US bishops' relief agency involved with condom distribution in Kenya, report charges

March 03, 2015

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official overseas charitable agency of the US bishops, has been promoting contraceptive use in a program in Kenya.

The Population Research Institute, in cooperation with the Lepanto Institute, has released a 56-page report documenting charges that CRS won and carried out a federal government grant that required the promotion of condoms. CRS has denied that charges, claiming that federal reports on the program were inaccurate. But a field investigation by the Population Research Institute confirmed that CRS had been involved with the contraceptive program.

“Catholic Relief Services’ denials require one to believe that they won a multimillion dollar federal contract, while from the outset denying that they would implement it as written,” the report says. “It requires also that one believe that there were many aspects of the required implementation report that were in error – also a highly unlikely occurrence.”

Steven Mosher, the president of the Population Research Institute, said: “CRS must explain to its Catholic donors why, according to the numerous Kenyans we interviewed, it funds, oversees, and monitors programs which endorse contraceptive use.”

Mosher observed that in 2013, after a similar investigative report, his Institute had charged that CRS was involved with the distribution of contraceptives and abortifacient drugs. He charged that CRS had denied the charges rather than implementing any safeguards to prevent such abuses.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Investigation of Catholic Relief Services- Kenya (Population Research Institute)
• Leading Madagascar prelates strongly criticize Catholic Relief Services (CWN, 8/2/13)