Government grants dwarf private donations to Catholic Relief Services
May 25, 2012
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the international relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, received nearly $350 million more in revenue from the US government and other public funding sources than from private sources during its most recent fiscal year, according to its newly released annual report.
CRS received a total of $592.8 million in public funding, including $351.6 million in US government grants and agreements and $164.0 million in donated commodities and freight, during the 2010-11 fiscal year. Public sources of funding include the European Union, five departments and programs of the United Nations, and 17 governments besides the United States.
CRS received a total of $224.0 million in private support, including $10.8 million from the Catholic Relief Services collection, $5.7 million from Operation Rice Bowl, $55.7 million in foundation and other private grants, and $133.5 million in private contributions.
$772.6 million of the agency’s $820.1 million budget was devoted to program expenses, while $20.2 million was spent on management and general expenses, $6.7 million on public awareness, and $20.6 million on fundraising.
“Overall, in fiscal year 2011, CRS helped more than 100 million beneficiaries in nearly 100 countries, connecting them to the Catholic community of the United States through programs like Operation Rice Bowl, Catholics Confront Global Poverty and a variety of activities that engaged Catholic colleges and dioceses across the country,” Ken Hackett, the agency’s former president, said in the report.
Highlights of CRS’s work during 2011 include efforts towards a peaceful independence for South Sudan, earthquake relief in Japan and Haiti, and AIDS relief.
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Posted by: unum -
May. 26, 2012 11:30 AM ET USA
The CRS story is a corollary to the USCCB's continuing "negotiations" with the Obama administration to reach an "accommodation" regarding the contraceptive mandate. How do you negotiate morality? The Church wanted government help with health care for the poor and supported the government's push for universal health care. But, the USCCB was "shocked, shocked" when the government program didn't comply with Church teaching. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas!
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Posted by: lauriem5377 -
May. 26, 2012 7:30 AM ET USA
Does CRS provide services contrary to our Lord's teaching? I have never heard that.
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Posted by: mrschips19308196 -
May. 25, 2012 10:43 PM ET USA
For this reason we have stopped contributions to CRS some years ago.
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Posted by: wsw33410 -
May. 25, 2012 4:20 PM ET USA
The annual report reveals what we all suspected while reading the CRS' praises for Obama's Africa programs - never mentioning "the women reproductive health" and similar programs worldwide that include distribution of contraceptives, promoting abortion, etc – but they all part of a "deal" CRS must deliver. Sorry, no my support for CRS and other Catholic Charities.
