VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Warning that Catholic charitable activity must not become “just another form of organised social assistance”, Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules to strengthen the religious identity of Catholic charities and ensure their activities conform to Church teaching.
The Pope’s apostolic letter on the “service of charity,” issued motu proprio (on his own initiative), directs bishops in overseeing charitable works in their dioceses. The document, dated November 11, was released by the Vatican on December 1.
Charities approved by the Church or supported by Church funds “are required to follow Catholic principles in their activity and they may not accept commitments which could in any way affect the observance of those principles”, the Pope wrote.
The staff members of such charities must therefore “share, or at least respect, the Catholic identity” of their agencies, and exemplify “Christian life” and faith.
Bishops are to provide these employees with “theological and pastoral formation” through special courses and “suitable aids to the spiritual life”.
Catholic charities are forbidden to “receive financial support from groups or institutions that pursue ends contrary to the Church’s teaching” or to “accept contributions for initiatives whose ends, or the means used to pursue them, are not in conformity with the Church’s teaching”.
To ensure that the Church’s charitable agencies reflect “Christian simplicity of life”, each bishop is to set their salaries and expenses at levels “in due proportion to analogous expenses of his diocesan curia”. – CNS