Gaudium Et Spes and The Praxis of Charity

GAUDIUM ET SPES AND THE PRAXIS OF CHARITY
Interpreting the Signs of the Times in Our Work to Accompany Families
PATRICK BROWN | BRIAN CORBIN | CYNTHIA DOBRZYNSKI

CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TRADITION CONFERENCE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF GAUDIUM ET SPES

University of Notre Dame, Center for Social Concerns | March 22-24, 2015
ABSTRACT
Throughout its history, Catholic Charities has interpreted the
signs of the times to respond proactively to the causes and
symptoms of families and individuals in need, and in todays
complex and global world, these efforts must more than ever
include a focus on the systemic barriers preventing families
from achieving economic and social stability.
We call for a holistic approach, focused on individual needs

of each clients, and grounded in rigorous social science, and
encourage the Church to heighten its efforts to be a prophetic
witness to more comprehensively and effectively addressing
the griefs and anxieties of those in need.
In this paper, we offer a brief history of our movement and

show that advocacy for charity and justice is at the core of our
identity. We highlight innovative programs that offer models
for a more effective and efficient response to the plight of 45
million Americans in need than our current fragmented and
fraying social safety net. And we offer three policy principles
and five anti-poverty lenses that inform our approach to advocacy, a work that is essential to our identity as workers in the
vineyard of both charity and justice.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA | PAGE 3
INTRODUCTION
The challenges of today are different than those facing the

church and the world 50 years ago, and require a new apThe Church in the Modern World
proach and fresh enthusiasm. We must continue to read the
The joys and the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the men signs of the times and devise forms of assistance and ac[sic] of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way companiment that fit these new needs and realities. Led by
afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxi- the example of Pope Francis, challenged by the legacy of a
eties of the followers of Christ. So begins Gaudium et Spes, War on Poverty launched over 50 years ago, driven by the
laying out the challenge to be taken up by those who would unacceptable reality of 45 million Americans in need, and
follow Christ; when one member of our human family suffers, inspired by the life-changing work our agencies are accomplishing every day, CCUSA wants to be involved in new converthe whole body suffers.
sations about meeting the needs of families and individuals.
In the international development sphere, the material deprivations and abject poverty provide a vivid picture of what it In this time of tremendous focus on the needs of the family,
means to be hungry, thirsty, naked, or without shelter. Catholic and responding to the remarkable changes in social strucRelief Services is on the front lines of responding to the needs tures that have dramatically altered what families look like
of those in developing nations. But here at home, in this land and are in need of, our society needs to re-commit to supof plenty, far too many of our neighbors go to sleep on an porting the family, what Gaudium et Spes calls the school of
empty stomach, without means of supporting themselves or humanity. Based on the local realities witnessed by Catholic
their families, abandoned and alone, or otherwise unable to Charities agencies every day, and grounded in rigorous social
science, the Churchs unique and vital voice can encourage
pursue their full God-given potential.
society to address more comprehensively and effectively the
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), as the national representa- griefs and anxieties of those in need. To build a society that
tive of the Churchs social services agencies accompanying is more just and charitable, we must constantly analyze the
the poor in communities across America, has a special call micro- and macro-level problems in our own culture, and adto understand and address the systemic barriers that prevent dress the unique challenges facing families in our own counour nation and society from building a social order that is try and in our own time. In this work, we suggest three policy
more just. Throughout our history, we have engaged people of principles and five lenses of understanding and approaching
good will to respond to the poverty that is as if Christ Himself meaningful and long-lasting reform of our anti-poverty system.
were crying out in these poor. In communities across America, local Catholic Charities agencies and programs continue
this work, accompanying families and individuals in need. But
in order to live out our dual mission of charity and justice, we
must also address the root causes that are keeping so many
families trapped in poverty.
PAGE 4 | CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA
In 1910, the National Conference of Catholic Charities

