German Caritas and other Church-run humanitarian organizations protested in recent days against the intention of the new Schröder government to abolish the tax-deductible status of charitable donations by firms. “ The consolidation of the state finances must not be obtained to the detriment of solidarity“, said Hellmut Puschmann, president of German Caritas. “The great willingness to donate shown by individuals and businesses on the occasion of the recent floods in Germany Caritas added demonstrates the enormous proportions of the aid that citizens and firms are willing to give”. “Due to ever more limited public funds, the humanitarian organizations may only provide social services with the financial contributions of private sector donations”. Similar in content is the joint declaration of the Church-run aid organizations Adveniat, “Die Sternsinger” (mission-aid for children), Kirche in Not (in support of Churches in the poor countries), Misereor, Missio and Renovabis: “If firms can no longer tax-deduct their donations, their willingness to donate cannot but diminish. But the humanitarian organizations, like the foundations, depend on the donations of firms. Without the often considerable funding received from businesses, it will no longer be possible to provide the support and aid to disadvantaged and needy persons both in Germany and abroad as in the past. The social commitment of Christians in Germany and their work in the areas of poverty in the world would profoundly feel the effects of any such reduction”.
