider male circumcision : From Catholic News Service

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

"We are still learning about circumcision and how much we should focus on it," said Dr. Carl Stecker, senior technical adviser for HIV and AIDS for Catholic Relief Services.

AIDS conference participants say rising food costs could worsen HIV : From Catholic News Service

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Key speakers and Catholic relief workers at a global AIDS conference said rising food prices could worsen the effects of the HIV epidemic, but they noted progress in fighting discrimination and distributing medicine.

Parishes urged to form global-solidarity teams : From Catholic Courier

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Staff members in the Diocese of Rochester's Catholic Relief Services office are encouraging parishes to form global-solidarity teams to help parishioners embrace their call to global solidarity and the preferential option for the poor. Local CRS staffers will be offering several orientation sessions in the next few months for parishioners interested in coordinating such teams in their own parishes.

Who would Jesus deport? : From Independent Weekly

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

The federal government's inability to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation has led to scores of local and state laws that have cracked down on undocumented immigrants, and have been "harmful to many," Larson said. "People are suffering and dying."

Youth demonstrate their passion and ability : From Faith in Action Now!

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

CRS has recognized youth as an important part of their volunteer base that makes the house calls, and tailors volunteer training and volunteer interrelations accordingly.

Foreign aid workers slowly returning to Iraq : From New York Times

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:07:00 EST

Mark Schnellbaecher, Middle East director of U.S.-based Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which currently funds Iraqi charities, said he was set to make his first visit to Iraq for more than four years in October or November. The organisation will then look at re-opening an office, having pulled out of the southern city of Basra in 2004 because of the growing threat from militias.

US Bishops, Charity Group Welcome AIDS Program : From Zenit

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

U.S. bishops and the aid organization Catholic Relief Services welcomed the passage of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Young Gazans educated, see inequities, says CRS program manager : From Catholic News Service

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

Shaban, program manager of the Gaza office of the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services, was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in 1962. He did not have the Internet, and Gazans were not exposed to life outside of the region, he told Catholic News Service July 25 while visiting Washington.

Lessons from Iraqi refugees : From National Catholic Reporter

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

By any name, five years past the U.S. invasion of Iraq, U.S. citizens have a responsibility to consider the conditions creating millions of Iraqi refugees, both within Iraq and in the neighboring countries of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

We can help stop starvation and death in Darfur : From Star-Ledger

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

CARE and Catholic Relief Services are two of the most effective NGOs which partner with the WFP to provide nutritional support to those still in Darfur and to refugees. Donations to each can be earmarked for nutritional relief in West and South Darfur as well as the camps in Chad. In the camps, both of these NGO's have formed resident food distribution committees where women have an equal role.

'Disaster' Looms Over 15 Million in Africa's Horn, WFP Warns : From Christian Post

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

Catholic Relief Service is also working in Ethiopia to distribute food donated by the U.S. government as well as its own private purchased food to help Ethiopians survive the extended drought. It is also working with local diocesan partners to feed malnourished children.

CRS official urges Congress to respond to food crisis facing Africans : From Catholic News Service

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

A Catholic Relief Services official urged Congress to reinforce recent supplemental funding with $1.6 billion in additional resources for food and security programs in Africa.

Desire to help inherent value in United States : From Yuma Sun

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:07:00 EST

Catholic Relief Services hopes to spread that spirit of giving already reflected within the United States and local communities to other parts of the world where there is also great need. The Spanish language Web site will explain where that need is and how to help.

In Africa, One Familys Struggle With the Global Food Crisis : From Washington Post

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:07:00 EST

A year ago, this tree was shade. But now, with even basic foods suddenly too expensive to feed her six children, it is food. The leaves taste awful, she said, but they are free -- one small advantage of living in the countryside.

Africa's Last and Least : From Washington Post

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:07:00 EST

After she woke in the dark to sweep city streets, after she walked an hour to buy less than $2 worth of food, after she cooked for two hours in the searing noon heat, Fanta Lingani served her family's only meal of the day.

CRS at 65 : From The Tablet (Diocese of Brooklyn)

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:07:00 EST

As this 65th anniversary year moves forward, CRS will continue bringing news of its urgent work to the attention of American Catholics.

