Catholic charities are playing an increasingly important role in the life of the Church and, with the decline of local government services, in society at large. This is a key conclusion of a new report by the Theos think tank, which outlines (below) its findings on how charities embody Catholic Social Teaching

The Catholic charitable sector in the UK is enormous. From diocesan charities to those run by religious orders, from social action charities to education organisations, the Church is making a substantial contribution to the life of the nation. Yet there is a major issue as to what really counts as a Catholic charity.

The Church insists charities using the description “Catholic” have a licence from their bishop to do so. There are, however, a great many charities which do not choose – or are ineligible – to be called Catholic, but that continue to claim a Catholic inspiration. In addition, there is a significant quantity of charitable work which does not come under the umbrella of a registered charity but involves activity, perhaps within a parish setting, that goes under the radar.