Cardinal Stresses Training for Charity Workers

(November 14, 2009) The struggle against poverty must go beyond simply pursuing working goals; it must also include forming the heart, says the president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. Cardinal Paul Cordes explained this in an interview with L'Osservatore Romano, in which he spoke about the objectives of the council's 28th plenary assembly currently under way in Rome. Our goal, he said, is to find ways of forming those who work for charity groups. He noted that for this reflection, members are basing themselves in the words of Pope Benedict XVI, who, in his encyclical "Deus Caritas Est," stressed the importance of "formation of the heart." Attending the meeting, which began Thursday and will end Saturday, are members of the council, some cardinals and bishops from various parts of the world, and representatives of Catholic charitable organizations such as Manos Unidas, Caritas, and Aid to the Church in Need. The cardinal stated, "Up to now, reflection on the struggle against poverty was focused solely on the perspective of the objectives to be pursued in the charitable endeavour." Now, he said, "we want to overcome this limitation and concentrate on the human and spiritual quality of all those who work in Catholic charitable agencies, whether they are professionals or volunteers." The prelate explained that this is due to the desire of responding concretely to the Pope's suggestion and putting the emphasis on "grass roots formative processes that must be carried out for the preparation of our agents." The Church's commitment in the world of charity is very great and represents "a concrete testimony that opens the doors of many hearts," noted Cardinal Cordes. "Precisely because of this," he added, "it is essential that those who work in this sector do so with criteria that is not just humane but also professional, and that they be motivated by the faith."