Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-11
Worthy Causes

pockets TO contribute 70
even the most worthy cause.
It cannot be denied that in
this age Of the guided missile
and high taxes there are
numerous demands upon our
generosity. Yet. 1t must be
remembered. there are mil
lions much worse OF than
we.
II understanding and SYM
pathetic people had not an
swered the call even in this
day of great governmental
advances In the world Of
science and medicine, there
would have been, for instance,
no polio vaccine; there
would have been no such
drugs as penicillin and
streptomycin. which have
worked such wonders In eff
fectively arresting such
dreaded diseases as polio.
cancer, tuberculosis. pneu.
monia and scores of the other
ills that so beset mankind.
But the research required
to develop and produce such
benefits for humanity not
only takes the brains of a
Salk and his coworkers but
millions Of dollars for re-
search and laboratory work
as well.
Even in this day of our
huge governmental foreign
aid projects there Is need for
broad and generous support
Of voluntary overseas relief
activities. These, too, pro-
duce human benef1ts-in a
practical and immediate way
and likewise take organiZa-
ton skill and millions Of dol
lars in the way Of financial
support. What's more. they
represent the best possible
buy for every dollar contrib
uted.
Last year, for instance,
every dollar contributed to
the Catholic Bishops Relief
Fund and used by Catholic
Relief Service NCWC for that
purpose made possible the
distribution Of more than
a ton Of United States sur
plus food to needy men,
women and children over
seas. At the same time it
was distributing more than
one billion pounds Of foods,
clothing and medicinals to
40 million Of the needy in
81 countries, Catholic Re-
lief Services was in partner
ship with our Government
and others helping thousands
Of refugees to find new homes
here in the United States, in
Canada. Australia and in
South America. Did you
know. too, that Of the 49,
900 Hungarian refugees and
freedom fighters admitted
into the United States since
the abortive Hungarian rev.
olution. 22,361 were resettled
through the efforts of the
Catholic B l S h ops Fund
agency?
When you are asked to con-
tribute to such a cause as
the American Catholic Bis
hops Relief Fund Appeal,
there should be no hesitation
to open your hearts and your
pocketbooks to such a really
magnificent human
work. The food, clothing,
shoes, blankets, medicinals
and other relief supplies sent
to the destitute. hungry and
afflicted people overseas
make it possible to fight
need as well as the scourge
Of drought, tornadoes, floods,
fire and other disasters.
A minimum of IS million is
sought this year. That serves
as the fundamental financial
base for what has become
the largest private voluntary
overseas relief agency in his
tory, working among all races
and creedS.
Our charity is their hope.
So let's keep faith with those
in need.
Contributions may be sent
to the nearest Catholic
church among the more than
10000 in the United States
supporting this campaign.
This is an all-American job.
1t needs all-American help.
! hope it can count on yours
and that Of every American.
Right Rev. Msgr.
Joseph F. Denges,
Archdiocesan Director of
HakhAltn Dalai