Catholic Charities receives large federal contract for disaster relief

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Comments: 23

Fr. Larry Snyder, CCUSA President and CEO.

Alexandria, Va., Aug 4, 2009 / 04:42 am (CNA).- Catholic Charities USA has received a five-year, 100 million dollar federal contract to aid in disaster relief throughout the United States. The contract is the charity’s first ever federal contract.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Administration for Children and Families (ACF) section awarded the contract to Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), a 100-year-old service organization.

The contract allows HHS to issue task orders to the agency for aid in connection with a specific disaster. The agreement became effective on July 20, a Monday CCUSA press release says.

Under the contract, the charity will organize national, regional and local teams and work in partnership with them to ensure disaster case management preparedness and delivery.

Though the contract covers all types of disasters, Catholic Charities noted that the agreement comes in time for the 2009 hurricane season. The federal government’s first task order concerned case management work related to the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustave and Ike.

Fr. Larry Snyder, CCUSA President and CEO, commented on the contract in a statement.

“We all hope and pray for zero disasters, but reality forces us to be prepared,” he said.

“Our people, our agencies, and our partners have exceptional first-hand experience -- not only from Katrina, Gustav and Ike -- but from our every day work in serving those most devastated and most in need across the country. People know they can turn to Catholic Charities to get the job done. We thank the Department of Health and Human Services for their confidence in us.”

Fr. Snyder characterized the contract as “a very strong endorsement of who we are and what we do, and powerful recognition of the donors who support us and who we will now need to count on more than ever.”

He explained that the contract is specifically for disaster case management operations for individual and family needs “long after the initial impact.”

“It does not cover disaster response direct assistance, so we must continue to maintain and grow our donations to support that critical front."

CCUSA, which is among the top five largest non-profit charities in the country, says it will reach out to its counterparts such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and others to establish any mutual engagement opportunities.

Comments: 23

Subscriber comments:

Published by: jtxl
beaumont texas 01/16/2010 09:19 PM EST

I think there is a good possibility that this grant money is being used to give free remodels to their in house employees and friends. I applied for assistance and was approved but after months of dragging their feet, I was informed that catholic charities decided that they don't help people who live in mobil homes. I am disabled and on a fixed income with a very small repair that would only have taken 1 day for an able bodied person. If I don't qualify then nobody in actual need will either. Something very fishy going on with catholic charities. Not to mention their "classism" attitude.

Published by: J
Flint, MI 10/31/2009 11:15 AM EST

Yes, there are those that feel that Catholic Charities should NOT take money from the Feds, or do anything that has to do with Fed Programs. However, for all those that are looking at this as a political thing, or a Catholic thing, or sleeping with the enemy thing (where did that come from? Iraq?) or whatever thing, this is a USA People thing. Think about this...there are many Catholic Charities around the country. If we can get someone from each agency to be a first-responder for their own community in cause of an issue, there will be literally 1000's of them helping their fellow man with the right training. Oh! Did all you folks that have negative comments forget about the reasons? As far as Catholic's flipping the bill? If I were to ask YOU to go away to another city for a 3 day training...and pay for it yourself...would you? Could you? Let’s get real and think about the long term goals and leave politics out.

Published by: jms
Petaluma, CA 09/24/2009 10:46 AM EST

I support those here who feel that Catholics themselves should foot the bill for CC activities. Public support for religious organizations is simply unconstitutional. ACORN public support is taken away for the sins of a few low level staffers. Yet the very hierarchy of the Catholic church abuses children. Which organization is the greater sinner? All taxpayer dollars should be withheld from all Catholic Church affiliated organizations. Congressional investigations should begin with an eye to taking away tax exempt status. What is fair for the likes of ACORN is fair for the Catholic Church.

