“Strings” to World Vision aid under attack
By
KEN COATES
A stinging attack on World Vision’s work in the Philippines by a New Zealand missionary working there has raised questions of aid with strings attached — and the long-term effect on children and families. World Vision, which recently co-produced with Television One a documentary on needy, poverty-stricken refugee families in Bangladesh, says that its aid is interdenominational, and without religious tags. But Father David Tither, a New Zealand Roman Catholic missionary who has worked in the Philippines for the last 30 years, discounts the non-denomina-tional claim. “That, at least in the Philippines, is as far from the truth as Cape Brett is from the Bluff,” he reports. In his experience. World Vision operators choose a depressed area, such as a shanty town, and select 150 families as a target for the first year, 300 for the second. Parents are told that one of their children will be supported by fosterparents overseas who will send regular supplies. “The come-on is quite low-key. No mention is made of any conditions or strings attached. Then, once the families are
hooked, in comes the fast break. “Regular attendance at bible class and at weekly worship in the conventicle of the sect handling distribution is a must — otherwise the family is struck off the support roster.” The missionary says that parents caught up in this system of proselytism are almost invariably Roman Catholic. “Let me hasten to add that the sects doing this are not members of the World Council of Churches, but fly-by-night outfits, weak
on doctrine, strong on bigotry, and not a little interested in the financial side of World Vision.” He claims that the way World Vision is operating has been the same in every parish where he has worked since before Easter last year. He talks of degredation of human dignity as being “too horrible for words.” Mental conflict caused for Catholics forced to repudiate the religion in which they were bom is “unbearable." Father Tither goes further, claiming that goods actually given to a World
Vision foster child “never exceed the equivalent of $5 in value, and usually much lower than that," when foster parents in New Zealand contribute $l3 or more each month. World Vision authorities in the Philippines had these facts put before them — “both proselytism and the disproportion between what is given and what is received" — according to the missionary. But “no action was taken.” “One is forced to conclude that in the Philippines something quite
malodorous is going on,” he comments. “World Vision’s contribution in the Philippines is something we could well do without.” The communications director for World Vision in New Zeland, Mr Alan Knox, says that it is difficult to define “proselytism” when it comes to the formation of caring, concerned groups working with local churches at grass-roots level. It is possible that some churches become overly concerned with their own growth, and this might be
termed proselytising by an outsider. Mr Knox says that he cannot understand Father Tither’s criticism of local sects, because the main churches working in the Philippines with World Vision were Baptists and Methodists. According to Mr Knox, who recently visited the Philippines, local churches have grown remarkably in the last three years, and their effects are being felt by people like Father Tither. “There was a natural concern at losing adherents.”
“World Vision is definitely not denominational, and in fact some of our 350 people in the Philippines, of which 300 are Filipinos, are Catholics,” Mr Knox says. He maintains that there is no tag, Christian or denominational, on aid given. The motivation for World Vision comes from the philosophy of Christ, and in the sense that this philosophy was loving and caring, the organisation’s work was evangelistic. Mr Knox does not rule out the possibility of children attending bible
classes or worship. “There may be some churches more enthusiastic than others. I certainly saw no evidence of this kind of thing, nor did I hear of it.” There were so many Catholics in World Vision they would not want ihe people to repudiate their Catholicism. Mr Knox says that aid projects are for three-or four-year terms to enable needy people to “get on their feet.” The organisation then withdraws. As to children sponsored in New Zealand not
receiving the full amount given by a sponsor in this country, he says that this is explained to sponsors at the outset. Children are not treated in isolation; a lot of money goes to pay for local community schemes. “So the father of a child may receive a fishing net or a hoe — but the family will cer tainly receive $l3 worth over all.” Local World Vision workers carry out a means test among people in need, and aid is given to those who need it most. Mr Knox savs that it is unfortunate the missionary considers people are being degraded. "I saw people in degrading situations gain some human dignitv through being helped to help themselves."
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Press, 1 September 1977, Page 17
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836“Strings” to World Vision aid under attack Press, 1 September 1977, Page 17
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