Showing posts with label Haiti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haiti. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Haiti: T-Shelters, Catholic Relief Services, and Lent

Japan's earthquake, earlier this month, is still very much in the news. I've written about that before in this blog, and elsewhere. (Apathetic Lemming of the North (March 29, 2011) Folks in Japan still need help.

So to folks in Haiti.

A year ago last January, about 300,000 Haitians were killed by an earthquake. Survivors still have a great deal of work ahead, putting their country back together. Happily, they're getting help: from quite a few places.

Which reminds me of Lent.

Stick with me: there really is a connection. Lent is the season in the Catholic Church's calendar, starting Ash Wednesday, when we focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving. ("The Lenten Season," United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) Or are supposed to, at any rate. And that's another topic.

"Prayer" and "fasting" are fairly common words in American English, but "almsgiving" isn't used all that much. Not in my experience. So, it's definition time:
"ALMSGIVING: Money or goods given to the poor as an act of penance or fraternal charity. Almsgiving, together with prayer and fasting, are traditionally recommended to foster the state of interior penance (1434; cf. 1969, 2447)."
("A," Glossary, Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Okay. That's clear enough. There is (as usual) more about almsgiving in the Catechism. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1434-1439, 1969, 2447)

I wrote about pitching in to help folks in Japan a few days ago. (March 20, 2011) I still think that's important - and have donated to Catholic Relief Services.

But, like I said, folks in Haiti need help too. Actually, there are quite a few places around the world where "almsgiving" can be directed. I put a link to Catholic Relief Services near the end of this post. No pressure: just there if you think donating is a good idea.

Folks in Japan are dealing with a huge amount of cleanup - and a few mildly melting nuclear reactors. Haiti's situation isn't quite so dramatic right now: they're in the 'building temporary shelters' stage, at least in some places.

Excerpt from a CNS article:
" 'T-shelters' help Haitian quake survivors begin rebuilding their lives"
Dennis Sadowsk, Catholic News Service (March 14, 2011)

"The stack of prefabricated walls, roof joists, corrugated steel and construction supplies at the end of the road brought a smile to Justin Auguste's face.

"After spending 14 months in makeshift housing since the powerful Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake, the 78-year-old former cattleman knew that soon he would not have to sleep on the ground.

" 'God came down today with the shelter,' he said March 11, peering from under a tattered wide-brimmed straw hat that shaded his face from the hot midday sun.

"For nearly an hour, Auguste, 78, had instructed friends, family and neighbors which pieces of housing to carry to the tiny plot a quarter-mile away reserved for his transitional shelter, or 'T-shelter,' provided under a program operated by Catholic Relief Services and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development....

"...A construction team hired by CRS planned to build the 12-by-16-foot, two-room shelter the next day. For Auguste, that meant the teams who stepped up to carry the parts could not delay.

"Auguste and his family are among thousands of earthquake survivors who now live in the plywood-walled T-shelters. Those deemed eligible to receive the structures agreed to provide a bit of sweat equity: applying a coat of paint.

"The agency is under contract to provide 4,000 T-shelters, which will house 20,000 people. To date, about 2,500 have been completed, said Eddy Ambroise, manager of the Varreux Yard in Port-au-Prince, where 146 workers produce about 40 prefabricated structures a day....

"...In addition to the Varreux plant, residents in local communities have been employed in cash-for-work ventures. One part of the program finds workers clearing earthquake rubble from streets. The debris is carted to nearby sites where other workers used hand-operated crushers to pulverize the material into the basic ingredients of cement. Some of the cement is bought by CRS for use in the concrete pads on which the T-shelters are built. Some is used by entrepreneurs to make concrete block for construction.

"The shelter program is part of an effort by CRS to address the wide-ranging needs of some of the 1.5 million Haitians who lost their homes in the earthquake. To reach that goal, CRS has ended its work in the camps for displaced Haitians and has turned to rebuilding communities.

" 'Our main objective is to elevate communities to ideally a little bit better than where they were before the earthquake, but at least as closely as possible to where they were before the earthquake,' said Niek de Goeij, head of the agency's Community Resettlement and Recovery Program....

"...August Marie-Sonie, 26 said the T-shelter she shares with her three sisters is more comfortable than the tent they occupied for months after the earthquake leveled their home. She said the next step is to move into permanent housing so she can focus on returning to school to complete her education in accounting.

"Area leader Matthew Accene recently started building an addition onto his T-shelter to give more space to the eight members of his family. He also coordinates a security team that patrols their section of the Terrain Toto site each night to ward off criminal activity....

"...'People are really satisfied with the change,' he said of the relocation from Port-au-Prince. 'The idea is that CRS continues to work here and that the government eventually buys and divides the land and gives responsibility to the residents to build our own home.

" 'It's what everybody wants in this camp,' he added. 'Everyone who lives here has nowhere else to go.' "
Mr. Sadowsk tells us that the T-shelters are designed to last about three years - which should be enough time for the folks living in them to get something more permanent set up. Meanwhile, as August Marie-Sonie said, those corrugated-metal shelters are better than a tent.

The CNS article also shows that the T-shelters that Catholic Relief Services is putting up are part of a government contract from the U.S. Agency for International Development. As I've said before, I think charitable giving should be carefully thought out. (March 17, 2011) I can see how a person might consider that, since 'the government' is helping build (temporary) housing for Haitians, there's not much more to do.

Maybe so: but it's possible that Catholic Relief Services could still use financial help, for something other than building 16-by-eight-foot shelters. Again, it's just a thought.

Related posts:
In the news:
More:
  • "Haiti"
    Catholic Relief Services
  • "Haiti"
    United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
List of my Haiti-related posts:
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Not Hopeless, Not Helpless: Haiti, the News, and a Reality Check

Here's yet another post about Haiti.

And here's what I've written before, about how a person can help. No pressure.
"...I prepared a list of charities and their contact information - Catholic and otherwise - for another blog, along with a regularly-updated list of posts I've written on what's going on in Haiti:That page also has a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti...."
(February 22, 2010)
And one more link:So, what's the big deal about Haiti this time?

A Haitian bishop has something to say, about how recovery is going. The bottom line seems to be that the folks in that country are putting their homes, neighborhoods, and lives back together.

Note, please: Haitians are putting their homes, neighborhoods, and lives back together. I'm fairly sure that assistance from overseas helped - and will continue to be useful - but Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas and Deacon Patrick Moynihan made an important point.

Whatever impression the news may give, Haitians aren't sitting on their hands, waiting for someone else to make it all better.
"Haitian bishop: Earthquake recovery enters new phase"
Rick Snizek, Editor, CNA Catholic News Agency (December 20, 2010)
Originally published:"With the one-year anniversary looming of the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake that rocked Haiti, killing some 230,000 people, a bishop from the beleaguered island nation says that while the recovery has been slow, it is definitely moving forward with much help from the church.

