Thursday, April 19, 2012

Vatican recovers its aid network in Latin America

The Holy See has begun a process to restart the activities of a network of Catholic organizations for the development of South America, a group of institutions that could potentially fund projects worth up to 200 million dollars per year.   

But while this is happening, paradoxically, the Vatican resources institutionally destined to the region appear drastically cut.
 
On the 17th of February, in Rome, 15 leaders of various international organizations gathered together thanks to the initiative of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America to restart the workings of the Cogecal, the former General Council of the Commission. The convocation was received with interest by the representatives of various main agencies. The result was really pleasing.
 
This is mirrored in the enthusiasm shown by the representatives of the German organizations Adveniat, Misereor and Kirche in Not (Aid to the Church in Need) historically involved in supporting financially vulnerable groups in Central and South America.   

They weren’t alone. 

Leaders of the Spanish Manos Unida organization, of the Fund for New Evangelization of the Spanish Conference of Bishops, of the Italian Bishops’ Committee for charitable interventions in favour of the Third World  and of the French Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development also attended the meeting..
 
Organizations dedicated to the aid of Latin American populations and linked to the Holy See also stood out: the International Caritas and the Populorum Progressio Foundation connected to the Cor Unum Pontifical Council.
 
All attendees agreed to promote the exchange of information and to join forces for the good of the Catholic Church in that part of the world in a journey of steadier and more harmonious collaboration, while still respecting the rightful autonomy of each organization.
 
These conclusions came after a long talk which lasted the whole day and which began with a greeting and an introduction by cardinal Marc Oullet, current Prefect of the Vatican Congregation of Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. 

After his brief introduction, the conference began. 

It was entitled “Notes on Latin American Current Affairs” and was led by the Uruguayan Guzmán Carriquiry who is a non cleric and the secretary of the Commission.
 
The most important part of the conference was truly represented by the delegates’ speeches. 

Each representative spoke for 15 minutes on the history, objectives and structure of his/her organization and also answered from his personal point of view various questions that helped define the current scene of the Catholic funding for the development of Latin America.
 
One by one they clarified the priorities and criteria concerning financial aid to the South American countries, the requirements to present and to approve projects that need funding, the amount donated yearly and the methods used to distribute the money among the various countries.
 
The result has been a clear picture of the active participation of the Church in aiding those in greater need in a part of the world where the poor make up a huge slice of society. The meeting was so useful that it has been decided to make it a recurring event, with a trial convocation once a year. 

What was less gratifying for the attendees was having to recognize that in the last two years the already meagre resources of the Commission for Latin America to promote development have been significantly cut. 

Why? 

The reasons are still unknown. 

However after Benedict XVI’s visit to South America, maybe it is time to promote a more tangible return to the feeling of closeness shown by the pope in his journey through Mexico and Cuba. 

There is nothing better than to make an effort to help the poor people of these countries that are so deeply Catholic.