Federal Advocacy
Take Action to Save Lives Today!
USAID – the United States Agency for International Development – has come under scrutiny and is currently suspending operations and disbursement of funds in its work around the world. What you may not know is that Catholic Relief Services – the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic Bishops – is one of the largest (if not THE largest) single contractor with USAID to distribute humanitarian assistance. CRS has asked all of us to contact our Members of Congress on their behalf.
CRS works with USAID because 1) the Catholic Church is on the ground all over the world, in almost every country, with an existing local presence and infrastructure, integrated into the local community, and 2) generous Catholics in the U.S. add private dollars to CRS’ budget, which means that local organizations (like a small diocese in Guatemala, a community of women religious in Kenya, or a bishop’s office in India) can stretch the USAID resources to reach into more remote and a greater number of places, impacting even more lives, scaling up the effect of USAID funds. By working with the local bishop in these countries, CRS comes alongside the local church infrastructure (schools, hospitals and clinics, charities, etc.). We don’t have to pay for new office space – we work with the local Caritas agency to support its work.
To be clear, CRS is wholly-owned by and accountable to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. CRS is a non-profit 501c3 and is subject to regular audits to ensure accountable and transparent use of funds for the intended purposes. CRS’ work impacts hunger and nutrition, agriculture and water systems, sanitation, disaster relief, maternal and child health, orphans and vulnerable children, savings and internal lending communities, and more. CRS serves people of all faiths and those of no faith, regardless.
Ask Congress to engage with the Trump administration to lift the stop work order and to allow aid funds to flow. At the risk of hyperbole, lives are at stake.
Personalize and send your message HERE.
