Michael Brooks
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Catholic Charities are two organisations with a shared goal of humanitarian aid and assistance to those in need. While Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, Catholic Charities is its domestic counterpart, providing relief within the United States and its territories. Both organisations have a long history of serving the vulnerable and promoting human dignity, with Catholic Relief Services operating in over 100 countries and Catholic Charities working across a national network of agencies. This comparison highlights the global reach of Catholic Relief Services versus the domestic focus of Catholic Charities, showcasing how these two organisations complement each other in their efforts to bring relief and support to those who need it most.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States |
| Catholic Charities is the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church | |
| History | Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States |
| Catholic Charities has a history of more than 100 years | |
| Reach | Catholic Relief Services provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 100 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe |
| Catholic Charities provides support in the United States and its territories | |
| Funding | Catholic Relief Services has a $1.5 billion budget, about half funded by USAID |
| Catholic Charities is supported by donations | |
| Focus | Catholic Relief Services focuses on relief efforts and sustainable development initiatives |
| Catholic Charities provides food, mental health care, addiction recovery and support, and other services to those in need |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) history and founding principles
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States as War Relief Services, with the initial purpose of aiding refugees of World War II in Europe. The agency was driven by an outpouring of concern from Catholics in the United States, who sought to help World War II survivors and refugees.
CRS's first project involved assisting around 1,500 Polish refugees in Colonia Santa Rosa, Mexico, by providing a safe space for education, training, and rehabilitation. This project lasted for four years.
In the following years, CRS continued its mission to serve the most vulnerable, feeding the hungry, acting as instruments of peace, empowering communities, and being a voice for the voiceless. During the Korean War, CRS distributed food, medicine, and clothing to hundreds of thousands of refugees.
In 1955, the agency's name was officially changed to Catholic Relief Services to reflect a shift in focus from war relief to long-term development. Over the next decade, CRS expanded its operations, opening 25 country programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
CRS's programming focus evolved to meet the changing needs of the post-World War II Catholic Church and the communities it served. In the 1970s and 1980s, simple distributions of food, clothing, and medicine expanded into socio-economic development initiatives. By the late 1980s, health care, nutrition education, micro-enterprise, and agriculture became major areas of focus for CRS programming.
Today, CRS continues to be guided by its founding principles, rooted in Catholic social teaching and fidelity to its Catholic identity. As the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, CRS is committed to preserving the sacredness and dignity of human life from conception to natural death. The organization assists people in need in over 100 countries, regardless of race, religion, or nationality, providing basic needs and advocating for solutions to injustice.
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CRS' global reach and impact
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It was founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States to aid refugees of war-torn Europe during World War II. CRS has since expanded its operations to more than 100 countries across five continents, providing assistance to over 130 million people. The organization has a global reach, with numerous field offices and approximately 5,000 employees worldwide.
CRS's work spans various sectors, including healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation, addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of communities. They provide emergency relief and long-term development services, responding to natural disasters, fighting disease and poverty, and promoting peaceful and just societies. For example, in 2005, CRS was among the first agencies to respond to the Pakistan earthquake, providing emergency supplies, shelter, education, water, and sanitation materials, and livelihood support. In the same year, they also received the Caritas Flame of Hope Award for their work in bringing the core of Christianity to millions suffering from natural disasters and human cruelty.
CRS has been recognized for its commitment to transparency and financial efficiency. In 2023, it received the Platinum Transparency Award from Candid by GuideStar, and Charity Watch awarded it an A+ grade in 2022. Notably, CRS spends only about $8 to generate every $100 in donations.
CRS's global impact is also evident in its response to recent crises. In 2017, CRS provided relief efforts in the Caribbean after Hurricane Maria, distributing food and hygiene kits to families in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. In 2021, CRS generated approximately $1.2 billion in revenue, demonstrating the significant scale of its operations.
However, CRS has faced criticisms from some Catholic groups for allegedly drifting away from its Catholic identity due to its expansion and reliance on government funding. There have been debates about its approach to education regarding contraception and its opposition to the use of condoms as a means of combating HIV and AIDS. Despite these controversies, CRS remains a prominent organization committed to serving vulnerable communities worldwide and promoting the values and principles of the Catholic Church.
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Catholic Charities' work in the US
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is a national voluntary membership organization for Catholic Charities agencies throughout the United States and its territories. It is a member of Caritas Internationalis, an international federation of Catholic social service organizations. CCUSA is the national office of 167 local Catholic Charities agencies that provide help and create hope for millions of people a year, regardless of their religious, social, or economic background.