Zimbabwe Ban Continues to Stymie Relief Organizations : From Chronicle of Philanthropy

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

Six weeks after a directive from Zimbabwe's government ground aid work in the country to a halt, charities' efforts to resume their operations have largely been thwarted and more than a million people are still living without food aid and medical care.

Bethel Park church sale to help artisans around world : From Pittsburg Post-Gazette

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

The sale of one-of-a-kind housewares, jewelry, baskets, pottery, children's toys, scarves and more, created by craftsmen in developing countries, makes it possible for those artisans to make a living.

Christians Support Flood Victims in Northeast India : From Christian Post

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

In Assam, Catholic Relief Services and other Christian organizations flung into action, providing emergency relief to over 16,000 families, with the help of government agencies.

Catholic Educators Return from Frontiers of Justice Trip to Ghana and Burkina Faso : From National Catholic Educational Association

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

Six educators from Catholic secondary schools and three leaders have returned from a Frontiers of Justice trip to the West African nations of Burkina Faso and Ghana.

Waste? Not : From Boston Globe

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

One of the most successful efforts has unfolded in Ethiopia. Starting in 2005, Catholic Relief Services introduced a toilet called the arborloo to extremely poor Ethiopian farmers. The arborloo is a shallow pit latrine that costs only $5. When it's filled, the farmer plants a fruit tree seedling.

African Program Is Big U.S. Success : From Wall Street Journal

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

In my travels with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an American humanitarian aid organization, I have seen firsthand the impact of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as Pepfar.

Frank victims get $500,000 from Microsoft chief : From GMANews.TV (Philippines)

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:07:00 EST

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines received the grant from the Gates Foundation for the typhoon victims.

Refugees suffer most in quest for power by presidents of Chad, Sudan : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

Trying to explain the conflict is not easy, said Cristophe Droeven, country representative in Chad for CRS. But assessing the conflict's results on the ground is more tangible, he said, comparing the "far East" of Chad to the American Wild West of a century ago.

Fuel Costs Cut Deeply Into Food Aid : From U.S. News & World Report

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:07:00 EST

The ability of the United States to supply food aid to foreign countries is being sharply affected by rising food and oil prices, new numbers show. In the past three to four months, as fuel prices have soared, the cost of shipping food aid across the ocean has climbed by about $30 per ton, and about $50 per ton since 2007-a total of nearly 30 percent, says an official from the United States Agency for International Development, which administers government food assistance.

Midanao farmers face no harvest in October : From GMANews.TV (Philippines)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

Farmers in some areas in Mindanao hit by flash floods might not see their expected October harvest this year. The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) said the no-harvest scenario could aggravate food insecurity in the Mindanao region.

Catholic Relief Services: Growing Global Solidarity : From The Tidings

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

For most of its 65 years, Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international relief and development organization, directed its personnel and fund-raising efforts toward helping the poor outside the U.S. "Until the year 2000, our focus was totally on the poor overseas," said Jim DeHarpporte, San Diego-based director of CRS' West Region. "We saw that as our mission. Then we did a year of reflection and realized we have an obligation to share this story since most Catholics don't know about this great work being done in their name."

Going where the trouble is : From Manchester Hippo Press

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

New Hampshire native Jennifer Poidatz has seen a lot of the world. For 15 years, her work for Catholic Relief Services has sent her trotting the globe to some of the most notorious hotspots of civil and economic strife. In 1994, she was sent to Rwanda, then in the throes of a genocidal civil war - the first in a series of "crisis" assignments in countries devastated by ethnic or political violence. Posts in Haiti, Burundi, and Angola followed. In 2005, she managed CRS's tsunami relief in Sri Lanka.Now, in her current post as CRS's country representative for India, she's tackling a food crisis plaguing the nation of more than a billion people.

Act now to save the hungry : From San Francisco Chronicle

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

I've looked hunger in the face - or to be more exact, in the faces of hundreds of Ethiopian children. Due to consecutive failure of rains, farmers in many pockets of southern and eastern Ethiopia have no crop to harvest. Combined with a spiraling rise in food prices, thousands of families are now left with nothing to eat. The Ethiopian government is taking action to address the impact of this year's drought by distributing emergency food rations and setting up feeding sites for malnourished children. But more help is urgently needed.

Buying Goats and Other Aid : From New York Times - Nicholas Kristof blog

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:07:00 EST

Among religiously based organizations, World Vision, Catholic Relief Services and American Jewish World Service are all standouts.

