Bishop Lynch Defends Soros-Funded Catholic Relief Services

In the past few weeks Catholic Relief Services has shown its true colors (that is, anti-God and anti-life colors) by allowing, if not outright directing its personnel to distribute abortifacients in Madagascar.  Of course it earned well-deserved rebukes.  The progressive cartel within the bowels of ecclesiastic bureaucracy seemed to have received their marching orders and speaking points for now they are leaping to the defense of those USCCB organs that are funneling money towards the culture of death.

The latest to attempt "damage-control" is none other than Bishop Robert Lynch of the Diocese of St Petersburg FL.  I now link to an article that he posted on his blog this past Wednesday.   I won't pick apart the whole thing, lest I be here all night.  But I will point out one or two things, in light of his own chequered past.

He snidely refers to the Population Research Institute (a branch of Human Life International) as "an allegedly pro-life group" and many others (probably Yours Truly) as "notoriously and consistently wrong entities who thrive on attacking the Church or its entities".  If he's looking for examples of malfeasance by "allegedly pro-life entities", perhaps he need look no further than his own doings eight years ago.

It was a little over eight years ago that Terri Schindler Schiavo was murdered - "legally", of course - within his own diocese.  Not only did he do nothing to prevent it, but he went so far as to suggest that the final word regarding Terri's fate "rightly" lay in the hands of her murderous husband who was already living with his then-concubine.  One year later, American Life League interviewed Terri's family and posted it online.  It details further insulted meted to the Schindlers by Bishop Lynch.  And the bishop has the audacity to say that we are the allegedly pro-life ones???

But perhaps there's more to Bishop Lynch's posturings than meets the eye.  As with many things progressive these days, there seems to be a common denominator.  That "common denominator" has a name - George Soros.

My Catholic Media Coalition colleague, herself a Florida resident, posted an article sometime before Terri died that examines some of the key villains in that situation and some of the money trail.  Yes, Bishop Lynch is one of the villains.  To supplement this article, I'd suggest reading this blog piece entitled Soros and Schiavo.  This delves more into the history of George Soros' involvement in the pro-euthanasia movement in the US.

But anti-life groups aren't the only recipients of Soros' largess!  Why, he's been known to give to Catholic groups, too.  Well, some "katholyc" groups - those that serve as fronts for the Culture of Death!  Five years ago, Discoverthenetworks detailed how Soros money had infested the Church.  Chris Korzen of Catholics United tried to deflect some criticism of Bill Donohue by whining that Soros "contributes to Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Legal Immigration Services".  Donohue erred a bit by implying that those three weren't apologists for abortion.  Perhaps Donohue had not heard that Catholic Charities of Richmond VA was under federal investigation for paying for a minor's abortion (with full knowledge of Richmond Bishop DiLorenzo).  And of course Donohue's statement was long before the CRS aided and abetted murder in Madagascar.

Now perhaps the reader is wondering why I italicized the words "Catholic Relief Services".  At the time that Terri Schiavo was being murdered in Florida, guess who was the board chair of CRS?  Yes - Bishop Robert Lynch.  Please don't tell me he had no idea whatsoever of the Soros money flowing into CRS coffers - and probably still is.  In situations such as this, another version of the "golden rule" is in force, that is, "he who has the gold, rules".  As long as they accept Soros "gold", they accept Soros "rule"; sadly I think they accept both all too willingly.

CRS Thumbs Its Nose At Madagascar Bishops

It didn't even dawn on me until I saw this LifeSiteNews piece that there are bishops overseeing Madagascar who should have had a voice in what transpires within their dioceses.  Recall that a few days ago the news came to light that the Catholic Relief Services is distributing abortifacients in that area, and doing so in its own name.  Now I could be incorrect on this, but when a Catholic agency takes up action in a given locality, it is at least supposed to notify the local ordinary if not seek his permission.  After all, that bishop is answerable to God for the well-being of the souls in his diocese.

The local bishops' names are Archbishop Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina and Archbishop Odon Razanakolona of Antananarivo.  They were not - repeat, NOT - consulted before CRS started distributing its baby-murder tools there.  Their Excellencies are understandably and correctly incensed that this would occur.

