EUROPE/SPAIN - Fight against poverty and social exclusion: commitment by Caritas and Bishops

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – “The Government has a duty to increase resources for social services for the most vulnerable,” stated the Secretary General of Caritas in Spain, Sebastian Mora, at the end of the 67th Annual Assembly in El Escorial. At the same time, Caritas warns “that the help that Caritas can give has its limits. In fact they are outdated and, given the cutbacks in public funding, will be even more so.”
The Spanish Bishops' Conference has given Caritas, through its General Secretary, Mons. Juan Antonio Martinez Camino, a contribution of EUR 4 million. At the recent Plenary Assembly of the CEE, held in November 2010, the Spanish Bishops had decided to increase their financial cooperation with Caritas. They donated EUR 4 million, instead of the 2.9 given last year, equivalent to 1.62% of the inter-diocesan joint Fund. It is the third consecutive year that the Episcopal Conference made the decision to donate a percentage of the inter-diocesan joint Fund for crisis response plans developed by the various diocesan Caritas organisations throughout the Country. Bishop Martínez Camino said that “Caritas is the Church in the role of its function and mission of Christian solidarity. It is not an NGO, but rather it is the Catholic Church in the exercise of charity to which the Lord calls all Christians.” (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 22/02/2011)