Published by: Robert J Walsh
Virginia Beach VA 08/20/2009 09:42 AM EST

Dear Father Snyder,

I am very concerned that this contract will make Catholic Charities a subsidiary of this administration. You must know that socialism for the U.S. is the primary goal of this administration. I fear that this contract will be a weapon against the Church and its moral teachings. Divide and conquer. Please read the fine print in yhour contract and plan how you will extricate CC from the tyranny of the federal government. I am accustomed to sending you $100.00 when we here of catastrophy in the world. Now, it gives me pause to support such a close ally of the enemy

Published by: BG
Bloomington, IN 08/10/2009 10:44 AM EST

I am not a Catholic so cannot comment on the remarks made by others about whether this contract is consistent with CC's mission. That's your business. However, I can tell you that I think it's a good thing the feds are willing to PAY charities to provide the disaster relief services charities have been providing ANYWAY. The sad story of Katrina is that many in the federal government relied on charities to step in and provide the long-term, post-disaster support that disaster survivors need and that FEMA was incapable of providing (but that's another story). Charities should be reimbursed for disaster relief services.

Published by: Adrienne
WNY, NY, USA 08/10/2009 07:35 AM EST

If the government truly wisjhes to help people in times of need - let them do it. The Catholic Church should NEVER accept gov funding (as they do in schools now) because the gov will dictate how it is to be used and spent, and whatever other conditions it desires. Catholic Charities needs to EVANGELIZE and feed the hungry - not be the pawns of any secular agenda. Especially this one that is anti-Catholic and anti-Life. We the Catholic Faithful need to evangelize and help the poor ouselves in The name of Jesus and His One, Holy, Catholic, & Apostolic Church, because our Bishops are too busy playing finances with dark forces. God have mercy.

Published by: adele young
wellsboro, pa.,usa 08/06/2009 12:48 PM EST

Once again the USCCB is letting the sheep go astray. Didn't they learn from the Catholic Higher education debacle? In very short time the catastrophic results from this "creed for greed" decision will come to haunt the Church as yet another nail is hammered into the coffin of the American Catholic Church. Way to go Catholic Charities.

Published by: Gregory Solman
Crestline, Calif. USA 08/06/2009 10:06 AM EST

And they'll act surprised when in the wake of a natural disaster they're expected to hand out condoms to prevent a secondary "crisis." Such things have already happened. Look it up.

Published by: Professor
Connecticut 08/06/2009 08:39 AM EST

This is certainly not Catholic Charities first federal contract, as the article states. Catholic Charities has operated with a mix of donor money and federal money for years (even before the the Bush admin wrongly claimed that faith-based orgs didn't get govt money). The "best-organized" religious nonprofits, including Catholic Charities, Lutheran Soc Ser & Jewish Family Services & Salvation Army have received fed money for decades. Is the news here that Catholic Charities is getting federal money for disaster relief?

Published by: catholicInDoubt
Germany 08/06/2009 07:46 AM EST

If you choose Mammon above God, where lies your loyalty exactly?

Disgusting.

Published by: Marisa Lopez
Oxnard, CA 08/05/2009 04:27 PM EST

This is great news for Catholic Charities and for all they serve across the country.

I don't understand the comments included here.

This grant will not change anything that Catholic Charities stands for as they are already open to serving those in need without strings attached, without attempting to convert people to Catholicism.

Pope John Paul II said the primary motivation for Catholic giving is to serve Christ in the poor and suffering and to promote the justice, peace, and development worthy of the children of God.

“Actions of aid, relief, and assistance should be conducted in a spirit of service and free giving for the benefit of all persons without the ulterior motive of eventual tutelage or proselytism.”

Published by: cindee
Dl/ND/USA 08/05/2009 04:00 PM EST

Fr. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA said in his defense for his acceptance of a position on President Barack Obama’s Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships “I believe that we must take every opportunity to improve the lot of the poor in this country whenever we can. God will not forgive us for not speaking up about the rights of the unborn. But I believe God will also not forgive us for missing any opportunity to promote the care of the poor and vulnerable in this country. We will be faced with opportunities to do so with the Obama Administration and Catholic Charities will take them.” So it has come down to dealing with the devil to justify taking the 100 million in federal monies to provide care for the poor in exchange for abortion of the helplessness of an unborn baby? This is not charity its bribery with lives as the bargaining chips.

