Rome Newsroom, Feb 17, 2021 / 12:00 pm
A decision by the authorities in Belarus has left a Catholic charity unable to pursue an initiative aimed at helping poor families.
Caritas Minsk planned to help around 700 people through its spring campaign by delivering chickens, piglets, and fruit tree saplings to low-income and single-parent families, in addition to providing food for the homeless.
"Every donation that comes in must be registered with the Department for Humanitarian Activities under the President of the Republic of Belarus," Fr. Alexander Ulas, a priest in the capital, Minsk, told CNA.
"This year the Department for Humanitarian Activities under the President of Belarus has not registered the funds for these activities -- so Caritas will not be able to use these funds. The reason for the refusal of registration is unknown. Caritas has not received any additional explanations. The president just wants it that way."