But Are They Catholic?

A PRIEST known for his support of a politically activist clergy once noted that anger could be an effective teaching tool for the Church, if it prompted reflection. By that standard, the potential for an enormously “teachable moment” has arisen as a result of a recent speech I gave at the annual dinner of the Catholic Campaign for America. In that speech, I expressed my concerns about Catholic Charities U.S.A. and its loss of a distinctively Catholic identity and mission. From some quarters, the response to my speech was angry indeed.

My critique of Catholic Charities U.S.A., the central, national organization for local Catholic charities, started with the facts. Depending on who’s talking, Catholic Charities receives 65 per cent or 62 per cent of its total budget from the government. This reliance on public funds, I argued, limits its ability to offer the fullness of the Catholic vision to those who seek its help. In the light of my comments, there are three questions that need to be addressed: 1)

RS

About the Author

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum is a former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and a board member at People United for Privacy Foundation.

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A PRIEST known for his support of a politically activist clergy once noted that anger could be an effective teaching tool for the Church, if it prompted reflection. By that standard, the potential for an enormously “teachable moment” has arisen as a result of a recent speech I gave at the annual dinner of the Catholic Campaign for America. In that speech, I expressed my concerns about Catholic Charities U.S.A. and its loss of a distinctively Catholic identity and mission. From some quarters, the response to my speech was angry indeed.

My critique of Catholic Charities U.S.A., the central, national organization for local Catholic charities, started with the facts. Depending on who’s talking, Catholic Charities receives 65 per cent or 62 per cent of its total budget from the government. This reliance on public funds, I argued, limits its ability to offer the fullness of the Catholic vision to those who seek its help. In the light of my comments, there are three questions that need to be addressed: 1)