So much for collegiality among Catholic bishops.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops displays supreme arrogance by allowing - if not outright directing - the CRS to run roughshod over the prerogatives of local bishops, even as they protest the murder of babies within their dioceses committed with complicity of the CRS.

Once more I suggest that the USCCB be abolished.  It is a blight upon the entire Roman Catholic Church.

Catholic Relief Services IS Aiding/Abetting Murder

Today, on the 45 anniversary of the promulgation of Humanae Vitae, LifeSitenews has broadcast the news that Catholic Relief Service personnel are distributing contraceptives and abortifacient drugs/devices in Madagascar.  Their report can be read here; please note that they in turn link to a report by Population Research Institute.

It is this latter group (a branch of Human Life International) that has conducted a month-long investigation on site in Madagascar and has interviewed NGO workers and officials - including CRS personnel.  Their report states that CRS employs over 250 community health workers there who distribute contraceptives and abortifacients under the name of "Catholic Relief Services".  A CRS zone supervisor confirmed this information.  Steven Mosher, president of PRI, asks "how many children have been aborted or contracepted out of existence by CRS?"  I urge the readers of this blog to read both the LifeSiteNews posts.  For now I'll focus on Mosher's question.

First, let's understand that an abortifacient is a drug or device that prevents the newly-conceived baby from implanting in his/her mother's womb.  That child is subsequently expelled from the mother's body during her next period.  This is abortion - that is the deliberate taking of an innocent life.  We've just described a murder.  Of course all abortions are acts of murder.  I find it difficult to believe that these CRS personnel who are engaged in the distribution of these poisons are unaware of the nature of these things - particularly those CRS personnel in positions of authority and responsibility.

That said, I'm going to dispense with the silly verbal tap-dance and tippy-toeing with "delicate and diplomatic" language.  I'll paraphrase Mosher's question a bit with "how many children have been murdered with assistance by and intention of CRS"?  Let's cut to the chase, shall we?  For that is exactly what the Catholic Relief Services is doing!

If the Catholic Relief Services is serious about following the moral precepts of Christ and His Church, they'll recognize that one cannot do evil in the vain hopes that good will come of it.  At the very least, those who have participated in these mortal sins of murder must cease and desist immediately.  They must go to Confession for they have placed their immortal souls in danger of damnation.  The board of directors of CRS might do well to suspend all operations until they can root out the rot.  Of course "rooting out the rot" may very well mean that the CRS should be abolished in its entirety.  If such is the case, so be it.

With each passing year, the words of Humanae Vitae ring ever more true.  Pope Paul VI foresaw the spread of abortion and disregard for human life if contraception were ever to gain a foothold.  I wonder if he had any inkling that agencies within the Catholic Church would be participating in these grave sins?  

Boycott The Upcoming Collection For Catholic Relief Services - Say #no2crs

In my parish it was announced that the annual in-pew collection for CRS will occur during the weekend of May 14-15.  I've blogged copiously about the many scandals in which CRS participates and in some cases initiates.  A few of these include:

• Funding pro-abortion organizations in Mexico
• Employing as a vice president a flagrant sodomite marriage-mangler
• Distributing abortifacients in Madagascar - not merely funding but distributing themselves
• Accepting funding from notorious progressive George Soros
• Joining forces with CARE, MEDICAM, and CORE to foist eugenics on developing third-world countries
• Accepting massive amounts in federal grants - notably from USAID - with all strings attached

Both Lepanto Institute and Church Militant.com have more info regarding CRS.  Search those sites for additional information.

Catholic Relief Services is merely the international version of Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Whereas the latter is used to funnel Catholic donations to organizations that undermine the Faith in the United States, the former funds international "culture of death" organizations.  Both are run by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

If any of you (particularly in the Archdiocese of Washington) received a yellow sheet in your bulletins that sounded the praises of CRS, please be advised that it is full of ... bovine manure!  As the links above demonstrate, the "humanitarian aid" comes at the price of submission to sterilizations and chemical abortions.

As I did for the "operation rice bowl" shakedown during Lent, I suggest that not one penny be given to the CRS during the collection.  Instead, please place in the envelope the clip-out statement that is found at the bottom of this Lepanto page.  CRS is an ungodly monster that needs to be starved, not fed.  Say #no2crs.