The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same. Catholic Charities agencies are among the nation’s largest providers of safe, decent, and affordable housing, with more than 38,000 permanent units for families, seniors, veterans, and others, as well as temporary and emergency housing. Catholic Charities also provides healthy food options for those at risk of hunger via food banks and pantries, schools, child and adult daycare centers, summer lunch programs, group dining settings, community farms, and more.
Catholic Charities has a long history of engaging with parishes and supporting their efforts to live out the Gospel, to care for the poor and vulnerable, and to work for justice. In 1990, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned CCUSA to respond to disasters in the United States. Relief and recovery services are provided at the local level by Catholic Charities agencies across the country. These agencies provide critical services, including emergency food, shelter, direct financial assistance, counseling, and support. 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 to support their relief efforts. Catholic Charities has responded to disasters across the country, including the September 11 attacks, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Gulf Coast oil spill, and Superstorm Sandy.
Catholic Charities saluted the work of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) around the world in bringing the core values of Christianity to millions suffering from natural disasters, human cruelty, and injustice.
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Catholic Charities' values and beliefs
Catholic Charities is the philanthropic arm of the Roman Catholic Church, with a mission to strengthen the lives of those in need. The organisation is motivated by the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and guided by Catholic social teaching. Catholic Charities upholds the sacredness and dignity of all human life, respecting and valuing racial and cultural diversity. They are committed to serving the poor and most vulnerable, empowering them to reach their full potential.
Catholic Charities has a long history of engaging with parishes and supporting their efforts to live out the Gospel, care for the poor and vulnerable, and work for justice. They provide essential services such as housing, food, and spiritual support to those in need. With a focus on encountering those along the margins, Catholic Charities offers help and hope regardless of an individual's faith or background.
The organisation collaborates with various partners, including government agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and schools, to offer effective and fiscally sound programs. While they receive some funding from the Catholic Church, the majority of their budget comes from government sources. Catholic Charities has been criticised by some for moving away from explicit religious values and towards a more secular, welfare-state approach.
In contrast, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS is committed to assisting the poor and vulnerable overseas, promoting the sacredness of human life, and upholding human dignity. They provide emergency relief and sustainable development initiatives in more than 110 countries, responding to natural disasters, fighting disease, and working to end global poverty. CRS also influences public policy to address root causes of injustice and promote peaceful and just societies.
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Criticisms and controversies surrounding CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been criticised by some Catholic groups for its approach to education regarding contraception, specifically the use of condoms. In the 2010s, the Lepanto Institute, a conservative Catholic organisation, accused CRS of promoting condom use through public education efforts in several Catholic countries. In 2013, CRS was criticised for distributing $2.7 million to Population Services International (PSI), a healthcare and family-planning group.
CRS has also faced longstanding accusations of drifting away from its Catholic identity as it expanded its operations, particularly due to its reliance on government funding. Approximately half of the organisation's funding comes from government sources, which has led to claims that it has lost its Catholic identity.
In addition, CRS has been criticised for its stance on same-sex marriage. In 2017, CRS attempted to withdraw health insurance for the same-sex spouse of one of their employees, citing their opposition to same-sex marriage. This resulted in a lawsuit, with a federal judge ruling in 2022 that CRS was legally required to offer healthcare to the same-sex spouses of employees engaged in non-religious work. However, in August 2023, the Maryland Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in favour of CRS, finding that Maryland's employment laws did not explicitly protect sexual orientation.
CRS has also faced allegations of involvement in sexual abuse scandals. In 2021, it was revealed that former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a former board member and director of the CRS Foundation, had been expelled from the priesthood for sexually abusing minors and seminarians. Additionally, six former board members of CRS were named in a Pennsylvania grand jury report for their role in allowing clergy sex abuse to continue.
Furthermore, CRS has been accused of working with groups that promote abortion. In response to these criticisms, CRS has asserted that it abides by a standard anchored in Catholic moral tradition, while critics contend that CRS must conform to a higher standard. The US bishops have defended CRS, stating that the organisation promotes and defends human dignity and the sacredness of every human life.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in over 100 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
Catholic Charities is the domestic counterpart of Catholic Relief Services. It is the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church. Catholic Charities provides healthy food options for those at risk of hunger and offers services including counseling, mental health care, addiction recovery, and support.
Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, while Catholic Charities is its domestic counterpart, operating as the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church. CRS provides assistance to people worldwide, while Catholic Charities focuses on providing aid within the United States and its territories.
