Government funding double-edged sword for aid agencies, CRS head says

Published: 2003-11-21

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Catholic aid organizations operate with government funding in places like Iraq, they must take pains not to be identified with military operations, a top Catholic aid official told a Vatican meeting. "If our staff are perceived as being part of the military apparatus or war effort, we lose our credibility and trust with those we serve," Ken Hackett, executive director of Catholic Relief Services, said Nov. 21. "We also worry about the reverse, where military personnel are perceived as aid workers. Beyond the obvious contradictions, this kind of blurring of roles puts our staff in harm's way," he said. Hackett made the remarks in a speech to a plenary meeting of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," the Vatican's coordinating agency for Catholic charitable agencies. CRS is the U.S. bishops' international relief and development agency. Hackett's talk examined the arguments for and against the use of public funds by Catholic organizations.

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