" 'There is new involvement of the church preparing projects for the medium and long term, something the Holy Father has encouraged us to think about,' said Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas, of Anse-a-Veau and Miragoane, who also serves as president of Caritas Haiti.

" 'These are integral projects of human development: constructing houses and rebuilding cities,' he said...."

"...Despite the recent cholera outbreak, the school, and the surrounding neighborhood have remained free of the deadly disease in large measure due to the efforts of students. They have worked to instruct neighbors and their own families on how to use Clorox supplied them to sanitize their surroundings, according to Haitian Project President Deacon Patrick Moynihan.

"Deacon Moynihan says the preservation and advancement of the faith is crucial in order for a community to truly thrive, and he credits Bishop Dumas for his strong involvement and dedication to the youths the school serves.

" 'The bishop has been instrumental to helping us in one of our truly important activities, bringing young people back into the faith, and advancing them in their sacraments,' Deacon Moynihan said.

"The Haitian Project has also partnered with Catholic Relief Services, the largest provider of aid by any religious organization in Haiti, to help with the social and medical needs of Haitians.

"The deacon is frustrated with how the situation in Haiti is being portrayed in the news, however.

" 'They're underestimating the tremendous amount of work being done by the Haitian people themselves,' Deacon Moynihan said. 'We've watched for weeks and weeks the reporting of the terrible situation of the cholera without seeing one major newspaper covering Haitian doctors really treating Haitian people. That's what our students who've become doctors have been engaged in. That makes me sad.'

"He feels that portraying Haitians as helpless without the efforts of the international community takes away the possibility of hope and self-reliance being built within the people...."

"...'The church believes it is possible to help the people to find new hope, to help Haiti rise again and to participate in the spiritual renewal resurrection of our people. Little by little, we’re trying to do that.'

"Haiti's best years, he feels, still lie ahead.

" 'We want our kids, our boys, our girls, to be part of history,' Bishop Dumas said.

"'This is our history, to fight for life. I'm sure we will prevail.' "
If Bishop Dumas and other folks in Haiti keep that attitude - and keep to their prayers - I'm pretty sure they will prevail.

But then, I tend to assume that folks living in other countries are people. Living in different circumstances and having different cultures: but people, not all that much unlike my neighbors - or me.

Related posts:In the news:
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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Haiti: Cholera's Bad, But That's Not Their Only Problem

While looking for something else, I found this page on the USCCB's website:Cholera's what put Haiti in the news again recently - and that's mentioned on this page. The big problem folks there have is still that earthquake in January of this year. Lots of people killed, a whole lot more displaced, and a significant fraction of the country damaged or destroyed.

For a monumentally poor country: that's not even close to being a good situation.

No pressure, but if you're trying to decide how to contribute to charities - these folks can use help. And there's a link or two on that page for folks who want to give.

We've passed the hat before - collected tens of millions of dollars for our neighbors in Haiti. But even in tough times, I think America is a place where we'll be able and willing to give more.

Related posts:
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Saving the Planet, Saving Haitians

Update (September 1, 2010)

See:
I've got a couple of requests.

But first, at the risk of being uncharitable, a contrast:
"Do not forget Haiti, leading archbishop exhorts"
EWTN News (June 9, 2010)

"Months after the disastrous January earthquake, Archbishop Louis Kebreau has urged the rest of the world not to forget Haiti as media attention turns elsewhere.

"The Archbishop of Cap-Haitien and President of the Haitian Bishops Conference made his comments during a trip to Paris. He was received there on Monday by Cardinal André Vingt-Trois on behalf of the French Bishops' Conference.

"According to SIR News, Archbishop Kebreau told the French bishops about the situation of Haiti.

"The earthquake hit a population 'already heavily affected by uncertainty and deeply shocked.'

"Those who had some social status are now 'the new poor.' The dead 'cannot be buried but in mass graves,' he said.

" 'Let's not forget Haiti,' the archbishop said. 'The media are too quick to wipe events out, as they chase one after the other.'..."
If that looks familiar, maybe you read that excerpt in the news or this blog a few months ago. (June 9, 2010)

Now, from today's news:
"Suspect in Maryland hostage situation published angry online manifesto"
CNN (September 1, 2010)

"The man believed to be holding a small number hostages at the Discovery Channel headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, is an environmental protester who has posted online rants against the network in the past, a senior law enforcement source close to the investigation said Wednesday.

"The man was identified by law enforcement sources as 43-year-old James Lee.

"An angry manifesto posted by Lee on a website called SaveThePlanetProtest.com repeatedly refers to humans as 'filth' and demands that the Discovery Channel 'stop encouraging the birth of any more parasitic human infants.'

" 'Civilization must be exposed for the filth it is,' the 1,149-word statement says.

" 'Humans are the most destructive, filthy, pollutive creatures around and are wrecking what's left of the planet with their false morals and breeding culture, it continues...."
I located Mr. Lee's statement regarding destructive, filthy, pollutive [!] humans, and placed all 1,149 words at the end of this post.

The ideas are presented rather forcefully, but I recognize many of them. They're the alleged facts that 'intelligent' people believed - passionately - back when I was doing time in college. Which is another topic.

Let's Pray for Haiti, and Others

Don't get me wrong: I think squirrels are cute, and like the sounds that pigeons make. I also think it's a good idea to have clean air to breathe and fresh water to drink.

But I think that human beings should not be reduced to the levels we were at before we callously started using stone tools and destroying delicate little mother nature. I'll admit to a bias, though: I'm a human being, myself.

Now, those two requests:
  • Please, pray
    • For folks living in Haiti
      • And give material support, if possible
    • For everybody involved in today's trouble in the Discovery offices
      • Law enforcement
      • Hostages
      • Mr. Lee
      • Anybody else who's involved
If you don't feel like praying, well that's your decision.

Somewhat-related posts:
From www.savetheplanetprotest.com, copied September 1, 2010.

This is a straight copy-and-paste of the website's home page text, with quotations marks and italics tags added, to comply with this blog's format for extended quotations.
"The Discovery Channel MUST broadcast to the world their commitment to save the planet and to do the following IMMEDIATELY:

"1. The Discovery Channel and it's affiliate channels MUST have daily television programs at prime time slots based on Daniel Quinn's "My Ishmael" pages 207-212 where solutions to save the planet would be done in the same way as the Industrial Revolution was done, by people building on each other's inventive ideas. Focus must be given on how people can live WITHOUT giving birth to more filthy human children since those new additions continue pollution and are pollution. A game show format contest would be in order. Perhaps also forums of leading scientists who understand and agree with the Malthus-Darwin science and the problem of human overpopulation. Do both. Do all until something WORKS and the natural world starts improving and human civilization building STOPS and is reversed! MAKE IT INTERESTING SO PEOPLE WATCH AND APPLY SOLUTIONS!!!!

"2. All programs on Discovery Health-TLC must stop encouraging the birth of any more parasitic human infants and the false heroics behind those actions. In those programs' places, programs encouraging human sterilization and infertility must be pushed. All former pro-birth programs must now push in the direction of stopping human birth, not encouraging it.

