Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church has a long history of humanitarian work, with Catholic social teaching emphasizing support for the sick, poor, and afflicted. The Church has the second-largest aid network in the world, Caritas Internationalis, and is the largest non-governmental provider of education and medical services globally. Catholic Relief Services (CRS), founded in 1943, is the official international humanitarian organization of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, working in over 100 countries to end poverty, hunger, and disease. Catholic hospitals, health care centers, orphanages, and social service organizations provide essential assistance to millions worldwide. The Church's extensive network, rooted in local communities, enables it to reach vulnerable people in remote areas that governments often struggle to access. This unique reach was evident during the Ebola crisis in West Africa and is now critical in fighting COVID-19 and supporting those affected by the Ukrainian conflict.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Humanitarian work | Pastoral accompaniment |
| Airport Chaplaincy | |
| Social services | |
| Health care | |
| Education | |
| Poverty alleviation | |
| Housing | |
| Employment | |
| Humanitarian aid | |
| Disaster relief | |
| Monetary donations | |
| Food donations | |
| Medical assistance | |
| Asylum | |
| Charity | |
| Spiritual teaching | |
| Social teaching |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
CRS is committed to assisting the poor and vulnerable overseas, without regard to race, creed, or nationality. It works with local, national, and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organisations, to address urgent needs and develop solutions to help vulnerable people survive and thrive in the long term. The organisation focuses on innovative programs in agriculture, health, and emergency response. It also works within the United States to help Catholics live their faith through activities that promote human dignity and respond to human needs around the world.
CRS has a presence in over 100 countries and serves nearly 100,000,000 people each year. It has a global staff of 5,000 and a range of programs and activities that promote human dignity and respond to human needs. For example, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, CRS distributed 7,000 food and hygiene kits to families in Cuba and more than 1,700 kits to families in the Dominican Republic. In Ukraine, CRS has been providing safe shelter, hot meals, hygiene supplies, fuel, transport to safe areas, counselling support, and more.
CRS has been criticised by Catholic groups for its approach to education regarding contraception and same-sex marriage. In 2017, CRS attempted to withdraw health insurance for the same-sex spouse of one of their male employees, citing their opposition to same-sex marriage. This argument was rejected by a federal judge in August 2022, who cited it as a case of sex discrimination.
CRS is a leading member of the US Global Leadership Coalition, a Washington DC-based coalition of over 400 major companies and NGOs that advocates for increased funding of American diplomatic and development efforts abroad.
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Catholic health care
- 438 healthcare centres assisting 4,648,844 patients annually
- 1,389 specialised homes assisting 636,410 individuals
- 105 Catholic residential homes for children, or orphanages, assisting 18,672 young people annually
- 853 Day Care and Extended Day Care Centres assisting 89,598 children
- 3,449 special centres for social services assisting 25,240,914 people
Catholic health and social service organisations have a long tradition of service in the United States, dating back to 1727 in New Orleans when French Ursuline sisters arrived in the city to become nurses, teachers, and servants of the poor and orphans.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian organisation of the US Catholic Bishops. It was founded in 1943 to help war-torn Europe and its refugees recover, and today it continues to focus on the poor overseas, using the gospel of Jesus Christ as its mandate. CRS has a presence in 101 countries and serves nearly 100,000,000 people each year. Its mission is grounded in Catholic values, which call on the organisation to foster compassion and dignity among the world's most marginalised people.
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) and its national network of social service agencies respond to the needs of those living in poverty in America. CCUSA's network of 177 member agencies and affiliates help individuals and families move out of poverty and achieve their full potential by providing services in the areas of hunger, health, housing, education, workforce development, and family economic security.
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Catholic social services
In the United States, Catholic health care systems and facilities offer a wide range of services, including acute care, skilled nursing, hospice, home health, assisted living, and senior housing. The Catholic health care network also includes health care centres, specialised homes, residential homes for children, day care centres, and social service centres, assisting millions of people each year.
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is another vital component of Catholic social services in America. With a network of 177 member agencies and affiliates, CCUSA helps individuals and families lift themselves out of poverty by addressing issues such as hunger, health, housing, education, and workforce development.
The Catholic Church's humanitarian work extends beyond national borders. During the Ebola crisis in West Africa and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Church's Caritas aid network played a crucial role in providing support and reaching vulnerable communities. The Church is also actively involved in peacebuilding, advocating for social justice, and raising its voice at global gatherings like the G7 and COP26 to promote a fairer and greener agenda.
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Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA)
CCUSA provides immediate humanitarian support and long-term aid to communities affected by natural and human-made disasters. It also promotes poverty reduction through research and legislative reform. CCUSA's Disaster Operations coordinates the Catholic Church's response to disasters in the United States and grants relief funds to local Catholic Charities agencies. CCUSA has responded to disasters such as the September 11 attacks, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Gulf Coast oil spill, and Superstorm Sandy.
CCUSA's member agencies provide a wide range of services, including emergency food, shelter, direct financial assistance, counselling, and support. They also offer programs in areas such as hunger, health, housing, education, workforce development, family economic security, and immigration and refugee support. CCUSA is committed to serving people of all faiths and backgrounds, responding to their economic, social, cultural, personal, and spiritual needs.
CCUSA has a long history of working with parishes to care for the poor and vulnerable and to work for justice. In 2012, CCUSA supported the Obama administration's efforts to address religious objections to some features of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. CCUSA also provides workshops and training for its member agencies to strengthen their capacity and effectiveness.
CCUSA is funded through various sources, including government funding, donations from diocesan churches, and community donations. In 2010, Catholic Charities had revenues of $4.7 billion, with $2.9 billion coming from the US government. CCUSA also receives donations of property and real estate, which help serve the vulnerable people they support.
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Caritas Internationalis
The Catholic Church is involved in humanitarian work through various organisations, one of which is Caritas Internationalis. Caritas Internationalis is a confederation of 162 national Catholic relief, development, and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. The name refers to both the global network of Caritas organisations and its general secretariat, which is based in Vatican City.
The missions of Caritas Internationalis, individually and collectively, are "to serve the poor and to promote charity and justice throughout the world". Caritas believes in dignity, solidarity, and stewardship on behalf of the world's most vulnerable people. For example, Caritas Uganda is working with communities affected by conflict to strengthen peace, rebuild trust, and improve everyday life. Caritas Internationalis is the second-largest international humanitarian aid network in the world, after the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Another example of the Catholic Church's humanitarian work is Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian organisation of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. CRS seeks to end poverty, hunger, and disease, working in 112 countries and reaching 121 million people each year. Similarly, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) and its national network of social service agencies respond to the needs of those living in poverty in America.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic Church does humanitarian work. The Church has the second-largest aid network in the world, Caritas Internationalis, and is the largest non-governmental provider of education and medical services globally. The Catholic Church has a long tradition of providing humanitarian aid, with Catholic monasteries and monastic orders offering charity, asylum, and assistance to the poor since the Middle Ages.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian organisation of the US Catholic Bishops. It was founded in 1943 to help war-torn Europe and its refugees recover and continues to work in 101-112 countries, serving nearly 85-100 million people each year. Other Catholic humanitarian organisations include Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), Caritas, and Catholic hospitals and health care systems.
Catholic humanitarian work is funded through donations from members and friends of the Church. In the case of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members observe a fast each month and donate the value of the meals missed to benefit other members in need. Christian NGOs also attract significant funding and publicity through their international networks.
