For His Friends

One month after the devastating earth quake in neighboring Haiti, the people of this diocese have beautifully responded to my urgent plea for donations and help for this tragic nation. As of this morning, we have collected and forwarded more than $1,356,700 to CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES for their use in alleviating the suffering of the Haitian people with water, food and clothing. Additionally, and I am here guessing, many of our parishes “twin” with parishes in Haiti and have sent what they collected right to those same parishes so my guess is that at least another “$250,000″ has been collected and forwarded to parishes. Such generosity in a time of need must be pleasing to God. I know that I am proud of your generosity.

Also, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg has been asked by the U.S. government to handle all of the sick and wounded from that country who have been airlifted to Florida. The government chooses the hospitals for the care of the sick, but each patient is allowed to bring two people with them and it is now our duty to find them places to stay and to support them while their loved ones are in the hospitals of the area.

It is beginning to seem like my dream of being the first responder to urgent needs in our area and world is coming true thanks to the vision of Catholic Charities Director Frank Murphy and his colleagues. Another reason to be proud of your Church as we begin this Lenten season of prayer and sacrifice.

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There have been several comments raised to recent blog entries, two of which merit, I think, mention here. First, I was asked if the diocese and Catholic Charities would be of assistance to families seeking to adopt orphans from Haiti. The answer is affirmative when the Haitian and U.S. government come to some agreement on how to handle these requests. It is hard at the moment to discern the mind of the governments involved but assisting in placing orphans and adoptive children has long been Catholic Charities stock in trade. Stay tuned here for more information if a “breakthrough” materializes.

Someone has asked why I have not signed on to the  MANHATTAN DECLARATION. Philosophically and ecclesiologically I am deeply devoted to the structure, purpose and  collegial nature of our episcopal conference, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. They speak for me when they pass something as a body or delegate our President to speak on our behalves. Prior to 1984 no bishop would have thought of signing onto documents originating elsewhere. While I accept the purpose and principles of the  MANHATTAN DECLARATION, I  personally prefer to allow the Conference to speak for me on matters of public policy. It is in my DNA so be you will need to be patient with me once again. I have no case against those bishops who do not feel similarly constrained and publicly acknowledge that it is a “thing with me.”

Hope these two responses are illuminative and helpful.

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You have no idea how hard it is to be confined at home unable to be present at things which are near and dear to my heart. This week was full  of those frustrations. Saturday last the Diocesan Pastoral Council met, without me. Monday the Priests Council met, without me. On Thursday, the second phase of our amazing homeless project had a ground breaking without me. I have always known that I am replaceable but think I secretly hoped that retirement or death would make disengagement more palatable.

Things are beginning to look very favorable for our homeless initiative in Hillsborough county, “Hillsborough Cares.” Strong editorial support from the TAMPA TRIBUNE and ST. PETERSBURG TIMES helped make the case and courage on the part of the majority of the county commissioners seem to make the possibility of our “care” for a small portion of the county’s homeless within reach. Once approved, finding the necessary private and public financial backing and seeing what level of support the various political units can provide will be necessary.

On the other side of the Bay, Pinellas Hope is ready to start construction of apartments to be used as transitional housing for those moving toward independent living. Made possible because of government grant money, we will also be able to upgrade the sanitary and common areas of Pinellas Hope I. But there are some dark clouds on the horizon occasioned by budget cuts in the county and community budgets. Don’t hold me for the precise numbers but the Diocese in addition to providing the land gives about $350,000 a year additional through Catholic Charities. Pinellas County provided $750,000 last year and the City of St. Petersburg $250,000. Mayor Baker has pledged the same amount for the coming year but he will soon be leaving office and Candidate Kathleen Ford has been quoted as saying that while she likes Pinellas Hope as an idea, she also thinks that more of the city’s donation should be spent within the city. Candidate Bill Foster in the past has voiced his support for Pinellas Hope but no present firm commitment. The Pinellas County Commissioners have allocated a paltry one million dollars in the budget for all social service programs. What happens if the present commitment of Catholic Charities and the major political units makes it no longer sustainable – it will have to close unfortunately – just when we are beginning to show significant success in helping close to fifty percent of our overnight, tent city people to independent living and self-sustaining life. Finally, each year over 1.2 million is given by countless Church groups who prepare and serve the evening meals and provide much of the food cost. That is real charity.

So some care for the homeless is manifesting itself in Hillsborough and hope which is at an all time high in Pinellas is severely threatened. If you don’t wish to see this manifestation of what Jesus would do, make your feelings and thoughts known to the Pinellas County Commisson and to both candidates for Mayor of St, Petersburg.

