Cor Unum Denounces Operating Costs of Some Humanitarian Organizations
On January 29, on the occasion of the presentation of the pope’s Lenten message to the press, Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, deplored the fact that “internal costs” for some humanitarian organizations represents just under 50% of revenue.” Speaking of the “structural costs of aid organizations,” he said: “It would be good to have some clarifications about aid organizations,” deploring the fact that internal costs are “sometimes surprisingly high.”
Concerning some “organizations” and “their collaborators’ wages,” the president of Cor Unum underlined that “if we take the trouble to look for certain data, often very well hidden in annual reports, we are astonished by their internal costs: sometimes they represent no less than 50% of revenue.” “It would be useful if appeals for aid launched after disasters like the tsunami, would not only indicate the bank account to deposit donations, but also the percentage which the agencies retain to maintain their institution.” “This would help the donor to discern how his gift arrives to the needy.” Then he went on to say that “the internal costs of the Church’s aid agencies can be considered exemplary.” Supporting his opinion on the data for the year 2006, he showed that “the administrative costs” of organizations like Caritas, the Sovereign Order of Malta, or foundations entrusted to Cor Unum, like the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel and the Populorum Progressio for Latin America represented only between 3% and 9% of their budget.
Nevertheless, Cardinal Cordes warned Catholic organizations against the “danger” of secularization, which he called the “great modern problem,” and he invited them to remain “careful not to lose their liberty.” Next, he announced that a spiritual retreat would be offered to the leaders of Caritas in Guadalajara (Mexico) during the first week of June 2008. He pointed out that this retreat preached by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher for the Pontifical House, would be a “way to react against secularism.” (Sources Apic/Imedia)
