Churches step up US hurricane aid efforts
-09/09/05
Twelve days after Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans and large sections of the US Gulf Coast, church-based relief groups have been stepping up their efforts to assist those who survived what is possibly the worst natural disaster to hit the United States, writes Chris Herlinger of Ecumenical News International.
Church and voluntary groups have played a vital role in filling the unfortunate gaps in government response. But yesterday, after much criticism of The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the US House of Representatives voted 410 to 11 to approve a 51.8 billion dollar aid package.
“This is truly America’s tsunami,” said Thomas Hoyt Jr, the bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Louisiana and Mississippi, and president of the US National Council of Churches.
During a weekend that coincided with the 5 September US Labour Day holiday, Jews, Christians, Muslims and those of other religious faiths all prayed and passed collection trays for hurricane relief efforts.
“Today, there is only one essential question,” said Hoyt. “How are we going to provide food, clothing, shelter and necessities for the tens of thousands who have lost all their earthly possessions and the lives of their loved ones?”
Hoyt cautioned against theological or social debates about the disaster, saying: “There will be plenty of time in the future to debate theological questions as to why good people have to suffer or speculate whether global warming is making our weather more violent.”
Still, some religious and community leaders have been angry about the response to the disaster by government authorities.
The Rev Calvin Butts, a prominent African American church leader in New York, told the Observer newspaper in London that the federal response to the disaster would have been quicker had the disaster struck a predominantly white, middle class city.
“It’s black people who are dying, so [President George] Bush doesn’t care,” Butts said, saying there was a “lack of concern for poor people, and certainly poor black people”.
New Orleans is predominantly black and poor, as are large parts of the state of Mississippi, also severely affected by the hurricane.
Church World Service, the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 36 US denominations, announced it was rushing aid shipments and staff to the area and would work with affected communities to meet the long-term needs of the most vulnerable.
International statements about the disaster, described as an “unimaginable catastrophe” by Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, Georgia, focused on the need for practical support.
Speaking on behalf of the World Council of Churches, WCC general secretary the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia said: “We pledge our solidarity with those who have begun the task of rebuilding broken walls and restoring stricken lives. In particular, we hold in our prayers all the church relief agencies, workers and volunteers who are struggling to assist those in need.”
Frank Griswold, the presiding bishop of the US Episcopal (Anglican) Church, urged church members and clergy to “reach out in prayer and tangible support to our brothers and sisters as they live through these overwhelming days of loss and begin to face the difficult challenges of the future.”
Mennonite Disaster Service established three bases of operation one week after Katrina hit Mobile, Alabama and Meridian and Gulfport, Mississippi. They are beginning clean up work with chainsaw crews from neighbouring states.
In the UK, Christian Aid general director Dr Daleep Mukarji explained that although his agency does not normally work in the US and therefore will not be responding directly to the relief effort in the aftermath of the hurricane, ìour thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered.î
Churches step up US hurricane aid efforts
-09/09/05
Twelve days after Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans and large sections of the US Gulf Coast, church-based relief groups have been stepping up their efforts to assist those who survived what is possibly the worst natural disaster to hit the United States, writes Chris Herlinger of Ecumenical News International.
Church and voluntary groups have played a vital role in filling the unfortunate gaps in government response. But yesterday, after much criticism of The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the US House of Representatives voted 410 to 11 to approve a 51.8 billion dollar aid package.
“This is truly America’s tsunami,” said Thomas Hoyt Jr, the bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Louisiana and Mississippi, and president of the US National Council of Churches.
During a weekend that coincided with the 5 September US Labour Day holiday, Jews, Christians, Muslims and those of other religious faiths all prayed and passed collection trays for hurricane relief efforts.
“Today, there is only one essential question,” said Hoyt. “How are we going to provide food, clothing, shelter and necessities for the tens of thousands who have lost all their earthly possessions and the lives of their loved ones?”
Hoyt cautioned against theological or social debates about the disaster, saying: “There will be plenty of time in the future to debate theological questions as to why good people have to suffer or speculate whether global warming is making our weather more violent.”
Still, some religious and community leaders have been angry about the response to the disaster by government authorities.
The Rev Calvin Butts, a prominent African American church leader in New York, told the Observer newspaper in London that the federal response to the disaster would have been quicker had the disaster struck a predominantly white, middle class city.
“It’s black people who are dying, so [President George] Bush doesn’t care,” Butts said, saying there was a “lack of concern for poor people, and certainly poor black people”.
New Orleans is predominantly black and poor, as are large parts of the state of Mississippi, also severely affected by the hurricane.
Church World Service, the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 36 US denominations, announced it was rushing aid shipments and staff to the area and would work with affected communities to meet the long-term needs of the most vulnerable.
International statements about the disaster, described as an “unimaginable catastrophe” by Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, Georgia, focused on the need for practical support.
Speaking on behalf of the World Council of Churches, WCC general secretary the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia said: “We pledge our solidarity with those who have begun the task of rebuilding broken walls and restoring stricken lives. In particular, we hold in our prayers all the church relief agencies, workers and volunteers who are struggling to assist those in need.”
Frank Griswold, the presiding bishop of the US Episcopal (Anglican) Church, urged church members and clergy to “reach out in prayer and tangible support to our brothers and sisters as they live through these overwhelming days of loss and begin to face the difficult challenges of the future.”
Mennonite Disaster Service established three bases of operation one week after Katrina hit Mobile, Alabama and Meridian and Gulfport, Mississippi. They are beginning clean up work with chainsaw crews from neighbouring states.
In the UK, Christian Aid general director Dr Daleep Mukarji explained that although his agency does not normally work in the US and therefore will not be responding directly to the relief effort in the aftermath of the hurricane, ‘our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered.’