CNN — Pat Robertson, who once suggested God was punishing Americans with Hurricane Katrina, now says a “pact to the devil” brought on the devastating earthquake in Haiti. More than 100,000 people are feared dead in Haiti and Robertson continues to espouse an incomprehensible image of God sending natural disasters upon the innocent and suggesting that this might be a “blessing in disguise” for the Haitian people. Disgraceful.
As the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, Haiti has the highest rates of mortality for mothers, infants, and children under five. Sixty percent of the population lacks access to basic health-care services. Most Haitians survive on less than $2 a day and depend on remittances from relatives in other countries to meet their basic needs — remittances that have plummeted with the global recession. Even in the capital of Port-au-Prince, impoverished communities have few resources to cope with the acute impacts of this disaster. With an estimated 3 million people affected by the quake, Haiti is in urgent need of immediate and ongoing assistance. Give your prayers flesh today and send a donation to one of these reputable agencies:
Episcopal Relief and Development
Yele Haiti
Oxfam America
Doctors Without Borders
World Vision
The American Red Cross (note, to designate for Haiti, send a check)
Partners in Health
God of all creation, as we weep with our family in Haiti, console us.
In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look beyond the disaster
to see Christ in our brothers and sisters in Haiti, as Christ sees us.
Be with us as we stand in solidarity with those living and working in Haiti.
Be with us in our mourning and guide our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the grieving and stand for justice.
With your mercy, sustain us at this time as we continue to work for peace and justice. Amen. (From Catholic Relief Services)
