Good Charities That Are Catholic?

[Veritas]

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[b]Father Benedict Groeschel, admonished us to be very careful about the charities, even the Catholic ones, that we support. There are a few, which I know are okay:[/b]

Catholic Answers
Priests for Life
EWTN
Relevant Radio
Ave Maria
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Missionaries of Charity
Missionaries of the Poor
Sisters in Jesus the Lord
Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
etc...

[b]However, there are a few organizations, whom I often receive monetary requests from that I don't know. Since I don't know if they are vigilant about not providing contraception or teaching against the Church e.g., I won't send them money. For example:[/b]

Catholic Relief Services
Food for the Poor
Catholic Extension Society

[b]Then, there are others that I can't rely on, so I don't suport them[/b], e.g. Catholic Charities (isn't that sad!).

[b]Anyone have any inside information, thoughts, or organizations to add to the lists?[/b]

Edited June 20, 2007 by Veritas

[kateri05]

catholic relief services does NOT give $$ for contraception

go check out their website. they're the only international group that doesn't.....

[stlmom]

There is nothing on the websites of Catholic Relief Services, Food for the Poor, the Catholic Church Extension Society, or Catholic Charities that lead me to think that they undermine the Church in any way. I am a regular donor to 3 of these charities.
Kindly back up your doubts about these charities with something more substantial than your own opinion if your intention is to cast doubt on their integrity as charitable institutions.

[chelsea]

I'm pretty positive that CRS is a solid group that supports the Church 100%. Their international headquarters is in my diocese and i've visited them before. They seem very very kosher.

[melikalani]

Catholic Relief Services is the overseas relief agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Here is a statement by the late Holy Father John Paul II during a telethon for CRS from 1980. [url="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/1980/june/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19800602_message-usa_en.html"]Link here[/url]:

[quote]MESSAGE TO THE AMERICANS
DURING THE TELECAST CRS TELETHON

2 June 1980


Dear friends in America,

My heart is still full of joy as I recall the warmth of your affection, and the cordiality with which you received me during my visit to your great country.

I am happy to have this brief moment to speak to you about Catholic Relief Services and about those irreplaceable works of mercy that are so close to my heart. I am mindful of how Americans in this century have repeatedly shown deep sensitivity and compassion whenever the sufferings of mankind have called out to them. And that is why I do not hesitate to address you once again.

Catholic Relief Services stirs up renewed faith in humanity. It brings healing comfort to our afflicted brothers and sisters from one end of the world to the other - to the once-rejected boat people from Vietnam; to the suffering masses of refugees from Cambodia; to the drought-stricken population of East Timor; to the victims of revolution, war, hatred, inhumanity and underdevelopment. These are our brothers and sisters who make up the CRS parish. The devoted corps of CRS workers in distant lands uplifts them in their grief, and ministers to their needs.

Through this CRS telethon telecast I direct my words today to all Americans, to all men and women of good will and full heart.

The works of faith, hope and charity is a bond that unites all peoples. You can help strengthen this bond and forge new ones throughout the world - with your interest, your understanding and your love.

Thank you and God bless you.[/quote]

[XIX]

Yeah I was going to say that JP2 was very fond of CRS.

Terrific list though.

[Veritas]

[quote name='stlmom' post='1298987' date='Jun 20 2007, 01:42 PM']There is nothing on the websites of Catholic Relief Services, Food for the Poor, the Catholic Church Extension Society, or Catholic Charities that lead me to think that they undermine the Church in any way. I am a regular donor to 3 of these charities.
Kindly back up your doubts about these charities with something more substantial than your own opinion if your intention is to cast doubt on their integrity as charitable institutions.[/quote]

+

No opinion was offered, no intention to cast doubt was stated. I simply don't know and was asking if anyone did.

Edited June 20, 2007 by Veritas

[Norseman82]

Be careful about Food for the Poor. There was a controversy a few years ago in which some bishops withdrew their support for it:

[url="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_10_38/ai_82261667"]http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m114..._38/ai_82261667[/url]

I don't know if things have been resolved or if this is purely internal politics.

I prefer Catholic Relief Services, since it is a well-known player.

Edited June 20, 2007 by Norseman82

[stlmom]

Veritas,
True enough that you did not render a direct opinion against CRS, Catholic Extension Society, Food for the Poor, and Catholic Charities. If their positions on contraception and faithfulness to the Church are unclear to you, why not take the time to find out and then post it? You have suggested by separating them out that perhaps they are not so worthy of our contributions when you have given us no supporting information, just your vague uncertainty. You would have done more good to just list your preferred charities and let it go at that. Now think about that later when you make your examination of conscience.

[Veritas]

[quote name='stlmom' post='1299069' date='Jun 20 2007, 05:41 PM']Veritas,
True enough that you did not render a direct opinion against CRS, Catholic Extension Society, Food for the Poor, and Catholic Charities. If their positions on contraception and faithfulness to the Church are unclear to you, why not take the time to find out and then post it? You have suggested by separating them out that perhaps they are not so worthy of our contributions when you have given us no supporting information, just your vague uncertainty. You would have done more good to just list your preferred charities and let it go at that. Now think about that later when you make your examination of conscience.[/quote]

+

Wow. This is a place to share information. We save each other a lot of time and effort by sharing what we know. Again, I have suggested nothing except that I don't know. Please do not misrepresent what I have written or my intentions. Referring to my "examination of conscience" is unwarranted and inappropriate. I am more than happy to discuss the topic at hand, which is people's experience and knowledge of the fidelity of the various organizations above. This topic could be very informative and useful, which is the purpose. And of course, if someone DOES have something to say about one of the organizations, it is important to be critical of the sources. Hope this helps you stl.

Blessings,
V

Edited June 20, 2007 by Veritas

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='stlmom' post='1299069' date='Jun 20 2007, 06:41 PM']Now think about that later when you make your examination of conscience.[/quote]

Unless you are her spiritual advisor, that was inappropriate [i.e. rude]

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

The original post in this thread was written in a misleading way. I don't think Veritas meant that the charaties were doing unethical activities, but that he didn't know. However, bolding the text made it seem like he was making those accusations.

[Old_Joe]

Catholic Social Services

[stlmom]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1299194' date='Jun 20 2007, 11:09 PM']Unless you are her spiritual advisor, that was inappropriate [i.e. rude][/quote]


My bad, sorry Veritas.


But please explain why you don't give to Catholic Charities. Here in St. Louis, they have the support of no less a person than our archbishop Raymond Burke.

Edited June 21, 2007 by stlmom

[Guest gpatin]

I have been employed with Catholic Charities agencies for the past 11 years and would ask that you qualify your comments about the agencies with some facts. Catholic Charities is the largest social service network in the United States, next to the federal government. The member agencies have provided important social services and advocacy since the Ursaline Sisters first began providing care to the poor in New Orleans, LA in the late 1790's. Catholic Charities agencies provide services such as adoption, foster care, counseling, AIDS Ministries, emergency financial and food assistance, affordable housing, immigration and refugee services and is the domestic disaster response agency for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastate the Gulf Coast in 2005, Catholic Charities agencies across the United States responded by assisting to relocate and resettle evacuees and sending volunteers to the impacted areas to assist with recovery.

Catholic Charities helps hundreds of thousands of the poor and vulnerable by extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and providing help and creating hope.