SA Church sometimes slow to help

by Letters Editor · Published November 21, 2013 · Updated November 18, 2013

By Magda Kus, Cape Town

When natural disasters or shack fires have struck in the past, I often felt it is a pity that Muslim organisations like the Gift of the Givers, non-denominational ones like the Red Cross, and commercial� ones like supermarkets or radio stations have responded faster than we Catholics do with appeals for help for those afflicted.

“At the time of writing this letter, no one I e-mailed was aware of any local Catholic response. ” (CNS photo/John Javellana, Reuters)

Can the South African Catholic Church put together something for those suffering in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines? A special collection at Masses � anything?

I would rather support a Catholic appeal, hoping that all the money gets where it is intended, than an organisation about which I know less.

At the time of writing this letter, no one I e-mailed was aware of any local Catholic response.

I know Pope Francis was sending aid, as was Caritas and other Catholic aid organisations, as well as civic authorities of a host of countries. We South Africans are late.

Naturally we should also be praying for the victims and their families, but, as a Filipino friend shared on Facebook, our pope does encourage �concrete help� as well.

I do realise that we have our own poor right next-door to us that we should already be helping � but in disasters of this magnitude, both the poor and those who may have helped them have been devastated.

Let�s not only be inward-looking.