According to “Lobbying for the Faithful,” a report from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spent $26.6 million in 2009 on advocacy and outreach. The bishops, according to the report, were only beaten out by the $88 million spent by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Pew also reported that Catholic Relief Services, at $4.7 million, was the 19th biggest religious spender in Washington. The U.S.C.C.B. and C.R.S said the figures were grossly overstated. Alan Cooperman, associate director for research at the forum, defended the study’s methodology and pointed out that the report included caveats about organizations that in addition to advocacy work were also large social service or relief and development providers. Forum representatives are meeting with officials from both agencies to resolve the dispute and Pew plans to offer new figures in a revision of the report.
Bishops, C.R.S. Challenge Pew Figures
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
A portion of a new interview with Pope Francis will air tonight on the “CBS Evening News” at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, according to a release from the CBS News Communications office.
A Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, by Father Terrance Klein
The reflections of Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., convinced me that Pope Francis' reframing of the scope and meaning of synods will have staying power, because it opens up a new model for the church.
During his general audience, Pope Francis reminded his listeners of the importance of the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. Engaging the crowd by having them recite the virtues aloud, Francis said that theological virtues animate our everyday actions toward the good.