Caritas partners abroad pledge support for 'Frank' victims : From GMANews.TV (Philippines)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EST

Catholic churches around the world began pitching in for victims of typhoon "Frank" after the United States Catholic church had committed at least P2.4 million. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Wednesday that partners of Caritas abroad might send in their support in a "matter of days."

Hunger pains : From Baltimore Sun

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EST

In Africa, the rise in global food prices doesn't mean forgoing a night out on the town or passing up a pair of shoes on sale. It means middle-class families stop buying milk for their children and morning coffee, poor families start eating a bowl of porridge just once or twice a day, and the poorest of the poor regularly go hungry and may even face starvation.

Muslim leaders present check to Catholic Charities : From Florida Catholic

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EST

Noting that it's important for religious leaders to take the initiative when people need help, a representative of south Florida Muslims presented thousands of dollars in checks to Catholic Charities as part of a joint effort between the two religious groups to aid Myanmar cyclone victims.

Church Groups Espouse Fair Trade : From Business Week

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EST

"We are glad that there are more opportunities for people to shop fair trade and impact more farmers' lives," says Jacqueline DeCarlo, senior program advisor for Catholic Relief Services, which last year sold $2 million worth of fair trade coffee, chocolate, and crafts. "But we want people to aspire to the highest standards, and in this case companies that offer full commitment to fair trade merit our support."

Cortland music fest to benefit Darfur : From Tribune Chronicle

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EST

The second annual ''Save Darfur'' Music Festival which will benefit those in Darfur will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday on the grounds at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 4659 state Route 46 N.E.

College journalists' stories open students' eyes to world issues : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EST

The award-winning series of stories by Hurley and fellow student Amanda Finnegan helped spur the college's food service to add fair-trade coffee and other items to its menus and won the two a trip to another part of the world -- the Middle East -- to see the work that Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international aid and development agency, is doing with Iraqi refugees.

Editorial: Thank you, Father David, for your civic mission : From San Antonio Express-News

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EST

While Garcia surely will enjoy leading this valuable effort so integral to the history of San Antonio, those who know him suspect his priestly heart will be in his other job. As senior adviser for clergy outreach for Catholic Relief Services, Garcia will work to raise awareness among American Catholics of the needs of the poor in the developing world.

Sugar cane a cruel harvest : From Miami Herald

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EST

Catholic Relief Services, working through the Brazilian Catholic church and local partners, encouraged alternative employment schemes for freed and at-risk laborers, assisted those wishing to report cases of alleged slave labor and raised awareness of the phenomenon of slave labor for 3 � years under a recently concluded U.S. Department of Labor project.

Steve & Cokie Roberts: Jews, Palestinians sharing pain and land : From Marietta Daily Journal

Fri, 23 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

Elhanan and Faraj are members of Parents Circle-Families Forum, an organization of antiwar activists drawn together by the loss of loved ones. Now on a speaking tour of the United States, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, they recently sat down for a talk.

Floridians respond to Myanmar tragedy : From Florida Catholic

Thu, 22 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

In Catholic dioceses and parishes throughout the state, calls for special collections and individual donations - to be funneled to the devastated areas through Catholic Charities agencies and Catholic Relief Services - went out within days of the storm.

Rising prices in Haiti turn hunger into an epidemic : From Florida Catholic

Wed, 21 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

"As food prices increase, desperation is spreading among the poor and working poor all the way up to the working class. ... It's partly that frustration that led to the confrontations," said William Canny, Catholic Relief Services' country representative in Haiti.

World extends helping hands : From Florida Catholic

Wed, 21 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

CRS, the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, works with numerous other groups throughout the world to gather and provide services not only when disaster strikes, but to provide development assistance in parts of the world where people need food and a better life. Because the government in Myanmar is accepting aid only from Asian partners, CRS works with local and regional groups to deliver relief and needed supplies.

Humanitarian Problems in Gaza : From National Public Radio - Baltimore affiliate WYPR

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

Audio file - Tom Garofalo interviewed on situation in Gaza

Heavy rains head toward cyclone-devastated Myanmar : From Associated Press

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

"The weather will exacerbate humanitarian conditions for the homeless, many of whom are living under an open sky," said Elizabeth Griffin, a director of Catholic Relief Services from Baltimore. "Thankfully, no serious outbreaks of bacterial, water or mosquito borne diseases have been reported, but this could change in the next two to three weeks."

