Vice-president of US bishops' overseas charity is partner in same-sex marriage, group reports
April 20, 2015
A senior executive of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the overseas charity of the US bishops, is involved in a same-sex marriage, the Lepanto Institute has discovered.
Rick Estridge, the vice-president for overseas finance at CRS, entered into a same-sex marriage in Maryland in 2013. A marriage record obtained by the Lepanto Institute showed that Estridge had been involved in an earlier union that ended in divorce.
Estridge has worked for CRS in various capacities since 2001. He assumed his current post in April 2013, at about the same time as his marriage.
Estridge has shown his support for the gay-rights movement frequently, the Lepanto Institute found. His Facebook page includes numerous links to, and praise of, organizations promoting homosexual causes.
"This vice president is flouting Catholic moral teaching by living in a homosexual union and engaging in homosexual activism online,” said Michael Hichborn, president of the Lepanto Institute, which uncovered the documentation. “Personnel is policy, so it's a fair question to ask how his lifestyle and activism have influenced policy at CRS."
The Lepanto Institute has challenged the policies of CRS in the past, publicizing previous exposés that showed the organization's involvement with programs supporting contraception in African countries.
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Further information:
- CRS Executive in Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ (Lepanto Institute)
- US bishops' relief agency involved with condom distribution in Kenya, report charges (CWN, 3/3)
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Apr. 21, 2015 5:30 PM ET USA
Although new, this is not a new event for CRS. The Chjurch should cut the cord to this ultra liberal organization which has its hand in the governments pockets and we wonder why it acts the way it does. The U.S. bishops should stand up and get a spine and cut ties to this false charity.
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Posted by: unum -
Apr. 21, 2015 7:29 AM ET USA
The USCCB needs to clean up CRS or close it down. It has already lost credibility with many Catholics and is now damaging the reputation of entire the U.S. Church.
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Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
Apr. 20, 2015 8:51 PM ET USA
The Bishops continue to demonstrate that they have no control over their staff. The whole conference should be dissolved and they should start over from scratch with Bishops who have always unreservedly defended Church teaching.
