The US State Department is funneling $240 million to Catholic Relief Services, to be used for “rapid crisis response” humanitarian aid to countries such as the Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria, and Sudan.

Federal funding for a Catholic agency, to be used for a good purpose. The State Department sees the grant as “leveraging faith in action” to address humanitarian needs. That word “leveraging” sets off an alarm.

So why am I not applauding?

• Because insofar as Uncle Sam is paying the bills, CRS is no longer functioning as a Catholic charity; the programs are not supported by freewill donations made for love of God. This is a government program, to be run under contract by a Catholic agency.

• Because the US bishops will now see 240 million more reasons to lobby for funding of the State Department. (The alternative— more in line with the duties of shepherds, would be to encourage more freewill offerings from the faithful directly to the charity.)

• Because CRS will now be subject to political pressure to support other aims of US foreign policy, which may or may not be consistent with Catholic moral principles.

• Because if and when liberal Democrats regain control of the executive branch, the State Department will require CRS to support condom distribution, abortion, etc, or lose the federal funding— at best subjecting the agency to serious temptations.

• Because ultimately, whoever pays the piper calls the tune.

Even if I had confidence that CRS would resist temptations (which I don’t), I’d still be uneasy about this grant. As a Catholic, I don’t want the State Department deciding whether a Catholic charity is doing good work; as a taxpayer, I don’t want the bishops deciding which humanitarian programs serve the national interest.