Peace in the Holy Land tour stops in Toledo : From Toledo Free Press

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

To outsiders, it may seem as if Elhanan and Faraj have all the reasons in the world to hate each other. Hailing from opposite sides of the longstanding conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, both men count family members among those lost in the fighting.

After Tragedy, Holy Land Speakers Pursue Peace : From Georgia Bulletin

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

As young men, the two could not have been more different: a battle-hardened former Israeli soldier, a rock-throwing Palestinian jailed for protesting the occupation of the West Bank.

Pope expresses deep sadness over cyclone's destruction in Myanmar : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

Pope Benedict XVI expressed deep sadness and "heartfelt sympathy" after hearing news of "the tragic aftermath" of Cyclone Nargis, which killed tens of thousands in Myanmar.

Hunger stalks globe as aid groups forced to cut : From Reuters

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

"This is an unprecedented crisis for us, because it's global," said Lisa Kuennen-Asfaw, of Catholic Relief Services -- a crisis felt in most of the 100 places CRS works.

Bush proposes $770 million for world food crisis : From Reuters

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

Some aid groups and U.S. lawmakers are clamoring for more assistance immediately. The administration has already requested supplemental food aid funding, a perennial addition to annual budget funds, of $350 million for fiscal 2008, but some are pushing for a figure at least $200 million higher. The United States typically provides about $1.6 billion to $1.7 billion in food aid each year through the U.S. Agency for International Development. "As a humanitarian organization interested in saving lives, we are not sure these resources equip us to meet the needs now," said Catholic Relief Services, an aid group.

Surplus U.S. food supplies dry up : From USA Today

Thu, 01 May 2008 09:05:00 EST

Food aid "is going to have to be significantly higher if we're going to continue to play the role we've played in the past; ... $117 million is not much," says Lisa Kuennen-Asfaw of Catholic Relief Services.

Seed handouts counter-productive to agricultural growth : From Africa Science News Service

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:05:00 EST

Widespread seed handouts, particularly during crisis times, can create a culture of dependency, undermine local markets, and compromise local diversity of staple crops, especially by giving exaggerated emphasis to maize, a paper published today in The Journal of Development Studies.

CRS chairman says agency practices church teachings on condoms : From Catholic News Service

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

n a letter to U.S. bishops, the chairman of the board of Catholic Relief Services said the agency's HIV/AIDS programs practice church teachings on condom use and abstinence before marriage. "In no cases does CRS promote, purchase or distribute condoms," said Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee, CRS chairman, in the letter obtained April 29 by Catholic News Service.

How to Help (World Food Price Crisis) : From Washington Post

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

CRS focuses on international aid and has a Food Security program that aims to alleviate hunger through short-, medium- and long-term initiatives. Donate via its Web site, http://www.crs.org, call 800-736-3467, or mail a check to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.

Israeli, Palestinian find common ground in grief, hope : From Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

Rami Elhanan and Mazen Faraj live on different sides of the controversial concrete wall separating Israelis from Palestinians. But they have found common ground.

Students Find Inspiration at Catholic Peacebuilding Network Conference : From Inside USD

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

Dean Headley, who has attended each of the previous conferences in his role with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), said it was a time for all parties to reflect on peacebuilding, many for the first time. This year, however, he attended wearing a different hat. He now speaks from an academic point of view.

Israeli, Palestinian speakers promote peace in Macon : From Macon Telegraph

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

Macon was the first stop among several cities across the United States in a monthlong tour as part of the Catholic Relief Services' Peace in the Holy Land Speaker Tour. Its mission is to raise awareness about the issues at the root of the conflict in the Holy Land.

Tour gives aid groups taste for potatoes : From Capital Press Agriculture News

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

Four private voluntary organizations visited Eastern Idaho last week to get an idea of how potatoes might fit into their food-aid programs in Africa. The tour, organized by the U.S. Potato Board, included stops at a fresh-pack shed, a dehydrated potato plant and a company that specializes in the development of new products for potato processors and snack food makers.

