Alarm Over Orange Funding

Irish National Caucus Press Release

Alarm Over Orange Funding

International Fund Judgement Questioned

CAPITOL HILL. Thursday, September 22, 2005 ---
Irish-Americans are alarmed that the
International Fund for Ireland has given a grant
of a quarter of a million pounds sterling to a
group many regard as a front for the viciously
sectarian and anti-Catholic Orange Order ,the
Orange Community Network.

The President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish
National Caucus, Fr. Sean Mc Manus, said : "
Funding an anti-Catholic organization at any time
is bad enough, but at this time it is
particularly shocking, given that the Orange
Order is presently wrecking havoc in Northern
Ireland and inciting anti-Catholic bigotry to
destroy the Good Friday Agreement".

Fr. Mc Manus continued : " I had thought the bad
old days of American dollars subsidizing anti-
Catholic bigotry were over, and that the IFI had
cleaned up its act. This is a most troubling
development. I have taken it up with Congressman
Joe Crowley 9 D-NY), co-chairman of the Ad Hoc
Congressional Committee for Irish Affairs, who
has played a key role in bringing about an
increase in the dollar amount that Congress gives
to the IFI. It has always been a battle not to
have the US funding cut... this shocking
development will not help. Bad news about the IFI
is not what is needed at the moment,", he
concluded.

Father Sean Mc Manus
President
Irish National Caucus
P.O. Box 15128
Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. 20003-0849
202-544-0568