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The charitable work of Caritas (the Catholic Church's
worldwide humanitarian assistance organization) has become another
target of harassment. Started in 1991, and benefitting everyone in
this time of great need, it continues to be harassed or sabotaged,
often in petty ways. These include, unbelievably, the prohibition of
the importation of medicine and food for free distribution directly
to the people by the Church, claiming that "the churches are not
pharmacies nor welfare agencies," implying that this charitable work
belongs solely to the government. It has even prevented Caritas
from buying at the "dollar stores," at wholesale prices, items like
powdered milk, using dollar donations from abroad, to provide free
distribution among the most needy, particularly the elderly. It must
be mentioned that individuals who carry medical supplies for the
churches have had them confiscated. |
Claiming that “the churches are
neither pharmacies nor welfare agencies,” the government has
prohibited churches from importing medicine and food and freely
distributing it directly to the poor. Since 1991 it has prevented
the Catholic Church’s worldwide humanitarian assistance organization
Caritas from using donations and dollars from abroad at the
“dollar stores” to purchase staples such as powdered milk at
wholesale prices to provide free distribution among the most needy,
particularly the elderly. Individuals who carry medical supplies for
the churches have had them confiscated.
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