Experts say high food prices permanent; bishops urge help for poor : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

As protests over rising food costs spread around the globe, experts warn that high prices are here to stay, and Catholic bishops are calling for governments to take emergency measures to keep their poorest citizens from going hungry. The price increases are fueled by a variety of factors that "are all coming together at once," said Lisa Kuennen, director of the public resource group at Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international relief and development agency.

Rising food prices highlight controversy over biofuels : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

Calculating the exact impact of biofuel production on food price hikes is difficult. Despite the attention to biofuels as a factor in recent price increases, it probably had less of an impact than drought and other factors, said Lisa Kuennen of Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international relief and development agency.

A call to build a haven of safety, prayer : From Home News Tribune

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

During the last devastating tsunami, Catholic Relief Services of the Diocese of Metuchen sent financial aid to this region. The kind and pastoral-minded Bishop Devadass Ambros, who once was a parish priest in Nagapattinam, was grateful to CRS of Metuchen. However, upon the delegation's approaching departure, he asked them to consider continuing to help with other projects dear to his heart.

Experts at all levels worried about water : From Herald-Mail

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

The world population has risen to 6.5 billion people, and during the forum, gripping images of water problems were shown, including a reservoir going dry in Kenya. And with water sources limited, conflicts have started to arise among countries who must share it, said Dennis B. Warner of Catholic Relief Services.

Volunteer couple leave Africa, but kids remain in their hearts : From Los Angeles Daily News

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

It had been months since she and her husband, Anselm, arrived as volunteers for Catholic Relief Services in the West African nation and they had grown accustomed to the hunger, poverty and daily funerals in the town. But the sound of a child laughing stopped them in their tracks.

Haiti's Rising Cost of Food Worries Aid Groups : From Voice of America

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

Haitians who live on less than two dollars a day rely on food aid and other assistance from abroad. Catholic Relief Services is one of several organizations that seeks to aid working poor, handicapped and other residents.

Aid Worker Reflects on Catholic Relief in Africa as Pope Visits US : From Voice of America

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

Lori Kunze, CRS deputy director for East Africa, says her organization is involved in various anti-poverty and humanitarian programs throughout Africa, including initiatives aimed at providing people with access to clean water, good agricultural practices and emergency relief. But Kunze says "by far the largest" of CRS projects in Africa is its response to the continent's HIV/AIDS pandemic in six of the countries worst affected.

Aid sector sees lingering woes in food aid crunch : From Reuters

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

A deepening global food crisis requires not only greater funding for food aid going to hungry nations, but long-term investment to improve agriculture productivity, especially in the developing world, officials and aid groups said on Monday.

Faith, Hope and Love : From Howard County Times

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

For a decade, Robert Roche (former CRS staff) has been in what his family loosely calls a coma, and what doctors classify as a persistent vegetative state.

Syrian, Jordanian diplomats urge U.S. to share Iraqi refugee burden : From Catholic News Service

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

Mark Schnellbaecher, Middle East regional director for the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services, described the situation as the "flight of moderation" from Iraq because the refugees are Iraq's educated and middle class.

Across the border, "a humanitarian crisis" is brewing : From Seattle Times

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

"The poor undocumented guy who gets sent back is seen as a burden on the government," said Erica Dahl-Bredine, country manager for Catholic Relief Services' Mexico program in Tucson, Ariz. "Those who have documents are seen as the heroes."

Life after an illegal immigrant is sent home : From Seattle Times

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

"Sometimes they leave with much fanfare and dreams of getting the family out of poverty - only to be sent back home, their deportation seen as a failure," said Erica Dahl-Bredine, country manager for Catholic Relief Services Mexico, based in Tucson, Ariz.

Worldview: Bush shamefully flees Iraqi refugee crisis : From Philadelphia Inquirer

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:04:00 EST

More than two million Iraqi refugees are struggling to survive outside Iraq, the bulk of them in neighboring Jordan and Syria. Only a small percentage are rich former Baathist supporters of Saddam Hussein. Most are middle-class Iraqis, including thousands of Christians who were "ethnically cleansed" from urban neighborhoods and forced to flee for their lives.

Peace Train Sounding Louder : From University of San Diego Magazine

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Peace is a precious commodity. Especially in a time of war and conflict, an act of peace - even on the smallest scale - brings a sense of hope.

