While conducting its investigation, the Lepanto Institute – headed by Michael Hichborn – discovered that between 2006 and 2010, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was an implementing partner in the USAID-funded “Project AXxes.”

“And as a part of that project, CRS was responsible for the warehousing and distribution of 2.25 million units of contraception – including Depo-Provera, two forms of oral contraceptives, male and female condoms, intrauterine devices, and even surgical sterilization kits,” Hichborn describes.

Specifically, according to the Institute, the total distribution of contraception included 88,235 doses of Depo-Provera (injectable contraception), 56,885 cycles of the oral contraceptive called Lo-Femenal, 44,097 cycles of the oral contraceptive called Ovrette, 1,907 IUDs, 2,025,216 male condoms, 40,891 female condoms, 16 IUD insertion kits, and 18 surgical sterilization kits (known as CCV Kits).

Hichborn

For at least two reasons, says Lepanto’s leader, this discovery comes as a shock from an agency supervised by U.S. Catholic bishops.

“Catholic Relief Services has said over the last six years that they have ‘never’ been involved in the distribution of contraception,” he tells OneNewsNow. “And yet, inventory reports [and] quarterly and annual reports from this project [Project AXxes] show that Catholic Relief Services was absolutely involved in the promotion and distribution of contraception.”

Secondly, Hichborn suggests bishops need to abide by a directive from the church that Catholic charitable organizations aren’t permitted to receive funding from agencies that act in direct conflict with church teachings – agencies such as USAID, PEPFAR, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. There’s been no response thus far from U.S. bishops.

The entire report from the Lepanto Institute is available for download.