THIS STORY HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING

Catholic Charities paid for buses

By Brian C. Mooney, 4/14/2002

prominent member of Boston's Haitian community yesterday reimbursed a Catholic Charities-funded agency for the cost of busing hundreds who showed their support of Cardinal Bernard Law by attending Palm Sunday Mass in Boston last month.

Dr. Roger Jean-Charles, chairman of the board of the Haitian Multi-Service Center in Dorchester, acknowledged the $1,300 check was overdue. An estimated 800 Boston-area Haitians attended the Mass Law celebrated at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End. The center rented five buses to transport some of the cardinal's supporters, with the understanding Jean-Charles would later provide reimbursement.

Law ''has always been on our side,'' Jean-Charles said, and enjoys deep support among the city's large Haitian population.

A Mattapan activist on Friday objected to the payment and requested an audit of the Haitian center's finances.

This story ran on page A31 of the Boston Globe on 4/14/2002.
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