Political contributions made by employees of a Catholic overseas charity arm went to pro-abortion candidates, according to a newly released report.
The Lepanto Institute revealed that since 2002, 98 percent of the contributions made by employees of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the international relief agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, have gone to abortion advocates such as President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Of the collected amount, 70 percent came from CRS directors, senior advisers and country representatives, Life Site News reported.
The institute obtained public records of 52 CRS employees, which revealed that 50 of them donated to openly pro-abortion politicians.
"Statistically, this indicates an overwhelming one-sidedness, with almost no diversity of opinion among those working for CRS," Lepanto Institute stated.
"The data reveals a disturbing trend among CRS employees to place their political values above Catholic moral teaching," said Lepanto Institute President Michael Hichborn. "Not only does the data reveal a nearly exclusive political demographic among CRS employees, but it's a demographic that represents ideas in direct odds with Catholic moral teaching."
For instance, CRS executive vice president and CFO Mark Palmer, made three donations amounting to $1,500 to Obama in 2008, and to presidential candidate Wesley Clark in 2003.
Jennifer Nazaire, who has been working for CRS for over 19 years, and currently serves as CRS's Manager for Fellowships, Internships and Volunteers, Talent Development and the Human Resources Department, donated $1,100 to Emily's List in 2005 and 2007. Emily's List's mission is to "elect pro-choice Democratic women to office."
"This report illustrates a stark reality that must be addressed by the bishops. They can't maintain the Catholic identity for this organisation if the employees are neither Catholic nor hold to Catholic moral teaching," said Hichborn.
He said CRS' reliance on government funding becomes an obstacle to upholding Catholic principles.
"As long as CRS takes government money, it cannot hire exclusively Catholic personnel and as long as that is happening, CRS will have a problem with its Catholic identity," he said.
