Cardinal Dolan Sends Solidarity Letter to President of Philippines Bishops Conference, Calls on U.S. Bishops for Special Collection for Typhoon Haiyan Victims

"Together with the Catholicfaithful throughout this country, we assure you of our prayers for the victimsof this disaster and for the survivors as they struggle to rebuild theirlives," Cardinal Dolan wrote November 12 to Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu,president of the bishops of the Philippines.

USCCB will sponsor a specialcollection during the next few weeks to aid in recovery efforts of TyphoonHaiyan. The bishops recognize the enormous need of the victims in thePhilippines and Vietnam and ask parishioners to be generous in helping thoseaffected.

In a letter to all U.S. bishopson November 11, Cardinal Dolan wrote, "The Church mourns the terrible sufferingof our brothers and sisters affected by this powerful storm. To complicate thissituation, Typhoon Haiyan follows on the heels of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake inthe same region just a month ago. Citizens in this Pacific Island country are alreadydisplaced and have been hurt even more. The local government and churchinstitutions cannot manage the magnitude of this disaster on their own. Thoseaffected need our help."

The second collection funds willsupport the efforts of the USCCB and Catholic Relief Services (the officialinternational humanitarian agency representing the Catholic Church in theUnited States) to aid in addressing emergency relief and recovery needs includingimmediate necessities such as water, food, shelter, and medical care.Collection funds will also be used to support the long-term needs includingrebuilding Church structures affected by the widespread destruction.

Typhoon Haiyan destroyed entirevillages and devastated cities across the Philippines and Vietnam. As many as10,000 people or more are believed to have died as a result of this supertyphoon and more than 9 million people have been adversely affected. The fullextent of structural damage is still unknown.

"The assistance of the Catholiccommunity of the United States is urgently needed," said Cardinal Dolan in hisletter to the U.S. bishops, "We will do all we can to stand by our brothers andsisters in the Philippines." Additional information on the U.S. Catholiccommunity's response to this emergency and how U.S. Catholics can help can befound at www.crs.org and www.usccb.org.

Cardinal Dolan's letter to the Philippines Bishops Conference is available online: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/global-issues/asia/philippines/cardinal-dolan-typhoon-yolanda-letter-of-solidarity-13-11-12.cfm

Cardinal Dolan's letter to the Bishops of the United States is available online: www.usccb.org/about/national-collections/upload/2013-11-11-Dolan-to-all-bishops-Typhoon-Haiyan-4.pdf

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Keywords: Typhoon Haiyan, reliefefforts, USCCB, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, U.S. Bishops, CatholicRelief Services, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, CardinalTimothy M. Dolan, Typhoon Yolanda

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