"3. All programs promoting War and the technology behind those must cease. There is no sense in advertising weapons of mass-destruction anymore. Instead, talk about ways to disassemble civilization and concentrate the message in finding SOLUTIONS to solving global military mechanized conflict. Again, solutions solutions instead of just repeating the same old wars with newer weapons. Also, keep out the fraudulent peace movements. They are liars and fakes and had no real intention of ending the wars. ALL OF THEM ARE FAKE! On one hand, they claim they want the wars to end, on the other, they are demanding the human population increase. World War II had 2 Billion humans and after that war, the people decided that tripling the population would assure peace. WTF??? STUPIDITY! MORE HUMANS EQUALS MORE WAR!

"4. Civilization must be exposed for the filth it is. That, and all its disgusting religious-cultural roots and greed. Broadcast this message until the pollution in the planet is reversed and the human population goes down! This is your obligation. If you think it isn't, then get hell off the planet! Breathe Oil! It is the moral obligation of everyone living otherwise what good are they??

"5. Immigration: Programs must be developed to find solutions to stopping ALL immigration pollution and the anchor baby filth that follows that. Find solutions to stopping it. Call for people in the world to develop solutions to stop it completely and permanently. Find solutions FOR these countries so they stop sending their breeding populations to the US and the world to seek jobs and therefore breed more unwanted pollution babies. FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THEM TO STOP THEIR HUMAN GROWTH AND THE EXPORTATION OF THAT DISGUSTING FILTH! (The first world is feeding the population growth of the Third World and those human families are going to where the food is! They must stop procreating new humans looking for nonexistant jobs!)

"6. Find solutions for Global Warming, Automotive pollution, International Trade, factory pollution, and the whole blasted human economy. Find ways so that people don't build more housing pollution which destroys the environment to make way for more human filth! Find solutions so that people stop breeding as well as stopping using Oil in order to REVERSE Global warming and the destruction of the planet!

"7. Develop shows that mention the Malthusian sciences about how food production leads to the overpopulation of the Human race. Talk about Evolution. Talk about Malthus and Darwin until it sinks into the stupid people's brains until they get it!!

"8. Saving the Planet means saving what's left of the non-human Wildlife by decreasing the Human population. That means stopping the human race from breeding any more disgusting human babies! You're the media, you can reach enough people. It's your resposibility because you reach so many minds!!!

"9. Develop shows that will correct and dismantle the dangerous US world economy. Find solutions for their disasterous Ponzi-Casino economy before they take the world to another nuclear war.

"10. Stop all shows glorifying human birthing on all your channels and on TLC. Stop Future Weapons shows or replace the dialogue condemning the people behind these developments so that the shows become exposes rather than advertisements of Arms sales and development!

"11. You're also going to find solutions for unemployment and housing. All these unemployed people makes me think the US is headed toward more war.

"Humans are the most destructive, filthy, pollutive creatures around and are wrecking what's left of the planet with their false morals and breeding culture.

"For every human born, ACRES of wildlife forests must be turned into farmland in order to feed that new addition over the course of 60 to 100 YEARS of that new human's lifespan! THIS IS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FOREST CREATURES!!!! All human procreation and farming must cease!

"It is the responsiblity of everyone to preserve the planet they live on by not breeding any more children who will continue their filthy practices. Children represent FUTURE catastrophic pollution whereas their parents are current pollution. NO MORE BABIES! Population growth is a real crisis. Even one child born in the US will use 30 to a thousand times more resources than a Third World child. It's like a couple are having 30 babies even though it's just one! If the US goes in this direction maybe other countries will too!

"Also, war must be halted. Not because it's morally wrong, but because of the catastrophic environmental damage modern weapons cause to other creatures. FIND SOLUTIONS JUST LIKE THE BOOK SAYS! Humans are supposed to be inventive. INVENT, DAMN YOU!!

"The world needs TV shows that DEVELOP solutions to the problems that humans are causing, not stupify the people into destroying the world. Not encouraging them to breed more environmentally harmful humans.

"Saving the environment and the remaning species diversity of the planet is now your mindset. Nothing is more important than saving them. The Lions, Tigers, Giraffes, Elephants, Froggies, Turtles, Apes, Raccoons, Beetles, Ants, Sharks, Bears, and, of course, the Squirrels.

"The humans? The planet does not need humans.

"You MUST KNOW the human population is behind all the pollution and problems in the world, and YET you encourage the exact opposite instead of discouraging human growth and procreation. Surely you MUST ALREADY KNOW this!

"I want Discovery Communications to broadcast on their channels to the world their new program lineup and I want proof they are doing so. I want the new shows started by asking the public for inventive solution ideas to save the planet and the remaining wildlife on it.

"These are the demands and sayings of Lee."
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Friday, August 20, 2010

Haiti, Knights of Columbus, and Kids Without Limbs

Sometimes it's nice to get your name in the paper. Or the name of an organization you're with in the news:
"Knights of Columbus Aid Haitians Who Lost Limbs"
Zenit (August 19, 2010)

"Donate 2,200 Wheelchairs to Quake Victims

"The Knights of Columbus announced a program to help the estimated 800 Haitian children who lost limbs in the Jan. 12 earthquake.

"The charitable organization committed to provide $1 million for prosthetic limbs and therapy for all of the children who lost an arm or a leg in the earthquake.

"The program, 'Hope for Haiti's Children,' will be administered by Medishare, which operates the University of Miami/Medishare Hospital in Port au Prince, and is the premier children's medical facility in that country...."
I've been a member of the Knights of Columbus for - years. Each year I spend two hours in the K. of C. Bingo booth at Stearns County Fair, calling out numbers. It's one of the local council's major fundraisers.

I don't know how much of that $1,000,000 came from our part of central Minnesota: but I'm pretty sure some did.

What's the big deal?

There are kids in Haiti who will have a bit less trouble moving around as a result of what Knights of Columbus and Medishare did. I think that's a good idea.

We're able to help: and so we should. I've been working my way through a recent document from the Holy See, Caritas in Veritate: a title that can be translated as "Charity in Truth." Looking at my link page for the posts I've written about it, I see that I'm letting that task slip. Maybe this weekend.

Bottom line, though: I don't think I'm working my way into heaven by putting in time at a Bingo booth. (August 8, 2010)

On the other hand, "charity" is one of the three theological virtues: and I figure that helping an outfit that does things for others - including folks who aren't likely to be able to return the favor any time soon - counts as "charity." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1813, 1822-1826)

So, why do I help the Knights of Columbus do charitable works? Because I can, and since I can - because I'm supposed to.

Posts about Knights of Columbus and Haiti:
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Friday, July 2, 2010

Hats Off to New Orleans Parishioners

From today's news:
"Despite own struggles, New Orleans parishioners give generously"
EWTN News (July 2, 2010)

"The people of New Orleans showed their tenacity in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now, they are showing their generosity. The city, still rebuilding itself after the devastating hurricane, is currently faced with the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"But despite their own struggles, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, home to about 470,000 Catholics, has contributed more than $1.14 million dollars this year to help those in need.

