At its annual fall executive meeting Nov. 16-17, the CWL’s national executive determined that while the investigation was ongoing, the parish councils should not collect donations on behalf of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. Instead, any donations should be redirected to other funds that support development work.

The CWL is not cutting off all funding to Development and Peace, however. The current collection being held in trust will be immediately forwarded to D&P to help it fund its work in some of the poorest regions of the globe.

“The national executive believes this is a temporary but necessary measure while the audit continues, so that (Development and Peace) can effectively support communities that strive for justice and peace in the Global South,” the national executive said in a news release.

The development arm of the Canadian Church has come under fire over allegations it has failed to properly screen some of its overseas partners. Dioceses across Canada have withheld funds from the organization after suggestions that several partner agencies provide services that include abortion, contraception and gender theory. The bishops have suspended funding until the probe concludes.

A 2010 investigation of Development and Peace’s overseas partners found a number of problematic partnerships and led to changes in funding protocols to ensure funds were distributed to organizations that comply with the social and moral teachings of the Church.