Mormon, Catholic cooperation making strides

SALT LAKE CITY — In recent years, it has not been unusual to see reports on Mormons and Catholics working together in Utah communities or somewhere in the world to help those in need. But it wasn't always that way.

The two faiths ask their members to give full commitment to their beliefs and in decades past, that seemed to come between Catholics and Latter-day Saints — a religious mistrust.

The stunning St. Peter's Basilica symbolizes more than a worldwide faith and likewise, the Salt Lake Temple represents more than an international landmark. Two distinct structures, two different doctrines.

The relationship between the two faiths, however, has gradually grown through the personalities of certain leaders. It grew substantially when they came together to help people during a catastrophic event in Africa.

Twenty-five years ago, a devastating famine struck Ethiopia, killing a million people, leaving millions more on the brink of starvation.

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called for a church-wide fast and collected $6 million. The First Presidency sent Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Glenn L. Pace to carry the donation to Africa.

"We met in the feeding stations up in Makali, Ethiopia, with Frank Carlon, who was the head of Catholic Relief Services, and that was the beginning of a very dear relationship. He sends me e-mail all of the time," said Elder Ballard. "And the decision was made that a good portion of that money would be managed by Catholic Relief Services and ever since then, we've been building that relationship stronger and stronger."

Through the years, leaders and members of both faiths and many others have helped people receive food, clothing, shelter and jobs.

The relationships became stronger with Archbishop George Niederauer, now head of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson — three men whose common interests in improving people's lives led to friendships.

Archbishop Niederauer remembers when he first came to Salt Lake City as bishop. "Within the first week or 10 days, I was ordained a bishop on a Wednesday but on the Tuesday evening before, there was a reception into the community. Gov. (Mike) Leavitt spoke, one of the Protestant ministers spoke and President Monson gave a talk in the Cathedral. And then there was a very lovely luncheon at the very top of the Joseph Smith Building, that beautiful room up there, and it was during President Hunter's last days and President Hinckley was very welcoming and all of the apostles were there."