CRS Chairman Urges Collection for IraqCatholic Relief Services Citing the humanitarian needs facing the people of Iraq, Bishop Robert E. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Chairman of the Board of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), urged fellow bishops in the United States to launch a voluntary collection for Iraq emergency relief in all diocesan parishes. Bishop Lynch recommended the collection take place on April 27, the first Sunday after Easter, with proceeds supporting the immediate and long-term relief efforts of CRS and its local Church partners, including Caritas Iraq and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. "While the Catholic population [in Iraq] is small," Bishop Lynch wrote in the letter, "the opportunities for the Church to be a compassionate healing force are great."  "Bishop Lynch, in delivering this letter, is acknowledging the urgency of the situation in Iraq, where CRS is working to provide vitally-needed food and medicines to the most vulnerable people," said Ken Hackett, Catholic Relief Services Executive Director. "CRS will be in Iraq for the long term, to save lives, reduce suffering and help the Iraqi people rebuild productive and peaceful communities." Since the outbreak of war, Caritas Iraq staff and volunteers inside the country have been providing first aid through the use of medicines and equipment supplied by CRS and other Catholic agencies. Caritas Iraq operates 14 medical centers each comprising a medical doctor, a health worker and a social worker in and around Mosul, Kirkuk, Baghdad and Basra. In addition to these medical centers, there are 87 churches in Iraq through which Caritas Iraq can provide assistance. CRS and its sister Catholic agencies in the Caritas Internationalis Confederation are preparing to send security and access permitting additional emergency aid into Iraq, including supplementary food for 10,000 malnourished children and medicines (particularly for chronic illnesses including diabetes, asthma and stress related ailments, as well as to combat communicable or infectious diseases) to meet the needs of about 25,000 sick and vulnerable Iraqis. The aid delivery is part of an $8.3 million international appeal issued by the Confederation earlier this month to support more than 43,000 displaced families (more than 260,000 people) in Iraq over the next three months. "There is need in Iraq, and CRS is there," Hackett said. "But now we all have an opportunity to help, and to demonstrate once again the generosity not only of the U.S. Catholic Church, but of all the American people, in alleviating the suffering of the Iraqi people." Hackett added that, in addition to the diocesan collection, individuals could support CRS' Iraq humanitarian response online at www.catholicrelief.org/iraq Catholic Relief Services is marking its 60th year as the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 90 countries and territories on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality. To contribute to Catholic Relief Services efforts, send donations to: Catholic Relief Services
For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org |
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