"Since the beginning of 2010, Archbishop Gregory Aymond has called two special emergency collections in the archdiocese. The first was to fund earthquake relief in Haiti and the second to aid those affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico...."
Since the archdiocese worked through Catholic Charities, resources got to where they were needed, fast. There are advantages to being part of a universal organizations, with branches just about everywhere that you find people.

There's a bit more to the article, including detail about how much money came from which sources and where it went.

Bottom line? Hats off to New Orleans parishioners and everybody else who pitched in to help.

More-or-less-related posts:
More:
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Archbishop: "Let's Not Forget Haiti" - Works for Me

From today's news:
"Do not forget Haiti, leading archbishop exhorts"
EWTN News (June 9, 2010)

"Months after the disastrous January earthquake, Archbishop Louis Kebreau has urged the rest of the world not to forget Haiti as media attention turns elsewhere.

"The Archbishop of Cap-Haitien and President of the Haitian Bishops Conference made his comments during a trip to Paris. He was received there on Monday by Cardinal André Vingt-Trois on behalf of the French Bishops' Conference.

"According to SIR News, Archbishop Kebreau told the French bishops about the situation of Haiti.

"The earthquake hit a population 'already heavily affected by uncertainty and deeply shocked.'

"Those who had some social status are now 'the new poor.' The dead 'cannot be buried but in mass graves,' he said.

" 'Let's not forget Haiti,' the archbishop said. 'The media are too quick to wipe events out, as they chase one after the other.'..."
I see it's been a while since I posted about Haiti. Looks like the folks living there still need help - and probably will for the foreseeable future. That's no criticism. The place was a mess before the earthquake: and having so much of their capital city and other areas knocked flat did not help.

My 'link page' for charitable institutions and my posts about Haiti's post-quake situation is in another blog:Here's a list of other 'Haiti' posts to date, in this blog:Related posts:
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Saturday, April 10, 2010

Money isn't Everything: But it Helps

From a Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops news release:
"Catholics Donate Almost $60 Million Through Special Sunday Collection for Haiti"
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (April 8, 2010)

"Another $60+ million donated by individuals, groups through Catholic Relief Services"
"CRS now focusing on long-term reconstruction"
"Church in Latin America Subcommittee to help rebuild the Church in Haiti"

"A special Collection for Haiti in Catholic parishes nationwide has raised $58.7 million to date.

"On January 13, one day after a devastating 7.0 earthquake destroyed much of Haiti's capital, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, chairman of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), appealed to Catholics across the country to help Haiti through parish collections.

" 'I cannot even begin to say how thankful we are to all the people who have so selflessly given to help the people in Haiti,' Archbishop Dolan said. 'It is an amazing example of love and faith in action.'

"In their appeal the bishops explained that '[f]unds will be used to support the efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services…as they respond to immediate emergency needs for such necessities as water, food, shelter and medical care, as well as to the long-term need to rebuild after widespread destruction, and to meet the pastoral and reconstruction needs of the Church in Haiti.'

"A majority of the funds collected will support CRS' continued humanitarian relief. Funds also will be used to rebuild and support the Church in Haiti.

" 'CRS, with over 300 staff on the ground in Haiti, started helping people immediately,' said Archbishop Dolan. 'They have been providing food, temporary shelter, hygiene kits, water and sanitation services around the clock for tens of thousands at parishes, makeshift camps, and other sites throughout the Port-au-Prince. In the long run, CRS will be there with the Haitian people to help them rebuild.'..."
There's quite a bit more to the press release.

About a quarter-million of that came from the St. Cloud Diocese, here in central Minnesota. I've written about that before.

Hypothetical Extremes

These days, a person probably won't run into too much of this sort of opinion:
  1. Why should I give? Let those [redacted] lift themselves by their own bootstraps, just like I did
  2. Oh, how can you think that mere money will suffice? Is it not better to tend to their spiritual needs?
At least, I hope neither of these (rather extreme) views is very common.

I've run into both: but then, I haven't been all that picky about who I talk with, and have been around people for decades. The latter sort of 'spirituality' isn't all that common, happily - I haven't run into it in a long time. For which I'm grateful.

Lifting Yourself By Your Bootstraps: Great, If You've Got Boots

That 'bootstrap' remark is another thing. Back in the sixties, I heard it fairly often. I prefer to think that many of the men who said it were quite sincere. They quite likely didn't realize that their background was a little special. Most were:
  • From a white, middle-class family
  • Served in WWII
  • Almost certainly got
    • G.I. grants
    • Low-interest loans
    • Entered the job market at the start of one of America's biggest economic booms
I have no problem with the grants and loans. I wish that America always treated its soldiers well. Which is another topic.

I don't think they "deserved" all those breaks. And I don't think they "didn't deserve" all those breaks. I'm in a better position than I might have been, as a result of some choices my ancestors made. I'm also from a family who doesn't own a good-size acreage of downtown Chicago because of some choices other ancestors made.

But I don't need the trouble I'd earn at the final judgment, assuming superiority over others on the basis of the breaks I got - and didn't get.

About that 'bootstrap' remark? Yeah: the guys who said that had worked hard for what they had. But lifting yourself by your bootstraps means you need bootstraps. And, for that matter, boots.

Too Heavenly-Minded to be Any Earthly Good

I don't doubt that Haitians need spiritual support. We all do. They also need food, clothing, shelter, medical supplies, and both clean water and a functioning sewer system.

I hope that building shelters moves along promptly. If there aren't enough weatherproof buildings up next month, I'm afraid that a lot of folks are going to start dying.

Haiti's climate is nicer than Minnesota's: but the rainy season is coming.

So: do I think that there's more to life than money? You bet!

But it's important. I'd say vital, but there have been economies based on barter - and feudal Europe's system of interlocking personal obligations. And I'm getting off-topic.

Money, Loving Money, and Getting a Grip

The problem, I think, isn't money - it's loving money: making an idol of the almighty buck.

As I've written before:

The Church is rather specific when it comes to the matter of idolatry.

We're not supposed to do it. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2110-2114)

"Idolatry" isn't just worshiping a statue:
"Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, 'You cannot serve God and mammon.'..."
(Catechism, 2113)
That "mammon" quote is from Luke 16:13.

Speaking of which:
A list of charities you've probably heard about already, with links and some contact information: Also a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.
Related posts:
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Monday, April 5, 2010

Something Good About the Catholic Church? From Haiti?

The folks in Haiti still need help.

Maybe you've read this before, but:
"...I prepared a list of charities and their contact information - Catholic and otherwise - for another blog, along with a regularly-updated list of posts I've written on what's going on in Haiti:That page also has a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti...."
(February 22, 2010)
The central Minnesota diocese I'm in raised about a quarter-million dollars a couple months ago, earmarked for Haiti.

