Kate - a reluctant saint?

Kate Nielson

TV DIRECTOR KATE NIELSON, 31, was not impressed to find out World Vision (see profile [0]) was a Christian charity months after she had signed up to sponsor an African child.

She saw no mention of Christianity in the charity's publicity nor on the webpage where donors sign up for the sponsorship scheme.

“I sponsored this little boy without realising that it was a religious thing because I’m not religious,” Kate says. “In retrospect I may not have signed up for it.”

She adds: “It’s not so much that I disagree with Christian charities, it’s just that I personally think that religion has created a lot of problems in the areas it now tries to help."

“I don’t believe that anyone should have religious ideas just because they need help and the only place they can get it is religious charities.”

But her disillusionment with World Vision's credentials was not enough to make her cancel her sponsorship. Fortunately for World Vision – and her sponsored child - she decided to go with her heart rather than her head on this occasion.“I don’t believe that I can sponsor a little boy and then pull out because I don’t agree with the charity,” Kate sighs.

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Kate's dilemma will strike a chord with many non-religious donors. Many religious charities do solid, practical work. But people like Kate still shy away, put off by the fear of inadvertently funding an envangelical recruitment mission. In reality most of the larger religious charities are not in the business of converting the masses and they offer aid with no strings attached. But do read the small print.

Kate - a reluctant saint?

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