Bishops rebuke critics of Catholic Relief Services

BALTIMORE, Md. — U.S. Catholic bishops rebuked conservative critics of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), flatly denying charges that the group has wavered in its commitment to church teachings on contraception and abortion.

A strongly worded defense statement was released on the first day of the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ administrative committee annual meeting Sept. 11.

“The U.S. Catholic bishops stand firmly behind CRS in its commitment to promote and defend human dignity and the sacredness of every human life from the moment of conception until natural death, and at every moment in between,” the bishops said in a statement.

The humanitarian agency has tried to fend off a coordinated attack by conservative critics who charge it works too closely with groups that support family planning policies.

CRS served more than 100 million people in 91 countries in 2012, promoting education and relieving poverty — an “extraordinary witness to the gospel of life,” the bishops said.