Posted by Jolynn ruggerio
on 4/24/2009, 2:24 am, in reply to "Following the money "
This is old....... very old news. The Holy Land Foundation was founded in 1988. Investigations began in 1993. It was true that some churches innocently gave to the Holy Land Foundations in the beginning. esp in response to the tragic massacres in Sabre and Chatilla in the 80's.
Since then, most if not all parishes that were sending money through this agency stopped and many laity, clergy and heirarchs alike personally traveled to the places in need to hand over monies collected, making sure it was received in the right hands. Traveling I might add at great risk and expense of their own.
This method of aide still goes on.
Since then our own agencies have developed and evolved to be highly respected and reputable in serving these areas namely IOCC and OCMC.
http://www.iocc.org/news/12-31-08gaza.aspx
http://www.iocc.org/countries/countries_lebanon.aspx
In addition help can be sent to the Taybeh housing and educational projects:
Taybeh is the only completely Christian village in Israel.
The update for the Taybeh Orthodox projects are that this year the grand total of funds raised to help families build their first home has reached $134,000.00 since 2000 for the Taybeh Orthodox Church Housing Project. The $9,000 raised this last year will be transferred from the Metropolis of Boston, if you wish to contribute to the housing project please send your check by April 30th made out to the
Metropolis of Boston-Holy Land Housing
Mail to:
162 Goddard Ave
Brookline, MA 02445
The Taybeh Education Fund has reached $29,000 as an endowment fund helping our students pay for their college education at local universities here in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. This on-going project has a goal to reach $50,000 in order to generate enough interest to pay for one student’s annual tuition. All funds raised are kept with our sister church and only the interest is sent annually to Taybeh, so please, if you wish to help, checks are made out to Annunciation Cathedral-HolyLand
Mail to:
7220 Granby Street
Norfolk, VA 23505
Scams and misuses of funds is not limited to the middle east and wherever there is strife and lack of accountable over site there is danger of misuse of charity. But this should not stop our mission.
Many in the middle east have suffered because our apathy, fear and simply put racism.
St. John Chrysostom points out that we should always be ready to give the benefit of the doubt/ That even Christ did this for Judas, knowing that he would betray him.
Be not afraid. Joshua 1:9
Additionally if we are so concerned about following the money we should start in our own backyards and take a look at how many of our parishes support Charities that fund Planned Parenthood. I can't' think of a greater terrorist act than entering a mother's womb and slaughtering innocent babies. 1.3 million every year in the US. And yet I still see parishes proudly supporting charities with Planned Parenthood on their list.
We should do our best to give wisely and give sacrificially.
Christ is Risen!
Jolynn
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