It's nice to see what's happening, where some of it's being used:The article is a transcript of an interview, with photos, human interest, and this remarkable statement:
"...Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is helping lead humanitarian efforts on the ground. CRS camp coordinator Niek de Goeij says getting food and water to the people has been a logistical nightmare...."
(PBS)
The 'camp' is a golf course that's been refitted as a place for refugees from the quake to live while rebuilding goes on.
A tip of the hat to CatholicRelief, on Twitter, for the heads-up on this article.
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Monday, February 22, 2010

Haiti, Death Toll & Lent

Almsgiving is one of the things we Catholics do during Lent.

There never seems to be a lack of people and organizations needing help - but news from Haiti is a reminder that folks living there are more in need of assistance than many.
"Haiti death toll could reach 300,000: Preval"
Reuters (February 22, 2010)

"The death toll from last month's devastating earthquake in Haiti could jump to 300,000 people, including the bodies buried under collapsed buildings in the capital, Haitian President Rene Preval said on Sunday...."
I prepared a list of charities and their contact information - Catholic and otherwise - for another blog, along with a regularly-updated list of posts I've written on what's going on in Haiti:That page also has a list of posts in this, and two other blogs, about Haiti.

This Diocese Raised About $250,000

I was glad to hear that the St. Cloud, Minnesota, diocese raised around a quarter-million dollars in a special collection for Haiti last month. That's nice, but it looks like we'll have opportunities to pitch in for quite a while.

This has not been a pleasant year for Haiti.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Haiti's Enu Zizi? Ena Zizi: Any Way You Spell it, She's Quite a Lady

Before anything else:

From "Haiti quake appeal"
Caritas Internationalis (Caritas is "the Vatican's charitable organization". (Catholic News Service)

As if Haitians hadn't had enough to deal with: A 6.1 earthquake happened there this morning.
"...The U.S. Geological Survey said the new quake hit at 6:03 a.m. about 35 miles northwest of the capital of Port-au-Prince. It struck at a depth of 13.7 miles but was too far inland to generate any tidal waves in the Caribbean...."
(FOXNews)
The good news: This morning's quake may not have done all that much more damage.

The bad news: It's hard to tell, with so much of the country knocked flat by last Tuesday's 7.0 quake.

Ena Zizi, or Enu Zizi: Either Way, She's What Americans Call "Lucky"

I know: Lots and lots of people didn't survive the big quake, died before rescuers could get at them, or died a little later.

That's a tragedy.

I think I can be forgiven for being glad about the people who didn't die, though.

One of them's Enu Zizi. Or maybe it's Ena Zizi. "Ena" sounds more like a woman's Christian name in American English: and that's how the lady's name is spelled in the news here.


(from Catholic News Service's Photos on Facebook, used w/o permission)

On the other hand, Caritas Internationalis, the outfit whose rescue team pulled her out of the rubble, spells her name Enu Zizi. They're not Americans, not all of them, anyway. Caritas is headquartered in the Holy See ("the Vatican" for most Americans).

It doesn't matter much, except to folks who know her, how her name is spelled. The point is: as of a little earlier today, she's alive. Dehydrated, with a dislocated hip and a broken leg, but alive. (FOXNews)

Enu Zizi (Ena Zizi? like I said, depends on whose account you're reading) was - never mind. It's in the news:
"...Ena Zizi had been at a church meeting at the residence of Haiti's Roman Catholic archbishop when the shaking started, trapping her in debris. An ardent Roman Catholic, she said she prayed constantly. Zizi was rescued Tuesday by a Mexican disaster team that was created in the wake of Mexico City's 1985 earthquake.

" 'I talked only to my boss, God,' Zizi told the Associated Press. 'And I didn't need any more humans.'..."
(NPR)
There's a little more, from another source (which also used material from The Associated Press - I haven't found the AP story):
"...Ena Zizi had been at a church meeting at the residence of Haiti's Roman Catholic archbishop when the Jan. 12 quake struck, trapping her in debris. On Tuesday, she was rescued by a Mexican disaster team.

"Zizi said after the quake, she spoke back and forth with a vicar who also was trapped. But he fell silent after a few days, and she spent the rest of the time praying and waiting...."
(FOXNews)
The archbishop was killed: and it's likely enough that the vicar died, too. Quite a few people died in that earthquake - and are still dying.

Mexican Disaster Team: With "Caritas" on Their Uniforms

That Mexican disaster team? My guess is that the disaster team was, in fact, based in Mexico. I think that describing them as simply "Mexican" is a bit of an over-simplification. Quite a number of them had "Caritas" in big letters on the back of their jackets, though. (Caritas slide show)

It's natural enough for news services to write "Mexico" instead of "Caritas" - Lots of people have heard of Mexico. Caritas? Not so much.

Moving along.

Being Conventionally 'Spiritual,' Accepting Uncertainty

Anyway, Enu / Ena Zizi is alive.

Why?

Maybe it's just random chance. Maybe. Could be.

Then again, maybe not.

I think God is at work in Haiti. Also America, Malaysia and Zaire. And, that God is involved in what's happening in Haiti. And no, I haven't snapped and gone Pat Robertson.

Wanting Explanations, Accepting What Is

If Ena / Enu Zizi had been with one of the religious groups I was familiar with in my earlier years, her fellow-believers would have - likely enough - been talking about her rescue as a miracle (hallelujah!), showing (praise God!) how (amen!) there was A Reason (maranatha!) for her Miraculous Rescue (hallelujah!).

Maybe it was a miracle.

Lower the threshold, and every breath I take is a miracle. So is the snow outside. I thank God for all of the above.

As for why Enu Zizi lived, the archbishop and (probably) the vicar died - and why the confirmed death toll keeps rising? I don't know.

I - really - don't - know.

And that's okay.

I don't need to.

I'm not, thank God, responsible for keeping the world running.

Enu Zizi Prayed - Therefore She's Alive?

It's easy to assume that Enu, or Ena, Zizi lived because she prayed.

Maybe so.

On the other hand, 11-year-old Anaika Saint Louis died. Thanking God for life. "...'Thank you, God, because he saved my life,' she said. 'If I lose my feet, I always had my life.'..." (January 17, 2010)

Yeah, the 11-year-old girl lived - few a few more minutes or hours. Then, like I said, she died.

Thinking with my endocrine system, I could feel - deeply, sincerely - that (hallelujah!) Anaika Saint Louis's faith Saved Her. Then, on a whim, God let her die. I'm not gonna do that.

Or, I could concentrate on Ena Zizi and how her prayers saved her.

I could assume that Enu Zizi prayed enough, or the right way, or something: so she lived. And Anaika Saint Louis didn't.

I'm not gonna do that, either.

People Pray, and Live; People Pray, and Die

Most of my prayers are fairly routine affairs: thanking God for the food we eat, that sort of thing.

Then there was the time, seven years ago next month, when something went horribly wrong on the way to the hospital. My wife and I were expecting the birth of another child.