Looking at AIDS through the eyes of children : From Riverdale Press (NY)

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Titled "The Children Left Behind: AIDS Orphans Around the World," the 1,200-square-foot exhibit allows visitors to learn about six countries affected by AIDS. Children, the most vulnerable victims, are at the center of the story.

Faith in Action : From Fordham University Magazine

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

For the past 10 years, Fordham's program in International Political Economy and Development (IPED) has maintained a training partnership with CRS. Jointly sponsored internships, study grants and fi eldwork fellowships funnel IPED graduates into international service careers with the agency. IPED alumni at CRS have established microcredit initiatives in Zimbabwe, facilitated peacebuilding in Bosnia- Herzegovina, managed disaster cleanup in Kashmir, fed refugees in Darfur, rehabilitated tainted agricultural land in Indonesia and set up irrigation projects in the jungles of Brazil.

El costo de la guerra : From La Opinion

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

"Pienso en ellos todos los d�as", cuenta Burrell, directora de la organizaci�n Catholic Relief Services, en entrevista telef�nica desde Beirut, donde viven unos "La desesperaci�n que se vive es realmente abrumadora. Cuando hablo con ellos, s�lo puedo adivinar un poco de lo que han pasado". 50 mil refugiados iraqu�es. �sta y otras organizaciones locales e internacionales hacen lo que pueden por ayudarlos en sus necesidades b�sicas. "No podemos ayudarlos a todos, s�lo a los m�s vulnerables", explica.

'We cried for food' : From Arlington Catholic Herald

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Clean water, electricity and plumbing were luxuries that were nonexistent in Thomas Awiapo's childhood. In fact, he didn't know what they were until his adulthood.

Iraqi refugees: 'Leave or be killed' : From LoHud.com (News from the Lower Hudson Valley)

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

The crisis of Iraqi refuges needs greater visibility among the U.S. and international community. As a nation, we have responsibilities, humanitarian and ethical, toward the millions who are suffering dislocation, trauma, and are without the means to bring stability to their lives.

Church leaders say rape is used as weapon of war in Congo : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Leaders of the religious congregations working in eastern Congo's Katanga province said they "cannot remain silent" in the face of "all kinds of violence, repeated cases of sexual abuse, and the total lack of respect for the lives of our brothers and sisters."

AIDS, Abortion and Africa : From National Catholic Register

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

"This bill really reflects the mainstream consensus of what this program should look like," said Bill O'Keefe, senior director for advocacy at Catholic Relief Services. O'Keefe applauded "the strong leadership and vision that has put the interests of millions of people affected by HIV above partisan battles."

Going Flat Raises ROI : From Non-Profit Times

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was staring down postal rates that would have more than doubled, from $130 per 1,000 to $326 per 1,000. CRS raises nearly $70 million each year in private contributions, much of it through direct response.

Operation Rice Bowl saves lives : From Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

"Without Operation Rice Bowl, I might have suffered hunger more, maybe even starved. I don't know if I would have survived," Thomas Awiapo, senior program officer of CRS Ghana, said, in an interview with the Loquitur.

CRS hosts live video forum on African educational development : From Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

"Education is a key factor if you have to end poverty and diseases," Awiapo said. "We are in these communities trying to change the attitudes of parents, sell the idea of the value of education and the profit parents can have by sending their children to school."

U.N. agency and ag states vie for food fund : From Politico

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

The safe box approach has split the aid community. Catholic Relief Services and some other smaller agencies favor the approach, arguing that the real problem is a lack of overall foreign aid funding. But the humanitarian organization CARE, the WFP and the Bush administration contend that walling off such significant funding could be disastrous, leaving the agencies under-equipped to deal with the current crises.

Miraculous efforts in Africa must continue : From Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

There's a miracle happening in Africa right now, and I've had the good fortune to see it.

Area teens join together in religious fast : From Times Record News (Texas)

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 09:03:00 EST

When school let out for the weekend Friday, the learning experience was just beginning for dozens of North Texas teens who took a weekend away from their own lives to get a feel for what it's like to live without many of the things they have.

Youths plan fast to help provider of clean water : From Louisville Courier-Journal

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Twenty-four hours. One day. One rotation of the Earth. Two trips around the face of the clock. That's how long members of the youth group at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Albany will go without eating next weekend to raise money and awareness for safe drinking water.