CRS Tries To Wiggle Out Of The Mess That They Made For Themselves

Today the Catholic Relief Services tried to deny its involvement in the distribution of contraceptives and abortifacients in Madagascar.  The Population Research Institute, that investigated and exposed this scandal, links to the CRS denial (written by John Rivera - surprise!) and rebuts it.

PRI rebuts the CRS damage-control attempt by publishing the text of their interview with two CRS staff who are involved in that debacle.  So does that mean that the upper echelons of CRS management are denying what their own employees are saying?  Will those two staffers be tossed under a bus?  Either way, this latest CRS fudge attempt will fall flat on its face before the truth.

Does The Pope Understand Impact Investing??

I thank my friend at Tenth Crusade for alerting me to this.  Apparently Catholic Relief Services, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and University of Notre Dame's business school gathered in Rome, with the approval if not initiative of His Holiness, to yap and yammer about "impact investing".  The idea is ostensibly to solve a host of global challenges.  Oddly in that list of "global challenges" one finds no mention whatsoever of the prevention of child-murder, gay lifestyle, etc.  Perhaps that's because several of the participants are actively fomenting these intrinsic evils.  Tenth Crusade focuses on the Pontifical Council. I'll shift focus to the Catholic Relief Services.

I've written extensively about that progressive snake-in-the-grass that is part and parcel of the USCCB.  Read those posts.  CRS is heavily funded by George Soros; we all know what impact he desires.  It's certainly not the impact that was appreciated by the bishops of Madagascar when CRS distributed abortifacients in their country.  In Mexico and other nations, CRS partnered with other organizations that distributed contraceptives and abortion-causing potions.

I humbly but strongly suggest to His Holiness that he avoid all things economical and simply focus on the salvation of souls.  When he attempts the former, he finds himself rubbing elbows with those who seem more interested in the damnation of souls.

Two Madagascar Bishops Interviewed Regarding CRS In Their Country

Lifesite News posted within the past few days their interviews with Archbishop Desire Tsarahazana and Archbishop Odon Razanakolona.  They both lament the non-Catholic control under which the Catholic Relief Services operates.

While they opine that the USCCB needs to reclaim control of the CRS, I believe that the USCCB wishes this state of affairs to exist.  It is the USCCB that is the source of the progressive influence into charitable outreaches.  The CRS, as well as CCHD, are only the manifestations of the moral rot.  They cannot be reformed in my opinion.  They must be abolished - as well as the USCCB that controls them.

More CRS Entanglement With Contraceptives

Rob Gaspar of American Life League wrote of yet another chapter in the sordid CRS/Abortifacient saga.  It seems that the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) developed a proprietary software (called CHANNEL) to facilitate distribution of contraceptives and abortifacients in Madagascar and other nearby localities.  Some of these areas lacked the electrical infrastructure needed to run the computers housing CHANNEL.  They decided to power them with solar panels.  They set up 33 of these scenarios; 19 of them were funded by - you guessed it! - Catholic Relief Services.

While CRS claims it was using CHANNEL to manage mosquito net distribution, the fact is that UNPF developed CHANNEL with the specific intent of facilitating the spread of baby-killing potions.  Read the ALL article to see the questions that Gaspar asked of John Rivera, CRS's Communications Director.  At the time the ALL article went online, Rivera had yet to respond.

There are many more stones to be overturned, I suspect.  In each case we will catch the worms and bugs scurrying for cover.  Time to defund the CRS.

PRI Calls For Abolition Of Catholic Relief Services

The Population Research Institute, an arm of Human Life International, has done yeoman's work in exposing the abysmal pro-abortion filth that emanates from the Catholic Relief Services.  CRS has been acting as a de facto branch of USAID instead of the Catholic Church: hence its blatant disregard for the authority of the bishops of Madagascar.  Now PRI asks that the bishops dissolve the Catholic Relief Services.

Hear!  Hear!

I would only add that the entire USCCB itself (along with the state conferences) should be abolished. Pope Benedict made clear that national Catholic conferences have no inherent ecclesiastical authority and ours has shown itself to be a progressive front organization through and through. The antics of the CRS and CCHD are merely manifestations of the rot and corruption that has governed the USCCB since its inception in the mid-20th century.