That’s the most I can do in my present condition.

+RNL

This morning’s 5-2 decision by the Hillsborough County Commission to allow Catholic Charities to open a second site for the homeless in the bay area (Pinellas Hope has been function for almost two years now) is something just short of miraculous. Until this morning there had been scant indications that the Commissioners would support a new temporary housing for the homeless on the only site in Hillsborough County which the diocese might be able to use for this purpose. The news media had reported correctly on the opposition of the residents to the plan, the negative decisions of two regulatory bodies or persons who make recommendations to the Commission about such things, and the seemingly endless uphill challenge of gaining support for the project. Yet hope springs eternal in the minds and hearts of our Catholic Charities Leadership and they never gave up.

The Hillsborough Commission today voted to instruct the staff to change the language which would allow our Pinellas Hope approach of temporary housing (tents to be specific) to be copied on the Hillsborough site. We screen every applicant, police the place literally with off-duty police, assist the homeless in securing the benefits to which they are entitled (Pinellas Hope has been an education to me in how often our Veterans do not know what is available to them in assistance), help them find jobs and most especially provide a safe and secure place for them to live temporarily. Meals have been supplied by countless Church and other groups (the Allegany Franciscan Sisters, for one example, have cooked and served several times in Pinellas Hope) and access to medical attention is also provided as needed. The powerful fusion of public and private support has given lift and life to our presence among the homeless. It is precisely where I think our Church needs to position itself to the care for the “homeless masses yearning to breathe free.”

This is just the beginning step but very significant. I wish to pay special tribute and appreciation to the editorial boards of THE TAMPA TRIBUNE and THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES for their well researched, well-reasoned, and well-spoken advocacy for Hillsborough Cares. In my judgment, they made a huge difference in the outcome of today’s discussion. It is my prayer and my hope that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg will soon be able to join Metropolitan Ministries and the Salvation Army and the other organizations who work for and with the homeless. Earlier I mentioned that today’s vote was near miraculous. Well if Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta is in need of one more miracle for sanctity, I would be happy to offer today’s happenings.

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An important hearing is to be held before the Hillsborough County Zoning Board next week. It will largely determine whether or not Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg can be of assistance to Tampa and Hillsborough county in addressing the problem of homelessness. The remarkable success of Pinellas Hope in providing safe shelter to a portion of that county’s homeless population is the model we would like to replicate in Hillsborough. If the residents and politicians of the county in the end want nothing of it, then so be it. I would like to answer some of the questions which seem to arise surrounding this issue:

Why does the Diocese (read that “Catholic Charities”) wish to utilize the property on MLK?

Mostly because it is the only piece of unused property in the county which we can donate to this cause. It is unlikely to be used for Church purposes, is along a bus-route which the homeless need if they are to find work and jobs during the day, and arguably in a more commercial than residential neighborhood.

Why does not the diocese mind its own business and leave the homeless to other agencies?

Quite simply, it is a Gospel mandate to care for the sick, naked, hungry, homeless and we now have some experience of working in collaboration and close cooperation with other political entities to launch a successful approach to the problem.

Where does the Diocese get the idea that homelessness is a problem in Hillsborough County?

From pretty reliable and available statistics. Hillsborough’s homeless and street population is almost five times what that of Pinellas is and was.

What makes a project like this successful?

Two things really, the first being it is a totally cooperative effort of the private and public sectors of a community. Without a mutual commitment of sponsor and community, the challenge is too big for one without the other. We can guarantee that if Hillsborough Cares could be up and running, the Churches of the community would assist in feeding and clothing its residents at a very small cost to tax payers. Second, while it is hard to measure the success of projects for the homeless on the basis of those who are helped permanently out of their jobless, homeless situation, a shelter program like this enhances the chances.

What happens if zoning is denied and the civic commitment is not there?

Then we simply tried to do something and failed. We will leave it to history to decide who was right in making and/or opposing the effort.

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The cover story on today’s front page of USA TODAY newspaper is all about Pinellas Hope and it should make every member of this great diocese swell with pride. USA TODAY video is also available here.  Because of the article, this initiative of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg and the cities and counties located here was also featured on GOOD MORNING, AMERICA. Our work is fast becoming a model for temporary housing of the homeless population. Congratulations to Catholic Charities of the diocese and particularly to Sheila Lopez, the mother of “hope” and to all who have made this outreach successful.

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