Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, September 13, 2002 Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says By Brian R. Corbin Special to the Exponent Editor’s Note: Brian Corbin executive director of the Catholic Charities Services office, attempted to answer two columns by Gail White in the Youngstown Vindicator in a letter to the editor, but his response was not published. The following contains his response to those columns. In her columns, “Have Church Folks Forgotten Meaning of Love?” (Vindicator, Aug. 16, p. B1), and “When Angels (or people) Knock, Who Will Get the Door?” (Vindicator, Aug. 30, p. B1), Gail White correctly claims that churches have certain responsibilities to care for people in need. Ms. White mentions how a mentally distressed young man searched for assistance by finding sanctuary in various churches in an undisclosed community. Unfortunately, according to Ms. White, one church “locked its doors and called the police.” Ms. White asks, “If the church does not exist to help people in need, why does it exist?” Ms. White is correct in asserting that based on the Gospel message, the Christian community is called upon to help “the poor, the infirm and widows,” based on Jesus’ commandment to love one another and serve the “least of our brothers and sisters.” The Church — notably the Catholic Church through its Catholic Charities, Catholic health care, religious orders and Catholic lay organizations such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society — has been there to reach out in Jesus’ name to heal and serve. As a matter of fact, this year marks the 275th Anniversary of the founding of the first Catholic charitable institution in the United States by the Ursuline Sisters in New Orleans in 1727. Ms. White and other critics of the Church’s work in social welfare and health care do not give the complete story and stray into an attack that does not seem justified. She states that she was sick to her stomach because the homeless man in her story was referred to a social service agency for appropriate help. Any good social worker knows that it is important to help a client access all the best services available to them in a given community. What good would actually be served if this person were left alone in the church, with no help offered or no questions asked? As a matter of fact, there are collaborative public-private agency systems in place in many communities to respond to such needs. Various agencies, many of them faith-based, are part of the HUD Continuum of Care that provides housing and makes appropriate mental health and addiction services referrals as needed. The Catholic community, along with other religious groups, has been involved with many such public-private collaboratives serving those who suffer or just need a helping hand. Then in her Aug. 16 article (I wonder if this is her real story), Ms. White outright attacks the Catholic Church, especially priests, which has nothing to do with the story at hand. She does not attack other Christian Churches, or the many other faith based institutions, or the government for that matter, regarding their appropriate roles in caring for those in need. Why is the Catholic Church the target of her complaint when her opening statements pertain to the churches in a community? In fact, families knock at our rectory doors each day and obtain help. Ms. White fails to mention that Catholic Charities alone provided services to more than 21,000 persons last year throughout the diocesan region. In the Mahoning Valley, Catholic hospitals (St. Elizabeth’s and St. Joseph’s) served 132,013 persons allocating $13,598.640 in charity care alone during 2001 to aid those who could not afford medical attention, not including another $5,018,755 invested by the Catholic hospitals to benefit the broader community. (That totals more than $18 million!). Certainly, Mercy Medical Hospital in Stark County provided comparable service, providing $7,042,000 in charity care to approximately 12,000 residents of that region. As you can see, in Catholic health care alone, more than $25 million was provided to care for those in need. This doesn’t even include the work of some of our Catholic nursing homes. The St. Vincent de Paul Society served more than 49,000 meals in Youngstown alone in 2001. The Trumbull deanery of St. Vincent de Paul serves meals and provides services on a daily basis as well. Various religious orders working in the Diocese of Youngstown (such as the Ursuline Sisters, Humility of Mary Sisters, Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Mark, Sisters of the Divine Spirit, and Antonine Sisters, just to name a few) have provided much outreach and care for those suffering from HIV/AIDS, facing homelessness, and being challenged by many other personal and family needs. The Catholic community has invested millions of dollars in the care for people as part of our obligation as a community committed to worship, formation and service. However, the financial and volunteer support of Catholics is critical in continuing these ministries and services. The Catholic community continues to be generous on the national and international levels as well. As of Sept. 5, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown forwarded thousands of dollars to the appropriate offices of the United States’ Catholic bishops for their distribution to help families impacted by the results of the 9-11 disaster and the actions in Pakistan/Afghanistan. For example: CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA 9-11 Domestic Disaster FUND (New York/Washington, D.C./Pennsylvania): Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown forwarded $121,819.01 donated by Catholics and people of good will throughout the Diocese of Youngstown to CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA. To date, Catholic Charities USA, the official domestic disaster office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, received more than $31 million for this fund and has distributed more than $22.5 million to 24 Catholic Charities agencies that have responded to the needs in their communities. CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES, AFGHANISTAN RELIEF: Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown has forwarded $8,048.52 to CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES, the official overseas relief agency of the U.S. Catholic bishops. Those monies are used to assist in the relief efforts and development work of the Church in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The faith community has a very important role to play in caring for our neighbors, both locally and globally. The religious community will continue to provide such services, and will even make appropriate referrals to social service agencies to care for persons in need of specialty services. I challenge Ms. White to provide a donation or give of her own volunteer time at a religious agency right here in town. Since governments are cutting back on needed services and contracts with agencies due to current decreases in state and local governmental budgets, her time and money will be wisely spent at Catholic Charities or any other religious agency that has served people in need in our diocese for decades. Brian R. Corbin is executive director of Catholic Charities Services, coordinator for Catholic Health Services, and liaison with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001