Archbishop says dioceses have given $3.9 million for Katrina victims

Published: 2006-11-16

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Slightly more than a quarter of all U.S. dioceses have contributed about $3.9 million from a special collection for victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and Biloxi, Miss., according to a report to the U.S. bishops by retired Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston. The national collection Aug. 26-27 was approved unanimously by the bishops at their June meeting in Los Angeles. Archbishop Fiorenza said about 50 of the 194 Catholic dioceses and archdioceses in the United States have sent in the money they collected. "I am writing to thank all of you who have already transmitted funds in support of this special collection, and to encourage strongly those of you who have not yet transmitted the funds collected to do so as soon as possible so assistance can get to those most in need as quickly as possible," the archbishop said in a memo to his fellow bishops. The memo was read Nov. 14 at the U.S. bishops' fall general assembly in Baltimore by Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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