Haiti: From Charity to Justice

Posted Fri, 02/05/2010 - 02:00

A young Haitian boy, dazed and covered in dust, sits in shock after the earthquake.

Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

The suffering of the Haitian people continues to touch our hearts. We still receive contributions that will be forwarded to Catholic Relief Services for the immediate alleviation of that suffering...but in the aftermath, we begin to question. Why have these people been so crushed by poverty? What will really make a difference in their future? For a thought-provoking response, consider this letter written on behalf of the US Catholic Bishops, addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other officials. It calls for a systemic change through debt relief, trade preferences and other means of international assistance. We’ll be watching for other responses that could help us to deepen our understanding of the causes of poverty in Haiti and beyond.