The agency comes into being at the initiative of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, archbishop of Westminster. It is an amalgamation of the Catholic Agency for Social Concern, the Catholic Child Welfare Council, and the Social Welfare Committee of the Bishops’ Conference.
«In a society marred by deepening division between rich and poor, privileged and excluded, Caritas-Social Action reinforces the Gospel by actualizing the commandment to love or neighbor,» the cardinal said.
Caritas will be the first institution to administer all volunteer sectors and social care on behalf of the Catholic bishops’ conference of England and Wales.
More than 250 people representing all the major Catholic charities, welfare and justice organizations, as well as academics, journalists, members of Parliament, bishops, religious and ecumenical colleagues attended the launch Tuesday.
John Battle, a member of Parliament, was the host of the event. Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor explained the meaning of the initiative.
