Serving Everyone...EVEN Catholics

You may not have noticed the subtle new addition to our Catholic Charities tagline, "Serving All." For many years now we have simply stated that the purpose of the work that we do is to "Provide Help and Create Hope." This mission remains the same as does the fact that this help and hope is offered to anyone, regardless of race, creed, color, or any other distinction except to be a person in need.

However, the most common misconception about Catholic Charities continues to be that you have to be Catholic to receive our services. This has never been the case and never will be! Sometimes we even say in jest, "we serve everyone... EVEN Catholics."
 
We serve everyone because WE are Catholic, not because our clients are or are not. Our faith compels us to, as Jesus taught us, to regard every human being as a child made in the image and likeness of God and is therefore entitled to our care and concern. The very first tenant of Catholic Social Teaching is the recognition of the inherent dignity of the human person. It is the high regard for all of human life that drives us to seek out the lost and forgotten.

The fact is that most of the time we have no idea about the faith tradition of those we serve. We simply act in such a way that we hope and pray they will have an experience - an encounter - with the Living God, through our staff and volunteers. 

Catholic Charities - Providing Help. Creating Hope. Serving All.

Peace,
David Siler
Executive Director, Catholic Charities at Archdiocese of Indianapolis