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October
9, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 17Oakland,
CA
U.S. anti-terrorism
focus said to hinder
work of Catholic groups aiding poor
WASHINGTON
(CNS) -- Two leaders of Catholic aid organizations warned Congress in
late September that the “war on terror” is having unintended
consequences on the poorest of the poor around the world.
Ken Hackett, president of Catholic Relief Services, told a House International
Relations subcommittee Sept. 28 that the government’s narrow focus
on anti-terrorism is diverting resources from long-term efforts to address
the root causes of poverty and hunger, which can themselves contribute
to political instability.
Jesuit Father Ken Gavin, director of Jesuit Refugee Service USA, testified
Sept. 27 before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee that his organization’s
work with refugee populations facing political or religious persecution
was being compromised by a rigid interpretation of what constitutes “material
support to a terrorist organization” under U.S. law.
Hackett said the current U.S. emphasis on security and anti-terrorism
issues leaves the Baltimore-based organization wondering “how we,
as a faith-based organization, can find an appropriate place for ourselves
and our partners in future foreign assistance efforts.”
“We simply cannot sign onto an initiative that subsumes our mission
as an agency serving extremely poor people in the developing world into
a security paradigm,” he said.
”Obviously terrorism is a deep concern for our country. It is understandable
that a significant portion of overall U.S. foreign assistance must be
directed toward helping countries deal with that threat,” Hackett
said.
”But our increased attention to terrorism has produced a distinct
decrease in attention to the worst impacts of poverty.”
"We see deep cutbacks in support of food aid programs, safety net
programs and U.S. government funding of programs that reach the poorest
segments of African society.”
CRS, the overseas relief and development agency of U.S. Catholics, “believes
the most important foreign aid issues are maintaining a focus on long-term
development and ensuring that poverty reduction isn’t sacrificed
in the increasing emphasis on national security,” Hackett said.