I didn't try making deals with God - I know too much to try that - but I did some very intense pleading.

Elizabeth died, my wife didn't.

And I still have no idea why.

But it doesn't matter.

And that's okay.

God Doesn't Owe Me an Explanation

I've read the book of Job. Job was a righteous man. He did all the right things. He was pious.

And he lost everything.

Job knew that what happened to him wasn't fair, and said so. At length. After quite a litany of his virtues, Job said:
"Of all my steps I should give him an account; like a prince I should present myself before him. This is my final plea; let the Almighty answer me! The words of Job are ended."
(Job 31:47)
The story picks up in the next chapter, with a young man named Elihu losing his temper with Job and his friends - all of whom were old enough to know better. Elihu goes on for several chapters.

I'll pick up where God gets involved, after Elihu's reality check.
"Then the LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? Gird up your loins now, like a man; I will question you, and you tell me the answers! Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it?..."

"...Have you entered into the sources of the sea, or walked about in the depths of the abyss? Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell me, if you know all: Which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness, That you may take them to their boundaries and set them on their homeward paths?..."
(Job 38:1-6, Job 38:17-21)
Over the decades, dealing with bosses, I've learned when to argue my case: and when to say "yes sir," "no sir," or be respectfully silent. Sometimes it's been "yes mam," and "no mam," of course: but you get the point.

I'm pretty sure that last week's big earthquake in Haiti happened for a reason.

I'm even more certain that I can't understand what that reason is. The Lord of hosts, the great I AM, Father of my Lord, Jesus, is, quite simply, God. He's large and in charge: and under no obligation to provide me with either His reasons - or the ability to understand them.

And that's okay.

Enu (Ena?) Zizi: Quite a Lady

My hat's off to the lady who said "I talked only to my boss, God," after she was found. Even with a building dropped on her and death all around: she kept focused on what's important.
A tip of the hat to CatholicNewsSvc, on Twitter, for the photo of Zizi; and to iamcaritas, on Twitter, for the heads-up on the slide show documenting Enu Zizi's rescue.
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Sunday, January 17, 2010

Haitians, God and Faith: Maybe Americans Can Learn Something Here

I'm glad to read this: but not terribly surprised.
"Many Haitians' religious faith unshaken by earthquake"
CNN (January 18, 2010)

"The steeple clock at Port-au-Prince's St. Pierre Catholic Church is stopped at 4:53, the hour at which a devastating earthquake struck Haiti nearly one week ago.

"The church gates were closed Sunday. The doors shuttered. But it seems Tuesday's quake has only strengthened the religious fervor many Haitians carry in their souls.

"'A lot of people who never prayed or believed -- now they believe,' said Cristina Bailey, a 24-year-old clerk...."

"...Most Haitians don't feel abandoned, Bailey said.

" 'People don't blame Jesus for all these things,' she said. 'They have faith. They believe that Jesus saved them and are thankful for that.'

"Perhaps few personified that deep belief better than 11-year-old Anaika Saint Louis, who was pulled from the rubble Thursday night and later died. Her leg had been crushed, and doctors thought they might have to amputate her feet. She said she didn't care.

" 'Thank you, God, because he saved my life,' she said. 'If I lose my feet, I always had my life.'..."
Sure, I could be conventionally dreary and worldly-wise cynical about Anaika Saint Louis and how she died anyway. You've heard it before: the futility of it all, the false hope of those deluded and/or self-righteous religious people over there. Standard-issue college coffee shop stuff.

Or, I could look at Anaika Saint Louis's words for more of a big-picture perspective: and realize that I have a shot at meeting her in God's kingdom. Foolish? Maybe. But, I'll risk it.

Haitians: They're 'Natives,' Right?

Give CNN credit: they identify this as one man's opinion:
"...'In Haiti, you have Protestants and Catholics, and you have your percentage of each,' said J.B. Diederich, a native-born Haitian who now lives in Miami, Florida, but returned to the Caribbean for several days after the earthquake. 'But everybody is 100 percent voodoo.'..."
(CNN)
I assume that Mr. Diederich believes what he says. On the other hand, I've read and heard so many whack opinions about America - and China and Japan and quite a few other countries - that I take his "100% voodoo" statement about as seriously as I do Pat Robertson's view of Haiti. (January 16, 2010) There's been a tendency for immigrants to America to over-do the 'I'm a regular American' assimilation. Which is another topic.

Haiti is All About Voodoo, Right?

As anybody who's seen "Live and Let Die" (1973) knows, black people in the Caribbean practice voodoo something fierce. And if you don't believe that venerable Bond film, check out "Voodoo Island" (1957) and "Zombies on Broadway" (1945).

Or, do what I did. Use an established reference, that's constantly updated by an organization with a reputation to lose if they publish tripe. It seems that about 80% of Haitians are Catholic. And, roughly half the Haitian population practices voodoo. ("World Factbook," Haiti, CIA)1

I don't think there's much doubt that voodoo is an issue in Haiti. But, as I wrote before, "Haiti is not voodoo."

Life Happens: You Learn to Deal With It

Long before I converted to Catholicism, I realized that life wasn't one big bowl of cherries. I'd read Job. Besides, growing up with what amounted to an arthritic hip, having someone very dear to me kill herself, and a few assorted other little inconveniences encouraged me to consider what could - and could not - reasonably be expected.

Maybe it's my Norse ancestry, but that "Curse God and die" sort of advice never did have much of an appeal. I'm a stubborn - well, I'm stubborn: and long ago decided that I could out-endure problems.

I don't know how many Americans bought into the "health and prosperity gospel," a few years back. But I'm getting off-topic again.

Nobody Said Life Would Be Easy

Actually, I've had a pretty good life. Particularly the last few decades. I'm married to a wonderful woman, four of our six children haven't died - not yet, anyway - and my wife didn't die with the last one. Compared to what many people go through: that's a bowl of cherries.

How Can Haitians Have Faith? Look How Poor They Are!

Grinding poverty can be hard on a person's faith. So can abundant wealth. I'm pretty sure that there are temptations involved with a nice, 'normal' middle-class American level of wealth, too.

I do not equate poverty with virtue: but I think that people who aren't rolling in money have opportunities to see what's important, and what's not.

Related posts:
1 For people who don't feel that the CIA blew up New York City's World Trade Center. I think that the "World Factbook" is a straightforward reference. For what it's worth, Reuters India gave the same percentage ("Pope activates world Catholic charities for Haiti," Reuters India (January 13, 2010))
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Haiti Collection's Next Weekend in Our Parish

Remember that second collection for Haiti relief efforts? I 'called in sick' for Mass this morning, but the rest of the family went to Our Lady of the Angels church, here in Sauk Centre, as usual.

This parish will be taking the second collection next weekend.

My household's set to give, then.

Related post:
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Saturday, January 16, 2010

Haiti: Voodoo, Pat Robertson, and the Catholic Church

Pat Robertson got himself into the news this week.

