Comments for Challenges for the Caritas Network at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Sun, 19 May 2013 10:43:35 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/challenges-for-the-caritas-network.html#comment-7115 Can one seek out religious orders dedicated to missionary work, work with the poor at home or abroad, and support them directly? Does the Institute for Religious Life have any information on sound, orthodox, orders of Sisters or Brothers who can always use direct financial support? Hint: look for habits; community worship with the Liturgy of the Hours faithfully said; probably the Mass in the Extraordinary Form; young faces; big smiles. - Louise Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:27:12 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/challenges-for-the-caritas-network.html#comment-7113 Mark - Aid to the Church in Need is always a safe bet.... - Antony Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:31:08 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/challenges-for-the-caritas-network.html#comment-7110 Thanks Mark & Michael. Good questions. The situation can be complicated. Some charities of course do good works. But that is not the issue. Why can’t they all do the good works and still advance the Catholic vision – even when it comes to the more contentious issues? I’m not sure if there is one site that would answer your question. The CatholicCulture.org website, though, rates CRS fidelity with “caution”. Checking that site out might be helpful to you. Here is how Dr. Jeff Mirus concluded his analysis: “many leaders of such mainstream Catholic organizations do not hold fully Catholic views concerning sexual morality, do not possess sufficiently clear vision to persuasively articulate the benefits of living by Catholic principles, or do not have the courage to advance these principles against the prejudices of the larger culture. When that is the case, policies will often fall short of what they should be even if the policy-makers are trying to avoid a formal breach with Catholic teaching.” And even on other issues -- for example we often hear about the need to “challenge the structures that keep people in poverty”, yet there is precious little thought, energy, or imagination being devoted to promoting the insights of Centesimus Annus. But they are off and running on climate change. It is one thing to form wide partnerships in order to the deliver basic services, but another thing altogether to adopt the view & approaches of secular or progressive international development “community” all while downplaying your own identity and the real key to development – moral truth – that the Catholic Church seems to stand alone in proclaiming. So, though it might sometimes be hard to make categorical statements, there is clearly room for improvement. - Matt Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:53:58 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/challenges-for-the-caritas-network.html#comment-7109 I have been giving to Catholic Relief Services as my primary charity for relief and the poor over the past 3 - 4 years. My decision to do so was based on the recommendation of a priest who had served in some South American missions. I always felt that CRS was an authentic Catholic charity adhering to magesterial teaching. Based on your comment regarding the attitude of some CRS personnel, is this not the case? - Michael Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:42:35 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/challenges-for-the-caritas-network.html#comment-7108 Help! At every turn it seems I read more examples of charities creating scandal by misrepresenting themselves as Catholic. How are we to find authentic Catholic charities that don't spend a fortune on fundraising? Is there a website that rates Catholic charities for fidelity and fiduciary responsibility? - Mark Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:22:53 +0100