Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto Citing “alarming concerns” related to an ongoing investigation, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto has joined bishops from other dioceses across Canada in withholding funds from the overseas development agency of the Canadian bishops’ conference.
At least eight dioceses have suspended financial support to Development and Peace following preliminary results of a probe that found some of the agency’s partners conflict with Catholic moral and social teaching, particularly on abortion, contraception and gender theory.
The Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops issued a statement confirming that a “joint research project” with Development and Peace is underway in response to questions raised about some of its partners. Following preliminary findings, the CCCB “expressed concern” to the agency, and now both parties are “hopeful that any necessary clarifications will be determined shortly”, according to the statement.
Among dioceses withholding funds are Toronto and St Catharines in Ontario; Calgary, Edmonton and St Paul in Alberta; Vancouver and Nelson in British Columbia; and Whitehorse, Yukon.
Cardinal Collins noted the Canadian bishops’ review of the Development and Peace partners “has produced alarming concerns about dozens of overseas organisations”.