A CNN article read, in part:
"..Robertson, the host of the '700 Club,' blamed the tragedy on something that 'happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it.'

"The Haitians 'were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever,' Robertson said on his broadcast Wednesday. 'And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, "We will serve you if you will get us free from the French." True story. And so, the devil said, "OK, it's a deal." '..."
(CNN (January 13, 2010))
I like to think that pastor Pat means well. What he was thinking, I have no clue. His 'wrath of a tardy god' approach was so - interesting - that I discussed it twice, in another blog.
"...The CNN article doesn't say whether Pat Robertson thinks the Haitians living today should be helped or left to suffer the anger of a procrastinating god.

"The Haitian revolution, again, was in 1804. This year is 2010. Someone born the same year that pastor Robertson says those Haitians over there made a 'pact with the devil' would be 206 years old this year...."
(Apathetic Lemming of the North (January 13, 2010))
After writing that, I looked up Haitian, French, and Mexican history.
"...If some of what pastor Pat Robertson said sounded - odd - you probably didn't sleep through history class.

"Pastor Pat, A Reality Check, and Alternate Histories

"Never mind that 'pact with Satan' stuff. Let's look at Haiti's history. And France's.
"Haiti in the Real World
"Haitians were none too happy with their French rulers. Understandably, I think. The point is, in 1791 they revolted. And lost. It's called a 'slave revolt,' which gives you an idea why I think the Haitians had a point.

"Haitians tried again in 1802. It gets a little complicated at that point, but bottom line: The revolution went ahead anyway.

"In 1804, Haiti declared independence. And the French Senate proclaimed Napoleon Bonaparte emperor.

"In 1838, France recognized Haitian independence.

"In 1848, Napoleon III was elected president of France. Mexico and France went to war after that. Not Haiti. Mexico.

"Oh, dear: that doesn't sound much like the Haiti Pat Robertson described...."
(Apathetic Lemming of the North (January 14, 2010))
I'm pretty sure that a dedicate disciple of Pat could cobble together a nice explanation for what the televangelist said. And, like I said, I prefer to believe that he means well.

Pat Robertson's unusually whack description of Haitian, Mexican, and French history kept bothering me, though. This morning I had a bit of free time, and followed up on an idea.

Sure enough: about 80% of Haitians are Catholic. And, roughly half the Haitian population practices voodoo. ("World Factbook," Haiti, CIA)

Voodoo, Magic, Divination and Those Catholics

First of all, voodoo is:
  • "a charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers
  • "followers of a religion that involves witchcraft and animistic deities
  • "...a religious cult practiced chiefly in Caribbean countries (especially Haiti); involves witchcraft and animistic deities"
    (Princeton's WordNet)
The same source defines witchcraft as "the art of sorcery" and sorcery as "the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world".

That's a long way to go, but I like to make sure that terms are defined. Voodoo, arguably, is a sort of magic. Not the harmless prestidigitation that stage magicians perform as entertainment. Magic. And yes, it's real.

The Catholic Church has a word to say about divination and magic: don't. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2115-2117)

Personally, I'd rather juggle plutonium without a hazmat suit. But I'm getting off-topic.
Catholics: America, Perceptions and Reality
I grew up in a quite sincerely anti-Catholic part of America. Researching what, if anything, was behind the wild stories I heard and read contributed to my conversion to Catholicism - but that's another story.

It's hard for me to shake the impression that some people living in this country are convinced that when 'those Catholics over there' aren't digging tunnels between the rectory and the convent or performing Satanic rites, they're hatching papist plots to overthrow the Anglo-Saxon States of America.

Where Pat Robertson is on what I'll call the Billy Graham-Tony Alamo continuum, I have no idea.

But, given America's culture and history, and Haiti's: it's not at all hard to think that Robertson may have assumed that since most Haitians are Catholic - 'everybody knows' what they're like - and half practice voodoo, Haitians just simply must have made a pact with the Devil or something.
Haiti is not Voodoo
Yes, voodoo is very much a part of Haitian culture and beliefs. But there's more to Haiti than Voodoo.
"...'Why has Haiti become what it is today?'

"There is no national mystique. We are torn between currents of all kinds which give way to one another or combine. Some are purely and simply opposed to the development of our people and our country. There is an attempt to reduce our Haitian culture to one of its forms of religious expression; voodoo: By this very fact we tend to reject our identity. We have not yet understood that we have a common destiny and that it is together – and only together – that we shall be able to fulfill our present and our future...." (USCCB (December 17, 1993))

Wrath of a Procrastinating God and Getting a Grip

I accept the idea that actions have consequences: and that what I do today may continue to affect my descendants for many generations to come.

On the other hand, I don't think that Pat Robertson's combination of fictitious history and "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" theology is helpful right now. I'm sure that some of Robertson's devout followers find consolation in the idea that those sinners (the ones over there) are getting what's coming to them. Haitians don't need to be told that it's their fault: that God's killing them because of something that happened about two centuries ago.

They do need help: food; water; medical supplies; bulldozers; trained search and rescue teams. My hat's off to the folks in Haiti who, with about as much expertise in lifting buildings off people as I've got, are digging their families and neighbors out of the rubble. On the other hand, I think they wouldn't mind a hand. And excavators.

If you're Catholic, in America, there may be a second collection this weekend. Whatever your beliefs, you may be able to help: "Haiti: About the Earthquake, Relief, and Related Topics."

Related posts:
Background:
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Haiti Earthquake: Your Parish May have a Second Collection this Weekend

My household doesn't do much impulse buying: or impulse giving.

In case you're the same way, and go to a Catholic church in the United States of America, here's some news:
"Cardinal George, Archbishop Dolan Urge Nationwide 2nd Collection for Haiti"
The Catholic Key Blog (January 13, 2010)

"This afternoon, USCCB President Cardinal George of Chicago and Catholic Relief Services Chair Archbishop Dolan of New York wrote the nation's bishops urging them to take up a second collection this weekend for the relief of the people of Haiti. Bishop Finn is encouraging parishes in the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph to do just that, and I notice on twitter that several other dioceses are already doing the same.

"I'm informed that the 2004 Special Collection for victims of the Indonesian Tsunami was the largest in the history of this diocese, as I imagine it was elsewhere. Let's make this one bigger – These are our neighbors and their suffering is terrible.

"Please read the following letter carefully. The collection for Haiti this weekend should not be confused with the scheduled special collection for the Church in Latin America next weekend. Both should be taken up. The following was sent on the letterhead of the USCCB President:
"Your Eminence/Excellency:

"Our Church mourns the terrible suffering of our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that ravaged Haiti on January 12, 2010 has already claimed thousands of lives including the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince. It has destroyed countless homes, churches, seminaries, schools, and other buildings and has left millions without the most basic necessities of life. Our faith compels us to pray for and reach out to our brothers and sisters in their time of suffering...."
Two links are in the letter: "Additional information on the U.S. Catholic community's response to this emergency and how U.S. Catholics can help can be found at CRS.org and USCCB.org"

That's Catholic Relief Services at CRS.org, and The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at USCCB.org.

