NATION

National Catholic Reporter, Jan 26, 2001 by Patrick O'Neill

Black Catholic clergy issue racism -statement

The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus issued a statement on racism Jan. 15 calling for a commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the first enslaved African entering the Western Hemisphere. "We take this historical moment in the history of humankind to challenge ourselves, all people of goodwill, the Roman Catholic church and all those with a Christian conscience to examine the issue of racism in our lives, society and globalized civilization," the statement reads.

The statement was timed to the federal holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Fr. Clarence Williams, coordinator of the committee that drafted the statement, said it is the result of gatherings of the independent caucus and African and Afro-Latino priests. It calls for a "Sankofa" observance of the coming of the first African slave to Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in 1501, referring to a West African term that calls for looking back to the past to gain wisdom for the future.

"The tragedy of slavery continues in America, not as a past event but as a living legacy in the present," the statement reads. "It has stamped a stigmata of inferiority upon the sons and daughters of Africa which endures today.... This anniversary, then, is a fitting occasion to examine and commit ourselves to the task of reconciliation: healing the historic divisions and endemic suspicions which make us `strangers and aliens' to each other."

The statement also calls for acts of repentance and restoration for the genocide and mistreatment of people of African and Native American descent.

Charity praised for financial corrective measures

After an investigation of Food for the Poor's financial practices, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has praised the agency's "commitment to employ corrective measures that will build an environment conducive to accountability and excellence."

The council, based in Winchester, Va., released findings Jan. 12 from an investigation of the charity, which works to improve the health and education and the economic, social and spiritual conditions of people in Central America and the Caribbean. Food for the Poor is based in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Last September, Food for the Poor founder Ferdinand Mahfood gave up his position as CEO after admitting he had diverted charitable donations -- now estimated at more than $400,000 -- to two female members of his staff with whom he was sexually involved and to members of their families.

Mahfood's actions "represented a breach in moral and biblical conduct and improper use of financial resources," said the Standards Committee of the council, an association of Christian organizations committed to demonstrating compliance with established standards of responsible stewardship.

However, because of the charity's willingness to accept recommended changes, its membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, to which it has belonged since October 1998, was not revoked.

Robin Mahfood, Ferdinand Mahfood's brother and current president and CEO of Food for the Poor, said the agency was "particularly pleased that [Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability] continues to recognize [Food for the Poor] as a certified member, as we have always seen the [council] as the ultimate stamp of approval."

The agency, which has shipped more than $750 million worth of goods to the poor of the Caribbean over the past 18 years, said its expenses account for only 8.5 percent of its budget, a percentage that the agency said was "far less than the average for nonprofit organizations."

Catholic leaders object to prenatal screens provision

Fearing the arrival of state-funded eugenics, the Oregon Catholic Conference said it would question a prenatal screening provision in a budget proposed by Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber.

"This presents problems if used to eliminate life as a solution to health problems," said Bob Castagna, executive director of the conference, which is the public policy arm of Oregon's Catholic bishops.

The proposal, a first for the nation, would provide prenatal screening for all first-born children in Oregon. The aim, according to Kitzhaber, is to identify medical and social risks early so that children can "succeed in life, in school and avoid future problems such as drug addiction, school failure, delinquency or incarceration."

In utero screening is the first part of a $66 million package Kitzhaber calls the Oregon Children's Plan.

Out of 44,300 births each year in the state, about 18,400 are first-born children. According to the governor's strategy, parents found to have infants at risk will be directed to aid programs for substance abuse, disabilities and mental health. To fund the children's plan, the governor redirected $38 million from human services and public safety programs. He argues that it makes more sense to prevent strife early on than to pay for it with law enforcement, jails and welfare.

Oregon church officials say prenatal screening can be a good thing, if it helps give a child a healthy start. But it can be a problem if lawmakers fail to fund the care children will need, they say, adding that they are afraid parents might use the chance to eliminate inconvenient pregnancies.