{Catholic Relief Services continues \u201clooking into\u201d allegations that the Catholic humanitarian agency played a role in developing and implementing a sex education program that promotes Planned Parenthood as a resource and encourages masturbation and use of contraceptives, condoms, and abortifacients, according to a statement it published Thursday.}<\/p>\n
\u201cIn light of our commitment to our Catholic identity, CRS is investigating the facts,\u201d the statement says.<\/p>\n
The Lepanto Institute issued a report Monday on CRS\u2019 role in the program \u201cMy Changing Body: Fertility and Puberty Awareness for Young People,\u201d which targeted 10-14 year-old Rwandan children.<\/p>\n
CRS\u2019 statement indicates that they assisted Georgetown University\u2019s Institute for Reproductive Health (IRH) in developing the program beginning in 2009. According to CRS, IRH worked with Rwandans taking part in CRS\u2019 five-year project Avoiding Risk, Affirming Life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are currently investigating whether the version of My Changing Body that the Lepanto Institute references, or any other version, was ever used in Rwanda,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 2010, CRS has dramatically reduced our presence in Rwanda, and many staff members who worked during the time period of Avoiding Risk, Affirming Life are no longer with CRS. As such, our research is taking some time,\u201d it continues. \u201cWe continue to reach out to former and current staff — from CRS, Georgetown University and Caritas Rwanda \u2013 and are researching through our archives, in an effort to better understand what took place in Rwanda six years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
The U.S. Bishops\u2019 international relief agency has faced ongoing criticism for several years from Catholics and pro-life groups for its partnerships with and funding for groups and causes that conflict with Catholic teaching, and for its being beholden to government grants.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good that CRS is investigating the promotion of My Changing Body,\u201d Lepanto Institute President Michael Hichborn told LifeSiteNews. \u201cBut ultimately this is a perfect illustration of the fact that CRS should be obeying Pope Benedict\u2019s Motu Proprio on charity and refusing to accept money from organizations, including the government, which promote abortion and contraception.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should also be mentioned that the records are not exactly six years old, as CRS suggests,\u201d Hichborn said. \u201cIn September of 2011, CRS was involved in a meeting with IRH and the Rwandan Ministry of Health, where IRH and CRS \u2018shared the results of the evaluation of My Changing Body in Rwanda with Caritas.\u2019\u201d This statement can be found on page 30 of the USAID document cited in the Lepanto report. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd again,\u201d Hichborn continued, \u201cpage 16 of that report says that the program implemented in Rwanda by CRS and Caritas included the elements that promote acceptance of masturbation as normal for adolescents.”<\/p>\n
CRS also maintains in its statement that it has \u201ctaken extensive steps\u201d in the last five years \u201cto strengthen our systems to ensure that all of our staff are trained on Catholic identity, that our policies for reviewing and vetting programs and related relationships effectively uphold Church teaching, and that all materials used in CRS programs are in compliance with Church teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n
But, Hichborn asked, \u201cIf the vetting process is so careful, then how did My Changing Body get through?\u201d<\/p>\n
If the Lepanto Institute report is true, then CRS cannot say that it never directly and deliberately does anything against Catholic teaching, he said. \u201cAnd it owes an apology to all the pro-life organizations that have been raising concerns for the past several years. If CRS got My Changing Body so very wrong – this didn’t just \u2018slip through the cracks.\u2019 This was a wildly egregious program that was implemented by CRS staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
CRS Communication director Paul Eagle confirmed to LifeSiteNews that CRS is continuing its investigation, and will keep LifeSiteNews posted.<\/p>\n
Source: lifesitenews.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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