CATHOLIC AID ORGANIZATIONS: TSUMANI RESPONSE

UNCLAS VATICAN 000253

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN); G/TIP (ETERNO),EAP/PIMBS, EAP/BCLTV, SA/IN
AF/E

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAID SENV SOCI CE ID IN ML MY TH VT
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC AID ORGANIZATIONS: TSUMANI RESPONSE


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SUMMARY
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1.(U) The Holy See and Catholic aid agencies have raised
some $500 million for tsunami relief and reconstruction
efforts in Asia, with local branches of these agencies
coordinating relief efforts made possible by these
donations. The Caritas network is targeting its efforts in
Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and is
cooperating with local authorities and member groups
already on the ground. The Vatican appreciates U.S. public
and private donor generosity, and, in the face of
significant logistical challenges, generally values the
assistance of the U.S. military. Some in the Vatican aid
community, however, have expressed reservations about U.S.
military assistance. Officials from Caritas and other
Catholic-affiliated organizations made clear to us that,
unlike some other religious groups active in Muslim areas,
they have no intention of using disaster relief as a method
of proselytism. Senior Vatican officials are continuing to
focus international attention on the tragedy, with the Pope
raising concerns about human trafficking, and other
Cardinals hosting fundraisers and holding masses for
victims. End summary.

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MASSIVE AID EFFORT LOCALLY-RUN
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2.(U) Catholic aid agencies have raised some $500
million for Indian Ocean tsunami victims in response to
Pope John Paul II's repeated appeals for "genuine gestures
of solidarity." Among these, Caritas Internationalis has
raised more than $261 million, $25 million of which has
come from U.S.-based Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
(Note: Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162
Catholic relief, development, and social service
organizations present in over 200 countries and
territories. It is acting as the hub of tsunami relief
efforts affiliated with the Catholic Church. End note.)


3. (SBU) Caritas' Rome-based staffer Nik Bredholdt told us
his network had chosen to target Indonesia, India, Sri
Lanka and Thailand, with a different focus for each,
depending on the country's needs and the capacities of
member groups on the ground before the disaster. He noted
that Sri Lanka had attracted the greatest interest from
affiliated organizations, with substantial pledges of aid
for rebuilding flowing in. There, as elsewhere, logistics
have been as much or more of a challenge than a lack of
funds. Bredholdt noted that the lack of a comprehensive
church structure in Indonesia had slowed efforts. Although
CRS was well established on the ground there, it had not
been active in the affected areas before the tsunami, and
thus needed some time to set up their services. Caritas-
affiliated organizations in affected countries have offered
food, clothing, medicine, medical care, water purification
and sanitation, psychological counselling, and other
services. Caritas is also working on long-term
rehabilitation and reconstruction for affected communities
by building homes, replacing destroyed fishing equipment,
and donating funds for work programs.

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Praise and Concern on U.S. Military Involvement
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4.(SBU) Holy See Country Director for Indonesia
Monsignor Luis Montemayor expressed appreciation for U.S.
generosity and for the logistical assistance of the
American military. "Your helicopters" are the only way in
to many devastated areas, he said. According to
Montemayor, the presence of the U.S. military in Indonesia
did not appear to be an especially sensitive issue. Some
other Catholic officials, however, had some qualms about
the military presence. Bredholdt, who recently returned
from Sri Lanka, told us he believed the U.S. military
assistance posed a problem because locals did not regard it
as disinterested aid. He claimed that Catholic officials
had turned down an offer to use military transport for food
distribution because it would have compromised the Catholic
Church's "image and perceived neutrality." An AMCIT Holy

See official told us that many in the Catholic relief
community are suspicious of U.S. military involvement,
perhaps owing to the opposition many share for USG military
efforts in Iraq.

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CATHOLIC GROUPS SAY THEY AIM TO HELP, NOT CONVERT
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5.(SBU) Montemayor told us that Caritas and other
Catholic-affiliated groups had no intention of using
disaster relief as a method of proselytism, and were being
careful to avoidpredominantly Muslim areas likewise
told Vatican-based media that they were taking care not to
give the impression they were using the disaster as a
pretext for evangelization. The situation according to
Catholic missionaries working ier into the stricken areas will
remain well into the post-emergency phase. Archbishop Celestino
Migliore, the Holy See's Permanent Observer at the UN, said
January 18 that faith-based organizations in the field needed
to be allowed to work directly with the populace. In a similar
vein, the Vatican's nuncio in Indonesia said that when the
media spotlight dims, the missionaries will be the ones who
implement long-term reconstruction plans.

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TRAFFICKING WORRIES
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6. (SBU) Vatican officials from the Pope on down have
expressed concern about a rise in human trafficking as one
of the byproducts of the tsunami. In early January the
Pope told thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square that he
was praying for the "young victims of the earthquake in
Asia," particularly those who had been "kidnapped, lost, or
exploited in vile trafficking." Father Michael Osborn from
the Vatican's aid clearinghouse, "Cor Unum," told us he was
particularly worried about tsunami orphans being trafficked
for sexual and other purposes, noting that he had heard
several anecdotal reports of such crime from contacts on
the ground. Vatican-based media reported comments by
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, newly-appointed President of the
Pontifical Academy for Life, on the same subject. Sgreccia
said certain agencies had begun offering adoption services
at a cost, apparently with little knowledge of the ultimate
fate of the children involved. "Our civilization must make
this disgrace disappear," he insisted.

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PRAYER AND MONEY
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7. (U) While relief efforts continue in Asia, Vatican
City has also been a locus of activity. U.S. Cardinal
Bernard Law, now administrator of one of the Holy See's
major basilicas, hosted a well-attended concert on January
5 that raised money for Cor Unum's relief efforts. The
Vatican also held a formal mass at St. Peter's Basilica
January 24 at which the diplomatic corps and other
dignitaries prayed for tsunami victims. Holy See Secretary
of State (Prime Minister equivalent) Cardinal Angelo Sodano
celebrated the mass with a host of prelates from affected
countries, reflecting the Holy See's desire to maintain
public awareness of the continuing crisis. Along with more
theological observations about the disaster, Sodano
stressed the Pope's commitment to help those affected by
the tsunami.

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COMMENT

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9.(U) The Pope and the international Catholic aid
agencies have moved quickly to respond to the tsunami.
Papal Nuncios in affected countries were quick to visit the
worst hit regions, coordinating aid efforts and attempting
to raise morale. We were told that Cor Unum President
Archbishop Cordes will likely visit the region later this
week to inspect conditions on the ground and make a further
Papal donation to relief efforts. We can expect to see
Vatican-based relief agencies and local missionaries at the
forefront of aid and reconstruction work in the months and
years ahead. End comment.

Hardt


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2005VATICA00253 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED