Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

CCODP donations up despite controversy

CORNWALL, ONT. — The controversy over the World March of Women doesn't appear to have harmed the fundraising efforts of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

The amount of money raised by the bishops' development agency in the Share Lent campaign increased by $400,000 over what had been forecast, according to a report presented to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Sept. 25.

As well, the campaign raised $9.44 million, almost $1 million more than the total of $8.5 million raised in the previous year's Share Lent campaign.

The organization's contribution of $135,000 to the international march, aimed at eliminating poverty and violence against women, sparked heated criticism from some bishops and Catholic groups because the march committee supported lesbian and abortion rights.

Some bishops withdrew or delayed their diocesan contributions to the CCODP in protest.

Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary, who along with Bishop Francois Thibodeau of Edmundston, N.B., is a CCCB delegate to the CCODP's national council, thanked the bishops' conference for its support.

He also noted that part of the core funding for Development and Peace - $7.75 million a year - comes from the Canadian International Development Agency, "which means the Canadian government donates almost the same amount that we raise through Share Lent."

An additional $5 million was received from CIDA this summer for a three-year program targeting a peace project in the Congo, said Henry.

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