Catholic Relief Services ‘alarmed’ by proposed U.S. foreign aid cuts, by Jonah McKeown

By Jonah McKeown, CNA Staff, July 2, 2024

Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.

CNA Staff, Jul 2, 2024 / 15:40 pm – Catholic Relief Services (CRS) on Monday criticized this year’s U.S. State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which cuts foreign aid by 11% compared with last year.

The official charitable arm of the U.S. Catholic bishops, CRS has in recent years pushed for more government funds, which make up a substantial portion of the organization’s budget.

“The substantial reductions to critical humanitarian and development accounts, in some cases by roughly 25%, would have dire consequences for millions of families facing hunger, humanitarian crises, and infectious diseases,” said Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president for mission, mobilization, and advocacy at CRS, in a July 1 statement. ….