Edward Ernest Swanstrom

[2][3] In 1945, a B-25 Mitchell bomber of the US Army Air Corps accidentally crashed into the Empire State Building in Manhattan, destroying the CRS office there.

[1][5] He also served as pastor of St. Andrew's Church in New York City from 1965 to 1973 while remaining executive director of Catholic Relief Services.

Swanstrom and CRS were heavily criticized by the Catholic Peace Fellowship (CPF) for concentrating their efforts in South Vietnam.

In November 1967, Swanstrom stated that CRS was providing funding for humanitarian supplies to North Vietnam.

[6] Swanstrom in 1976 set up a special CRS fund to aid earthquake victims around Udine, Italy.