The Senate voted to back President Trump's request to claw back $9 billion in funding for humanitarian aid and public broadcasting. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and other groups that rely on public money for programs focused on settling refugees and humanitarian aid will be affected. Bill O'Keefe, executive vice president at CRS, criticized the cuts, saying they are 'hamstringing the future'. The federal funding was appropriated a few months ago for migration and refugee help, international peacekeeping efforts, and foreign economic support.
5 months ago
The U.S. Senate has voted 51-48 to approve President Donald Trump's request to rescind approximately $9 billion in previously appropriated federal funds 1. This significant clawback, expected to be approved by the House, primarily targets international aid, with about $8 billion in cuts, and also includes $1 billion from public broadcasting 1. These funds were allocated just months prior for the current fiscal year, intended for critical areas such as migration and refugee assistance, international peacekeeping, and foreign economic support 1.
Organizations like Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which heavily depend on public funding for their humanitarian and refugee resettlement programs, are significantly affected by these proposed cuts 1. Bill O'Keefe, executive vice president at CRS, expressed concern that these actions are "hamstringing the future" and represent a premature retreat from essential work that had previously been agreed upon by the administration and Congress 1. CRS, a major recipient of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, faces a challenging landscape, especially after the Trump administration's earlier dismantling of USAID 1.
The legislative package has largely passed along party lines, though some Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, voted against it 1. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) unsuccessfully attempted to introduce an amendment to protect funding for faith-based groups like CRS, highlighting their vital work in resettling refugees, including Congolese refugees in his own church community 1. Senator Murkowski criticized the lack of specific details regarding which programs would be impacted, arguing that Congress, as the appropriator of federal money, is entitled to such information 1. Conversely, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri, who proposed an amended version that retained funding for global health initiatives (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria), dismissed Democratic amendments as "ridiculous" and emphasized saving taxpayer dollars from "wasteful spending" 1.
The proposed $9 billion clawback is considerably larger than any rescissions seen in recent decades, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center's analysis of trends from 1974 to 2018 1. Senator Kaine noted that some of these rescissions might be Congress's attempt to retroactively approve cuts already made unilaterally by the administration, some of which are currently facing legal challenges 1. This move raises questions about congressional authority over the power of the purse and the executive branch's ability to dismantle previously appropriated funds 1.
The Church's stance on charity and care for the vulnerable.
The Catholic Church emphasizes charity and care for the vulnerable as fundamental aspects of Christian life, rooted in the love of God and neighbor . This commitment is not merely an act of human solidarity but a profound expression of faith and a means of evangelization .
Charity, or caritas, is a theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God . It is the greatest of the virtues, the "bond of perfection," and the foundation of all other virtues, giving them life, inspiration, and order . Without charity, all other actions are meaningless .
Charity is understood as love received from God and then given to others . Its source is the Father's love for the Son in the Holy Spirit, which is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit . This divine love enables believers to love others in a way that surpasses natural inclinations, extending even to those who are difficult to love, such as the poor, the unlovable, and those who have offended us .
Charity is the "soul of the holiness to which all are called," governing, shaping, and perfecting all means of sanctification . It is the true motive force that enables the Church's members to act, and it is an eternal vocation that encompasses all time and space .
The Church's social teaching is a service to charity, proclaiming the truth of Christ's love in society . This doctrine is essential for authentic human development and for addressing grave socio-economic problems . The Church's commitment to charity is expressed through concrete acts, recognizing that serving the poor and suffering is serving Christ Himself .
A cornerstone of the Church's stance on care for the vulnerable is the "preferential option for the poor" . This option is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, the poverty of Jesus, and His attention to the poor . It means that God's heart has a special place for the poor, the marginalized, and the excluded, placing them at the heart of the Church .
This preferential option is not exclusive or discriminatory towards other groups, but it embodies a priority of service . It includes all who are marginalized, such as unborn children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, the terminally ill, victims of injustice and oppression, refugees, and migrants . The Church recognizes in these individuals the image of her poor and suffering founder, Christ Himself .
The Church's love for the poor is an essential part of her constant tradition and impels her to address the massive proportions of poverty in the world . This commitment involves not only material poverty but also cultural and spiritual poverty .
The Church's call to charity translates into concrete actions and a commitment to justice:
In essence, the Church's stance on charity and care for the vulnerable is deeply integrated into its identity and mission, reflecting Christ's own identification with the suffering and His call to love God and neighbor .