Caritas for Children - looking for info

[Son_of_Jonah]

Quick back story:

My wife and I have been sponsoring a child in Africa for the past several years (around 4, I believe), and have had no problems with the organization, until around Christmastime when we began receiving emails both from Caritas themselves and from the religious organization (The Little Sisters of St Francis) that served as their on-the-ground arm of care for the children who were sponsored in that region.

Because of some dispute, the two organizations have dissolved their relationship. My wife and I have tried unsuccessfully to discover who was at fault: both parties accuse the other of wrongdoing, the extent of which, if true, would cause us to retract our support entirely from the guilty party. We want to make sure our money continues to support the young girl we have been sponsoring for these past years, and both the Little Sisters and Caritas claim that they are the party who will see it done. Both claim innocence, accuse the other of guilt, and I can’t find any sort of evidence to settle what actually happened.

I don’t feel entirely comfortable giving directly to the Little Sisters, rather than through an intermediary, but if what they say is true, continuing to give money to Caritas could also be the wrong decision.

What should we do in this situation? we both feel quite convinced that we need to continue to support our child. Has anyone heard anything about this? Does anyone have any advice about how best to resolve this issue? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jamva]

I, too, would like more info. I sponsor three children in Uganda through Caritas for Children, and have been waiting to see how the dispute played out, and praying for contrition and reconciliation. I barely get any communication at all about the children I sponsor. They are at the age where they are learning to write, so they would need help. Caritas is not meeting my expectations for basic confirmation that the children I sponsor are actually going to school.

Last month I scanned a birthday card for one of the children I sponsor, and it was supposed to get to the boy. This month I scanned and e-mailed a birthday card for another child, but received no acknowledgement.

Today I reached out to the program administrator of child sponsorship, requesting confirmation that the children are going to school and receiving services. I am also disappointed that Caritas has not posted its 2016 financial information on its Web site.

Most likely I am going to stop sending money to Caritas and look for other organizations, such as Food for the Poor or Aid to the Church in Need.

 

[jamva]

I found two articles on this issue.

Turmoil for Catholic charity’s Africa mission (January 2017)
jsonline.com/story/news/2017/01/29/turmoil-catholic-charitys-africa-mission/96746362/

Adopt-a-Nun Charity Faces Questions (Feb 2017)
nonprofitquarterly.org/2017/02/21/adopt-nun-charity-faces-questions/

It troubles me that the organization lost support from a bishop and a priest trained in nonprofit management. At least one donor is filing a complaint with the state. A board member has resigned. The person who coordinated the relationship between sponsors and their children left, and there is a new person in that role. I had hoped that within six months Mr. Hoar would have worked through the issues, but that does not seem to be the case.

I spoke by phone with the new sponsorship coordinator, and after a long conversation was not reassured. I’m going to give Mr Hoar a little more time to regain bishop support, but not too much more.