Letter to the Editor from Roswell, GA

Published: September 9, 2004

To the Editor:

In the Aug. 19 edition of The Georgia Bulletin was the text of a letter from the Most Reverend John F. Donoghue to the pastors in the archdiocese. This letter requested an optional collection for the victims of Hurricane Charley and that any funds so collected would be sent to Catholic Relief Services.

As I understand it, Catholic Relief Services provides humanitarian aid only to distressed areas outside the United States. Victims of Hurricane Charley in Florida would therefore not be aided by Catholic Relief Services but by Catholic Charities U.S.A., which does provide relief services in the U.S.

Am I therefore correct in understanding that the collection referred to by his Excellency would only be for victims of Hurricane Charley OUTSIDE the U.S.A. and not for its victims in Florida?

Francis Hartman, Roswell

Editor’s Note: In regard to the requested optional collection for the victims of Hurricane Charley, the letter writer correctly states that Catholic Relief Services provides humanitarian aid only to those distressed areas outside the United States. Catholic Charities provides relief services to those in the United States. When the funds are received here they will go to Catholic Charities U.S.A. and not Catholic Relief Services. They will assist victims in Florida. We appreciate being made aware of this error.