Published by: Frank
Silver Spring MD 08/05/2009 03:00 PM EST

I am appalled at the narrow minded unChristian response of so many of my co-religionists!! Whatever happened to "When I was hungry.......??"

Published by: Milton Catalina
Richardson, Texas USA 08/05/2009 01:48 PM EST

I say take the money and run with it. Let Catholic Charities do its work for those in need and preach the Gospel. We are, who we are and we can not be denied. Remember, the first order of the Knights of Columbus is Charity. If the Fed's don't like it, then let them withdraw the contract.

GOD BEFORE COUNTRY!
IT'S TIME FOR CATHOLICS IN THIS NEW MILLENIUM TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND STOP DANCING WITH THE DEVIL!
WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SO EVANGELIZE.
LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!

Published by: Mason
Red Tree, CA 08/05/2009 09:44 AM EST

Remember the old saying, "Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas".

Published by: Patrick M Gohl
Southfield 08/05/2009 02:09 AM EST

Catholic Charities has become immersed in the obamahype abortion euthanasia culture and is not to be trusted. I propose we all no longer give monetary support to yet another infiltrated catholic Org that bows to the false idol known as barack obama!

Published by: James Liberatore
Tampa, FL, United States 08/04/2009 02:19 PM EST

Rate: Good

No doubt this is the wrong thing to do for Catholic Charities. The people of the church needs to be charitable with our own money. This should be money that we choose to provide and not money that is entwined with the federal government. Remember the government is doing all it can to remove God from the public arenas in which we live and breathe and eat daily. This is a power grab from the federal government to force the socially liberal agenda upon the church. Give the money back!

Published by: Lila Fillmore
Dothan, AL; USA 08/04/2009 11:18 AM EST

Wonderful but what did we as a faith have to give up to get this or what will we have to give up. This adminstration does nothing without strings attached.

Published by: Bill Sr.
Jacksonville, FL 08/04/2009 10:16 AM EST

Don't want to see any "second collections" at mass for Catholic Charities anymore. Replace it with an extra for the school fund, paving the parking lot, or refurbishing the altar.
Oh, and keep those money printing presses rolling Obama; it appears you can buy any thing you want for your next election.

And here we thought Notre Dame was a scandal!!

Published by: PLEASE GOD, NO! NO! HELP US! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?
Emmitsburg, Maryland USA 08/04/2009 09:03 AM EST

If it is true that it is not what we say that determines who we are but what we do, unclearly specified promoted desires in rhetoric do not seem the aim of the US government's recent determined language of legislation and policy statement, both proposed and enacted.

You cannot both serve God and Mammon.

A house divided cannot stand.

Most concerning is the possibility that he who has the Gold will make the rules - (let alone 'he who has the power').

It is hoped that no possibilty or aspect of moral authority has illegitimately been ceded to the federal government and that no person is asked or required to act against the constant teaching of the Catholic Church on faith and morals.

PREPARE? PREPARE. Please be free to do so and suggest the same to all.

Published by: Bob
Norgang 08/04/2009 06:56 AM EST

The more money you take from the government, the more the government will try to control you in social and moral issues.

Published by: Sharon Morris
Copley, Ohio 08/04/2009 06:17 AM EST

It looks as though there can be a conflict of interest here in fighting against the governments health care reform/abortion and gaining this contract.

Published by: Bill Sr.
Jacksonville FL 08/04/2009 05:15 AM EST

Rate: Good

Question: Is this a "Payoff" for Catholic Charities open support for the Obamacare bill which will include provisions for tax payer abortions and the planned euthanasia?

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