Moral Theologian Says Catholic Relief Services Has Betrayed Church's Mission

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- What exactly is Catholic Relief Services' policy about representing Catholic teaching on condom use? With CRS' distribution of 'educational' materials to its partners in Africa and other countries which explicitly encourage condom use to stem the spread of HIV, how does this square with CRS' mission as the official charitable agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops? And why would CRS forbid putting its name and logo on such 'educational' materials?

These and other questions regarding CRS' policies are raised by renowned moral theologian and philosopher Germain Grisez in the April issue of Catholic World Report, which hits newsstands April 1.

In Catholic World Report's cover story, "The Church Betrayed?", Grisez takes a hard look at recent documents distributed by CRS to its overseas partners, documents that -- while acknowledging Catholic teaching regarding sexuality, abstinence before marriage, and fidelity in marriage -- describe CRS' policy as "providing full and accurate information" about the usage and benefits of condoms in the prevention of HIV. Yet, the documents specify that CRS' name and logo must not to be included on materials promoting condom usage "due to the potential sensitivity of the information contained in these materials among Church partners."

Why CRS is distancing itself from its own educational materials is a key question. It uses donations from faithful Catholics to subsidize its "charitable" activities. Grisez carefully examines the CRS documents -- which include a "how-to" guide to condoms aimed at African populations -- and he calls on the U.S. bishops to investigate what exactly their charitable agency is up to.

Grisez's article is now available in full at www.catholicworldreport.com, as are the relevant CRS documents.

Germain Grisez is Professor of Christian Ethics at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. A renowned theologian and philosopher, he is the author of The Way of the Lord Jesus, a three-volume summa of Catholic moral theology.

Catholic World Report, published by Ignatius Press (one of the largest Catholic publishers in the world), is America's leading Catholic news monthly. It's a hard-news journal edited by George Neumayr, former executive editor of The American Spectator. Catholic World Report attracts important writers, essayists and commentators, including George Weigel, Peggy Noonan, Russell Shaw, Thomas S. Hibbs, Steven Greydanus, Michael O'Brien, Archbishop Charles Chaput, and Cardinal George Pell.