Catholic Charities, the Fiscal Cliff and Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio

National Catholic Register ^ | 12/14/2012 | JOAN FRAWLEY DESMOND

[Mrs. Don-o]

Since 2005, Father Larry Snyder has served as the president of Catholic Charities USA, the national office for about 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions....He spoke in early December with Register senior editor Joan Frawley Desmond...

Congress and the White House are engaged in deficit reduction negotiations to prevent the U.S. government from going over the so-called “fiscal cliff.” The outcome could involve cuts in social spending and reductions in charitable tax deductions. How are Catholic agencies faring?

We keep track of national trends for government funding. [snip]

We are especially concerned about changes to the charitable-tax deduction. The deduction is portrayed in the press as only affecting millionaires, but it’s not just a millionaires’ tax deduction. We get a lot of support from upper-middle class and middle-class Americans who do itemize their deductions.

Have recent religious freedom concerns prompted a reassessment of the future direction of Catholic charitable institutions?

I know of a couple of dioceses where bishops have said, “I want to see a strategic plan that takes us away in ten years from a dependence on government money.”

[snip]What about collaborating with big donors like the Gates Foundation, which does tremendous good in the fields of public health and education, but also recently announced a global birth control initiative?

Some bishops have said that … in areas where the [donor’s] mission corresponds with Church teaching, it is okay to collaborate with organizations like the Gates Foundation. Other bishops insist that if the foundation gives any support to family planning we cannot participate at all.

The motu proprio is a tool we can use to help with these issues. It’s kind of a checklist to ensure that we are doing all the things we should do to uphold and maintain our Catholic identity.

[Mrs. Don-o]

After all these years -- have we finally turned a corner?

One reader comments:

“ON the SERVICE of CHARITY” is NOT merely a directive, but an actual required legislative DECREE - that went into effect on Dec 10, 2012.

” Art. 15.- § 1. The ‘Pontifical Council Cor Unum’ has the task of promoting the application of this legislation and ensuring that it is applied at all levels…”

“ The Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility:

• of proclaiming the word of God,
• celebrating the sacraments, and
• exercising the ministry of charity.

These duties presuppose each other and are inseparable.”

All Catholic Charities throughout the world, must now:

1. evengelize;
2. celebrate the sacraments;
3. help those in need.

There will be no more ‘social services’ acting as a secular agency - funding groups who violate our Church teachings as stated in the CCC.

If anyone has any such evidence, they should contact the appropraite Diocese Bishops, and if that does not work, contact ‘Pontifical Council Cor Unum”.

If we all cooperate, all Catholic Charities will be truly Christ-like, saving Souls as well as helping people physically.

Catholic charities will no longer be giving money to support organizations that work against our Church.

[Ransomed]

“I know of a couple of dioceses where bishops have said, “I want to see a strategic plan that takes us away in ten years from a dependence on government money.”

They better start thinking about it, in ten years they might be paying more in state imposed penalties then they take in now from state donations. Still, a positive inclination.

Freegards