Officials of the Holy Land Foundation established in Washington, D.C., by the Franciscan Friars have, in a press release dated 7 December, stated that they have no connection with the similarly named Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, a Muslim organization based in Richardson, Texas, that has been under a U.S. grand jury investigation.
Father Peter Vasko, O.F.M., President of the foundation, has expressed concern that the public would confuse the two organizations. The Holy Land Foundation was established in 1994 to stem the wave of Christian emigration from the Holy Land. Its purpose is to stabilize the Christian communities and assist families through adequate housing, education opportunities, employment and professional development.
“Our church-based foundation has absolutely nothing in common, at any level of existence, with the other named organization,” stated Father Vasko. “We support only faith-based Christian communities in Israel and throughout the Holy Land.
“The Holy Land Foundation is recognized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a…voluntary charitable organization which exists solely to encourage the spiritual and human development of Christians in the Holy Land,” Father Vasko concluded.
The Holy Land Foundation has a 501 (c) (3) listing with the Internal Revenue Service.