CATHOLIC CHARITIES

• Catholic Social Teaching
• History of Catholic Charities of OKC
• National Connection
• Catholic Charities USA
• Photo Gallery

Catholic Social Teaching

The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition and the service of Catholic Charities of Oklahoma

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Rights and Responsibilities

The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

Solidarity

We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.”1 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

Care for God’s Creation

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

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History

In 1912, the groundwork for Catholic Charities was laid with the founding of St. Joseph's Orphanage.  In the following years, other institutions were also opened to serve children, families and other people in need.  Among these was a boardinghouse for young working women, a maternity home, and St. Ann's Home for the Aged.

In 1927, Catholic Charities expanded its services to include adoption, foster care and pregnancy counseling.  Its mission was to make Christ's love for all human beings a visible and living reality for those in need.

The needs of our society have changed dramatically since the early 1900s. In turn, the work of the Agency has also changed.  In recent years, there has been a national trend away from institutions toward smaller group homes for provision of services to specialized populations.  Our Lady of Victory Maternity Home, serving pregnant women and infants, closed in the mid-seventies.  St. Joseph's closed in 1990 due to a lack of adequate funding by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.  St. Ann's Home for the Elderly was operated under Catholic Charities umbrella for many years until a new St. Ann's Nursing Home opened in 1992 under the administration of the Archdiocese of OKC.

Catholic Charities has adapted to changing times and trends in delivery of social services. Although the Agency still provides needed direct services in counseling, immigration, refugee resettlement, AIDS pastoral counseling, counseling, and emergency assistance and housing to women experiencing crisis pregnancies, there is a strong emphasis on providing training and support to parishes so that they may answer their Gospel call to helping the poor and powerless.  The Archdiocesan Commission for Justice and Human
Development is within Catholic Charities and its efforts are aimed at changing the underlying causes for poverty and injustice.

Catholic Charities has a long history of providing loving care to those in need.  With your help we will continue to reach out to others in mercy, charity, and justice.

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Catholic Charities – National Connection

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is part of a nationwide network of Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities USA, the parent agency, was founded in 1910 on the campus of Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, as the National Conference of Catholic Charities.

The National Conference was created to promote the creation of diocesan Catholic Charities bureaus, to encourage professional social work practice, “to bring a sense of solidarity” among those in charitable ministries, and to be the “attorney for the poor.”

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Catholic Charities USA Today

Today, Catholic Charities USA serves as the national voice for the Catholic Charities network and the people it helps. Our Catholic values, teaching, and traditions provide the foundation for our work.

Advocacy

Catholic Charities USA vigorously advocates federal policymakers on our poverty reduction agenda and promotes the work of local Catholic Charities to the media and the general public.

Networking

CCUSA provides networking opportunities to bring our members together to share information, solve problems, and connect with one another.

Catholic Charities USA creates and facilitates a wide range of networks and partnerships with other organizations committed to social justice, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Catholic Charities USA’s president represents North America before Caritas International—the international conference of Catholic Charities—maintaining contact with the Catholic Charities movement throughout the world.

Training, Financial Support, and Leadership

As the National Office for over 1700 member agencies, Catholic Charities USA provides strong leadership and support to enhance the work of the local agencies in their efforts to reduce poverty, support families, and empower communities.

We provide training and technical assistance, financial support, and leadership in developing model programs and services for our members. By providing our agencies with these important services, we enable them to better devote their own resources to serving their community.

In addition, Catholic Charities USA has been commissioned by the U.S. Catholic bishops to represent the Catholic community in times of domestic disaster.

Our Members

Our members—a network of more than 1,700 Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide—provide help and create hope for more than 7.8 million people of all faiths a year.

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Photo Gallery

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