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In providing its range of services, the Catholic Charities ministry must give serious attention to the acquisition and use of money. Money is not the central concern, but it helps in meeting what is: the needs of the people, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. Moreover, in a society as large and complex as the U.S., the ability to meet those needs is beyond the capacity of any one organization, including the federal, state, and local governments. Governments and organizations need to work together, which is where institutions like Catholic Charities come in. Catholic social doctrine encourages the Church and its institutions to participate actively as members of society and to work together with the government (See Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 214). In fact, in the U.S., Catholic Charities and the government, at every level, have been cooperating for over 100 years, and the relationship has worked well. The government is able to entrust a number of social services to Catholic Charities, and Catholic Charities fulfills this trust with transparency and professionalism. Indeed, most administrations, including President Biden's, have continued to encourage collaboration with faith-based organizations (FBO), like Catholic Charities, by allowing them to compete on an equal level for public funds to provide public services. The money is not guaranteed, and not every FBO can provide every service. Still, an important principle of democratic society is respected here, as articulated by Pope Benedict XVI: "We do not need a State which regulates and controls everything, but a State which, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from the different social forces" (Deus Caritas est, No. 28). As one of those "forces," Catholic Charities has become over the years an expert in the social work profession and institutional governance. With 167 agencies (and 2,631 service sites), Catholic Charities provided help and created hope for more than 15 million clients in 2021. The kinds of services ranged from fulfilling basic needs for clothing, food, and shelter to integrating newcomers into the country, building affordable housing units, and responding to disasters. Catholic Charities agencies also ran a number of government programs. The funds that Catholic Charities uses to provide services and implement programs come from more than government sources: private donors are a substantial source. And it's important to note that money from the government does not simply appear in an agency's bank account ready to be distributed to programs and clients. Focusing on the federal government as the primary example, public funds are distributed only after the federal government sets the annual overall budget (budget process) and designates the amount of funds to be spent by each of the various federal agencies (appropriations process). Each year during the appropriations process, which is happening presently for fiscal year 2023, CCUSA's Social Policy team visits every Appropriations Congressional Committee member in the House (52) and the Senate (30). Team members are making these visits right now, although most of the visits are virtual. Topics include more than money. First and foremost, the visits are meant to bring Catholic Charities' vast experience in meeting the needs of the poor and vulnerable in our communities to bear on the governmental process.  The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington June 7, 2022. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn) |
CCUSA's Social Policy team is in a unique position to articulate to Congress the importance and significance of programs impacting the poor and disadvantaged. With personal stories and statistics from Catholic Charities agencies around the nation, the Social Policy team provides the Appropriations subcommittees with factual information that can guide funding decisions. The Social Policy team also helps to build consensus for Catholic Charities' priorities across state and political boundaries. In a time when the needs and experience of individual agencies differ so greatly around the country, one voice speaking for all is crucial to moving legislation forward. CCUSA's Social Policy team, working together with Member Services, are able to learn from the network what the needs of communities are and work to coordinate the network's collective effort to address these needs. The benefit to having a team engaged with Congress redounds to Catholic Charities agencies too. The CCUSA Social Policy team follows closely all legislative proposals being considered on Capitol Hill and keeps the agencies informed of how a particular piece of legislation may impact their work. The team also participates in Regulatory comments and problem-solving as "rules" are implemented. Through action alerts and letters to Congress, CCUSA keeps the flow of information open. They can act as a bridge as well, helping agencies to testify at committee hearings or to meet with their Member of Congress. Through continued feedback and input from the Catholic Charities network, the Social Policy team can expand its reach and deepen the knowledge of decision makers on Capitol Hill. Finding Catholic Charities on Capitol Hill may not seem like a typical place to find a church institution, but it's precisely the place where Catholic Charities is able to fulfill its mission to love as Christ commanded and to work for the common good. |
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