Driven by hunger, now by faith : From Arlington Catholic Herald

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Clean water, electricity and plumbing were luxuries that were nonexistent in Thomas Awiapo's childhood. In fact, he didn't know what they were until his adulthood.

ORB unites us with the poor of the world : From Rhode Island Catholic

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

Operation Rice Bowl connects us with our Eucharistic call to share ourselves with others, and offers the opportunity to participate in the Lenten tradition of prayer, fasting and almsgiving while learning more about the social mission of the church.

Fair trade confronts poverty, empowers people : From Intermountain Catholic (Salt Lake City)

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:03:00 EST

"Fair trade is a way to confront poverty and a way to help empower people - both producers and consumers," said Jacqueline DeCarlo of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) at Westminster College Feb. 12.

Soaring Food Prices Putting U.S. Emergency Aid in Peril : From Washington Post

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:03:00 EST

The U.S. government's humanitarian relief agency will significantly scale back emergency food aid to some of the world's poorest countries this year because of soaring global food prices, and the U.S. Agency for International Development is drafting plans to reduce the number of recipient nations, the amount of food provided to them, or both, officials at the agency said.

Authorities release a dozen Iraqis in a move the could lead to the freedom of hundreds : From International Herald Tribune

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

Lebanon on Friday released 13 Iraqi citizens detained for staying illegally in the country, following mediation by the U.N. refugee agency and a Christian aid group, in a move expected to lead to further releases.

More than coins in a cardboard box : From Florida Catholic

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:02:00 EST

The third-graders in Christina Myers' class at St. John the Evangelist School don't know a whole lot about the daily lives of children in the faraway countries of Guatemala, India, Mali, Haiti and Cameroon that this year's Operation Rice Bowl focuses on, but they can really relate to not having access to utilities, food, clean water and shelter.

Campus offers fair trade bananas : From The Loquitur (Cabrini College)

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

Coffee is no longer the only fair trade product offered at Cabrini. On Feb. 1, fair trade bananas were available on campus. On Feb. 20 a fair trade banana- split event was held in the Wolfington Center to honor Sodexho Food Services for their help in bringing fair trade bananas on campus.

Philippine colonel helps launch quiet revolution for peace-building : From Catholic News Service

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

When Col. Pedro Soria walked into his first seminar on peace-building, his classmates eyed him suspiciously, wondering if the Philippine army officer was there to spy on them. But Soria stayed for the two-week course, winning the confidence of his fellow students and helping launch a quiet revolution with the Philippine military.

Operation Rice Bowl feeds souls : From Roanoke Times

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

During the Lenten season many Roman Catholics in the Roanoke Valley and elsewhere are symbolically filling "rice bowls" as they practice the principles of Lent: praying, fasting, giving alms and learning about the joys and challenges of others.

CRS program for doctors in Congo helps ease plight of female victims : From Catholic News Service

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

A church-run training program for rural doctors in the Democratic Republic of Congo has helped ease the plight of women in the war-torn eastern region where sexual violence is common, an aid worker said.

Students learn true meaning of hunger : From New Orleans Times-Picayune

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

Hunger now has a face for many students at St. Scholastica Academy in Covington. On Feb. 11, Thomas Awiapo of Ghana, in West Africa, spoke to the girls, along with some students from Pope John Paul II High School in Slidell.

Newsmakers: Arlene Flaherty, Catholic Relief Services (Video File) : From CBS - Philadelphia affiliate - local channel 3

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

Pat Ciarrocchi talks to Arlene Flaherty of Catholic Relief Services about the plight of refugees in Iraq.

Refugees From Chad Face Desperate Situation, Says CRS Spokesman : From Catholic News Service

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:02:00 EST

Thousands of people who fled Chad to neighboring Cameroon after rebel fighting in early February are in a desperate situation without any infrastructure to support them, said a spokesman for the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services.

30,000 fleeing Chad find safety, little comfort in Cameroon : From Boston Globe

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

"The situation in Kousseri is really quite serious," Jennifer Nazaire, the representative for Catholic Relief Services in Cameroon, said Wednesday. "Chadians are pouring out of N'Djamena, and there's little set up to receive them at the moment. The Catholic Church in Kousseri, the local government, United Nations, and aid agencies are all scrambling to work out temporary and longer-term measures to host people."