I've posted about yesterday's earthquake in Haiti before. Quite a bit, actually.

This second collection? I think it's a good idea.

(The Catholic Key Blog is on A Catholic Citizen in America's blogroll)

Related posts:
A tip of the hat to Gen215, on Twitter, for the heads-up on this post.
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Haiti: Archbishop Dead; Aftershocks; How to Help

Update (Noon, January 13, 2010)
More news:
  • "CRS rep expects 'thousands and thousands' of dead, injured in Haiti"
    Catholic News Service (January 13, 2010)
  • "Catholic aid agencies accept donations for Haitian quake relief"
    Catholic News Service (January 13, 2010)
    • "The following international aid agencies are working with partner agencies and local religious leaders in Haiti and are accepting donations for victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake.
      • "Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international relief and development agency, is accepting donations by phone at 1-800-736-3467; online at www.crs.org; or by mail to CRS, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.
      • "The Salesians are accepting donations by phone at 1-914-633-8344; online at www.salesianmissions.org; or by mail to Salesian Disaster Relief, Salesian Missions, P.O. Box 30, New Rochelle, NY 10802-0030.
      • "The Archdiocese of Miami, which has a large Haitian population, has set up a place to donate via its Web site, http://www.newmiamiarch.org.
      • "Caritas Internationalis is accepting donations for Haiti at www.caritas.org.
      • "Food for the Poor is also accepting donations at www.foodforthepoor.org.
A tip of the hat to ZephyrK9, on Twitter, for the heads-up on one of the CNS articles.
There's a link list of Catholic aid agencies at the end of this post.

The rest is mostly excerpts from this morning's news.

Bottom line? Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, is a mess. Judging from the lack of news about places in Haiti outside the capital, the rest of the country isn't in much better shape - otherwise reporters would have contacted people living there, I'd think.

This is strictly a suggestion, but the situation in Haiti is an opportunity to pray for folks who are really hurting. If you're in a position to give financial or other assistance - well, there's that link list. And the last news piece I quoted from has additional contact information for Catholic Relief Services.
"Pope prays for victims of Haiti quake; archbishop's body found"
Catholic News Service (January 13, 2010)

"Pope Benedict XVI prayed for victims of a massive earthquake in Haiti and urged the international community to provide generous assistance to the stricken population of the Caribbean nation.

"The victims included Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot of Port-au-Prince.

" 'The lifeless body of Archbishop Joseph Miot of Port-au-Prince was found this morning under the rubble of the archbishops' residence,' L'Osservatore Romano said in a Page 1 story Jan. 13.

"Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Vatican's apostolic nuncio in Haiti, told the Vatican missionary news agency Fides: 'Port-au-Prince is completely devastated. The cathedral and the archbishop's residence, all the big churches, all the seminaries are reduced to rubble.'..."
The article quotes Pope Benedict XVI:
"...'I appeal to the generosity of everyone, so that our brothers and sisters receive our concrete solidarity and the effective support of the international community in this moment of need and suffering,' he said.

"He said the Catholic Church's charity organizations would immediately move into action to assist those most in need.

" 'I invite everyone to join in my prayer to the Lord for the victims of this catastrophe and for those who are mourning their loss. I assure my spiritual closeness to people who have lost their homes and to all those affected in various ways by this calamity, imploring from God consolation and relief of their suffering,'...."
(Catholic News Service)
After yesterday afternoon's 7.0 quake, Haiti's capital is in bad shape. Virtually no news from places outside the capital concerns me. I suspect that Haiti's communications systems are down: and that reporters can't contact people outside the capital city. From what I've read about Haiti, many places wouldn't take tremors like this well.

Archbishop Auza told Catholic News Agency that he and others couldn't go into buildings for very long, because of aftershocks, so they're camping out in a garden.

More from Catholic News Agency:
"...Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based umbrella organization for Catholic charities, said it was mobilizing to provide immediate assistance to Haiti. On Jan. 13 it had already assembled an emergency relief team to fly to Haiti to assist Caritas members already working in the country. It said there had not yet been contact with the Haitian Caritas office.

"Caritas Internationalis humanitarian director Alistair Dutton was leading the emergency relief team, Caritas said in a statement.

" 'There is a strong Caritas presence in Haiti. We already know that Caritas staff will be providing support to survivors of the earthquake, such as food, shelter and comfort through churches and parish networks,' Dutton said...."
(CNA)
From a post on Gather News:
"How Can I Help Haiti? Catholic Relief Services"
Stacey *Mamasaid* D., Gather News (January 13, 2010)

"How can I help Haiti? Catholic Relief Services is an excellent way for Christians to help victims of the Haiti earthquake. We recently posted an article citing American Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief and Wyclef Jean Yele Haiti Foundation. Catholic Relief Services is extending a helping hand to Haiti earthquake victims. How can I help Haiti?

"Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift [them] up again."

"Deuteronomy 22:4

"These are tough economic times for everyone. Think of how difficult it must be for the devasted victims of the Haiti earthquake...."

"...How can I help Haiti? Visit Catholic Relief Servicesonline to find out more or call 1-800-736-3467 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. You can also send in a donation via the mail. Mail your check to: Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090...."
(Gather News)
here's more in the post, including a video and links to news.

That verse from Deuteronomy, again in a somewhat less thee-thy-thou translation:
"You shall not see your kinsman's ass or ox foundering on the road without showing concern about it; see to it that you help him lift it up."
(Deuteronomy 22:4)
This is a little off-topic, but I read a bit more of that chapter. Turns out, building codes are nothing new:
"When you build a new house, put a parapet around the roof; otherwise, if someone falls off, you will bring bloodguilt upon your house."
(Deuteronomy 22:4)
Now, something really important.

Some Catholic aid agencies: And, there's
  • Food For The Poor
    • Food For The Poor
      6401 Lyons Road
      Coconut Creek, FL 33073
    • 1-800-427-9104, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. EST
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Haiti Earthquake: Send Help if You Can, and Pray for the Folks Living There

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Headline & first few paragraphs:
"7.0 quake hits Haiti; 'Serious loss of life' expected"
CNN (January 12, 2010)

"A major earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday, knocking down buildings and power lines and inflicting what its ambassador to the United States called a catastrophe for the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation.

"Several eyewitnesses reported heavy damage and bodies in the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince, where concrete-block homes line steep hillsides. There was no estimate of the dead and wounded Tuesday evening, but the U.S. State Department has been told to expect 'serious loss of life,' department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters in Washington.

" 'The only thing I can do now is pray and hope for the best,' the ambassador, Raymond Alcide Joseph, told CNN...."
A few links to Catholic organizations helping Haiti recently. I have not thoroughly researched these. Consider this list a starting point. And remember: Sending money helps only if help actually arrives. Check out an organization before you give, please.
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What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.