This week, Bishop Hurley responded to the concerns raised by faithful Catholics with regard to Catholic Relief Services. This was highlighted in our post last week. Bishop Hurley’s full press release can be accessed here.
His response is typical of the worn out smear: attack the messengers without addressing the message. He accuses those who bring concerns as presenting “false assertions about Catholic Relief Services as these statements unduly harm their credibility and, as a result, misguide parishioners seeking to support commendable Catholic charities“. He fails, of course, to list any of these “false assertions“. This is despite the mounds of data which clearly show CRS supports and participates with organizations that promote clearly anti-Catholic activities.
This is nothing new. For years, Catholic Relief Services has been shown to promote immoral activities. A detailed listing is found here. He never addresses those issues in his press release. He tries to brush concerns aside by stating the following: ” I reassure you that CRS has been approved and supported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops” . In other words, he uses the old drumbeat: “just believe us”. Unfortunately, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has long lost its credibility in assuring faithful Catholics about almost anything.
He goes on to state that “We have confidence in the thorough vetting system utilized by CRS by which complaints are investigated and corrective action taken, if necessary.” That’s like having the wolves guard the sheep, or like asking Bishop McCarrick to investigate sexual abuse.
The attack and belittling of faithful Catholics by bishops, priests, and others in the Church must stop. Gone are the days when the hierarchy could simply be entitled to the time and money of the laity to do their bidding without any amount of accountability to the teachings of the Church or transparency with the faithful. This is, in large part, precisely why Gaylord Diocesan Watch was established.
Fortunately, due to the concerns of faithful Catholics in the Diocese of Gaylord, the Diocese is at least hearing us. We urge all concerned for the sanctity of human life and the sanctity of Church teaching to write, call, or Email Bishop Hurley (again, if already done) to express your concerns.
Bishop Walter Hurley
Apostolic Administrator
Diocese of Gaylord
611 W. North Street
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 732-5147
Email: communications@dioceseofgaylord.org
Please send a copy of your correspondence to the Apostolic Nuncio:
His Excellency, The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America
3339 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008-3610