Bishops weigh new funding program to aid church in Africa

Published: 2003-11-11

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Catholic bishops were asked Nov. 11 to consider formalizing for Africa the kind of economic support for pastoral programs that they now provide to the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe and Latin America. Three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the board of Catholic Relief Services are recommending opening an office to coordinate assistance efforts, creating a new bishops' committee to oversee the work and eventually establishing a regular annual collection or other funding system to support the growth of the Catholic Church in Africa. In describing the proposal, Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick said he well remembers standing before the bishops in years past to seek similar support for the church in Eastern Europe and Latin America. Particularly in Eastern Europe, he said, he sees the revival of church participation, the opening of new churches and schools, and the creation of Catholic newspapers, radio and television stations as evidence of the success of the U.S. church's support. The request for assistance for Africa "is deja vu all over again," he said.

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