Haiti Could Lead World Into New Era Of Solidarity
NEW YORK -- Over half a year has passed since Archbishop Timothy Dolan stood in the ruins of Port au Prince. Two million people were homeless and over 300,000 were dead. In the midst of that devastation, he made two promises to the Haitian people: he would be back and he would not let the world forget them. Recently he kept those promises, returning to the island to observe the progress of the recovery. Odyssey Networks' "Faith in Action: Haiti" a series of reports on his four-day visit and the hope he found in some very unexpected circumstances. This report, the second in the series, can be viewed, along with the first, at www.odysseynetworks.org.
Accompanied by the staff of Catholic Relief Services, an organization that has served Haiti for 60 years, the Archbishop re-visited St. Francis de Sales Hospital. Recalling the dire conditions under which the medical center operated in the immediate aftermath of the catastrophe, Dolan pointed out that, in the midst of the tragedies he witnessed there in January, he was inspired by solidarity he observed among diverse people. "I saw medical supplies from a Muslim aid group being transported by Catholic Relief Services to this Catholic hospital where they were delivered by Baptist volunteers to a team of Israeli doctors. If that's not solidarity I don't know what is." In this solidarity, Dolan said, is hope not just for Haiti but for the world. Haiti might, he said lead the way to a new era of compassion and connection. Dolan, who is Chair of the Board of Directors of Catholic Relief Services, also visited an orphanage run by that organization.
"Faith in Action" is a new online news concept dedicated to telling the stories of people whose work is changing the world. The Haiti series will continue through September 10.
About Odyssey Networks
Odyssey Networks is the nation's largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to producing and distributing media that builds bridges of understanding, promotes peace and tolerance, and addresses issues of social justice. Established in 1987, Odyssey Networks is a service of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition, Inc.
