Why do short-term Christian missions raise the ire of Catholic clergy?
They come out of the goodness of their hearts, to help the poorest of the poor and to share the word of God. So why does Father Hermer Sorto want them out of his country? Every year, as many as four million North American Christians travel to developing countries on “short-term missions.” They spend a week or two working with the poor and spreading the gospel before returning home. It’s an idealistic practice that has some harsh critics – not least among Roman Catholic clergy, some of whom call it “soul trafficking.” In the second installment of a special two-part documentary report, the VisionTV current affairs series 360 Vision looks at the short-term mission phenomenon, and finds out why so many people object to this brand of Christian do-gooding. The program airs on Thursday, March 23 at 10 p.m. ET and repeats on Monday, March 27 at 10 p.m. ET. In part one of his report, 360 Vision’s Kevin O’Keefe traveled to the Central American nation of Honduras to meet former missionary Kurt Ve