Reprieve in Chad Gives Thousands a Chance to Flee : From Washington Post

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:02:00 EST

Thousands of residents poured out of N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, on Monday as clashes between rebel and government forces cooled after two days of combat, according to reports from the besieged city. "We have a lot of injured and dead people in town," said Christophe Droeven, Chad representative for the aid group Catholic Relief Services. He spoke from Belgium, to which he was evacuated over the weekend, but has kept in close contact with staff members in Chad.

Catholic Relief Services in the Gaza Strip (Audio File) : From Vatican Radio

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST

The country representative for Catholic Relief Services in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza is Tom Garafalo.

Priest-performer brings broader tale to life on the stage : From Arizona Star

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST

More than 500 people are expected to attend the 46th annual Southwest Liturgical Conference Study Week, which is being held in Tucson for the first time. The theme is "Eucharist and Justice: Walking in Charity and Peace." Speakers at the gathering will include Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, Archbishop of Atlanta Wilton Gregory and the Rev. Maxwell E. Johnson, a professor of liturgical studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Kenya crisis death toll seen at around 600 : From Reuters

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST

The death toll in Kenya has risen to about 600 from more than two weeks of unrest since President Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election, aid agencies said on Monday.

Local woman chooses career as international relief worker : From Williamsport Sun-Gazette

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:01:00 EST

Amanda Rider is only 25, but she's already seen much of the world. Rider spent the holidays here with her family before flying back to Sierra Leone, where she has been working since last August with Catholic Relief Services, the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community created in the 1940s and now at work in about 100 countries.

Ex-D.C. Cardinal Assesses Plight : From The Washington Times, LLC.

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:01:00 EST

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, visited the Latin monastery in Gaza City yesterday while President Bush met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Cardinal McCarrick sat with the Rev. Manuel Musallem, leader of the Catholic community in Gaza, local and U.S. officials from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and other community members on a pastoral visit.

Kenyan bishop says his appeals for aid have been met quickly : From Catholic News Service

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST

Bishop Cornelius Arap Korir of Eldoret told Catholic News Service things gradually were taking shape as agencies such as the United Nations, the Kenyan government, the Red Cross and other churches were joining Catholic relief agencies in sending financial and material assistance.

On the road, with a mission: Humanitarian workers return home to Steamboat Springs for the holidays : From Steamboat Pilot & Today

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:12:00 EST

Simpson-Hebert is the regional health adviser for Catholic Relief Services. Based in Ethiopia, she said her role is to help enhance health programs that reach communities who are most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS.

Bishop returns from spending World AIDS Day in Africa : From Helena Independent Record

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:12:00 EST

Seated in the comfort of his office at the Helena Diocese, Bishop George Thomas smiled when reflecting upon his recent trip to Senegal, where he received a crash course in micro-financing and spent World AIDS Day visiting AIDS-infected patients. The international organization offers micro-loans to impoverished African women, creates dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and promotes AIDS education and care to those inflicted with the virus.

LEFT BEHIND: AMID IMMIGRATION DEBATE, CHILDREN ARE FORGOTTEN : From Catholic News Service

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:12:00 EST

More and more children in Central America are being raised by people other than their parents, DeLorey told Catholic News Service. Those who are raised by extended families miss direct contact with their parents, she said, while those who are left with neighbors may end up on the street or in gangs.

AIDS/HIV turn generation of Kenyan teens into orphans : From Rhode Island Catholic

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:12:00 EST

Robert Makunu, Deputy HIV/AIDS Unit Manager for Catholic Relief Services, Kenya, spoke at several area Catholic schools last week and was scheduled to address those attending the opening of "The Children Left Behind: AIDS Orphans Around the World" on December 16 at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center in Pawtucket.

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL ON NEW CRS BOARD PRESIDENT : From Journal Sentinel Inc.

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:12:00 EST

Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, who was appointed board chairman of a major Catholic relief agency this week, has a lot on his plate these days in addition to his normal duties as archbishop and a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

'Frank' victims get $500,000 from Microsoft chief : From GMANews.TV (Philippines)

Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:01:00 EST

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines received the grant from the Gates Foundation for the typhoon victims.

Mixing fighting&food : From Stars and Stripes

Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:01:00 EST

Aid and development workers say their fiercely protected neutrality is jeopardized when foreign militaries deliver aid intending to fulfill strategic, rather than purely humanitarian, objectives.