Letter
CRS and Bishop Pate's Letter to Senate Regarding Food Assistance Programs (2012)
March 28, 2012 letter from the Most Reverend Richard E. Pates, Bishop of Des Moines and Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo, President of Catholic Relief Services to the U.S. Senate Chairs for the Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies urging their support to protect people living in poverty and hunger by preserving funding for Title II Food for Peace and McGovern-Dole Food for Education food assistance programs.
"The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) bring three assets to this issue. First, the rich body of Catholic Social Teaching gives priority to our poorest brothers and sisters in allocating scarce resources. Second, our two institutions have deep and abiding relationships and partnerships with the Church in developing countries. The Church is a trusted institutional presence that enjoys extensive reach, including in remote communities. Third, for 68 years CRS has successfully implemented humanitarian and development programs in one hundred countries across the world, often in partnership with the U.S. government. This experience provides valuable insight into the implementation of food assistance programs."