The umbrella organization of Catholic aid groups across the United States, Catholic
Charities USA, is celebrating its centennial anniversary.
On September 25th,
1910, it was founded as a national membership association, uniting Catholic charitable
agencies and institutions across the country. Over the past century, it has worked
to reduce poverty, support families and empower communities, as well as impacted public
policy.
“Our founding people were very clear to say that while we have to
certainly assist with the immediate needs of people, we also need to advocate for
them, to be the voice for those who have no voice or, in the exact words they used,
the be attorneys for the poor,” says Fr Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities
USA.
“We intend to celebrate the history that we’ve had,” Fr Snyder told Vatican
Radio about Saturday’s centennial. “But we’re also looking to the future. We have
to leave a legacy that we continue to try to fight poverty in this country.
“At
this point, poverty in the United States is up around 14 or 15 percent of our population.
And while that may not sound much in comparison to other countries, it’s still a devastating
experience for the people who are there. And I think in a country as richly blessed
as ours, this should not be acceptable.”