Ex-D.C. cardinal assesses plight

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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, visited the Latin monastery in Gaza City yesterday while President Bush met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Cardinal McCarrick sat with the Rev. Manuel Musallem, leader of the Catholic community in Gaza, local and U.S. officials from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and other community members on a pastoral visit.

"We are here to listen how CRS and the Church can help the community in Gaza," said Cardinal McCarrick, who was "visiting to see the effects of the [Israeli] embargo" on the territory controlled by the militant Islamic group Hamas.

CRS supports programs that alleviate human suffering emanating from the conflict in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

"We have humanitarian concerns about the people here," Cardinal McCarrick said after touring Gaza City.

CRS is the development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. Catholic community.

After the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June, CRS partnered with the Gaza Community Mental Health Program on a plan to provide emergency mental-health services and counseling after months of internal conflict. They also support programs offering emergency humanitarian aid and assistance to university students.