(NCCC) was founded on the campus of The Catholic UniversiIn addition to representing our member agencies on the
ty of America in Washington, D.C., to provide a national forum
national level, Catholic Charities USA has a long history of
for discussion, social work best practices, and addressing
engaging with elected officials, researchers, political leaders,
the systemic causes of poverty and destitution in the United
and all those of good will to build a stronger society that fully
States. At that Charter meeting, Catholic Charities declared
acknowledges and supports the inherent dignity of all, espeitself to be the attorney for the poor. This aspiration and
cially those on the margins of society. The organizations vision
insight leads our work today.
statement provides an apt summary of this legacy of service
and advocacy:
As Catholics became part of the American mainstream, the
work of Catholic social services agencies expanded to include
Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proall suffering from exclusion, disability, or economic or social
claim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the
deprivation, regardless of race, creed, or social background.
person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the
Understanding the need to address the causes of poverty, in
Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with indiaddition to its effects, the NCCC played a significant role in
viduals, families, and communities to help them meet
the shaping of social welfare legislation such as the National
their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression,
Housing
Act of 1934 and 1935s Social Security Act, specifand build a just and compassionate society.5
ically in the development of Aid to Dependent Children and
Child Welfare Services.
Throughout its history, Catholic Charities in the United States
has lived out its identity of being the hands of the Church minIn 1969, inspired in part by the summons of Gaudium et Spes
istering to the wounds of Christ personified in the lives of the
to live out the Churchs duty of scrutinizing the signs of the
poor and marginalized. Starting in 1727, with French Ursuline
times [and] interpreting them in the light of the Gospel, the
Sisters in what is now the Ninth Ward of New Orleans offering
NCCC launched a process of reflection on the work and minshelter to widows and orphaned children, Catholic social seristry of Catholic Charities, culminating in Toward A Renewed
vices have been woven into the fabric of our country.6
Catholic Charities Movement, a document that would beThe vast majority of those receiving services from Catholic come known as the Cadre Study. The document reoriented the
charitable organizations in the early years of our nation were mission of the national Catholic Charities network to promithemselves Catholic. In 1866, the bishops of the United nently take up the roles of social action, legislative advocacy,
States noted the large number of Catholics imprisoned and and convening.
A Legacy of Scrutinizing the Signs of the Times
destitute in a pastoral letter, specifically referencing the Irish

newcomers which made up the majority of delinquent youth
in American cities. It is a melancholy fact, and a very humiliating avowal for us to make, that a very large portion of the
vicious and idle youth of our principle cities are the children
of Catholic parents.7
The Cadre Study focused on the mandate for renewal of various institutions in the church and the challenges being made
to nearly all institutions in society. The document reflected
upon the fact that not only were society and the Church
changing, but also that the very structure and fabric of social
work practices and agencies was the subject of massive demands for a new orientation toward action and away from direct service. From then on, the Catholic Charities movement
has strived towards living out its mission statement in every
aspect of its responsibilities and actions, to provide services
to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures,
and to call the entire church and other people of good will to
do the same.
One key element to the second concept of advocacy focuses
on our ability as a movement and as a Church to not only
advocate for justice in social structures, but to actually work
to transform and humanize them. This element grew in tandem with the work of the U.S. Catholic Bishops anti-poverty
program, The Catholic Campaign for Human Development
(CCHD) which engaged the Church with many local Catholic
Charities agencies on the forefront in community organizing
and community economic development.
ment to responding to the needs of families and society in

our own country and in our own time, and adjusting our approach and efforts to address contemporary challenges. We
are committed to accompanying those in need on their path
out of poverty, and to using their stories and insights to work
with government leaders and other sectors to build a more
compassionate response. Addressing the challenges of today
through the lens of social work, policy analysis, and our Catholic identity isnt a new responsibility for Catholic Charities; it
is central, and essential, to our work.
The Familyis the Foundation of Society

We have seen that Catholic Charities USAs history and legacy compels us to address the systemic roots of the problem
of poverty that leaves 45 million Americans at or below the
federal poverty line.10 In these efforts, we must start with the
fundamental building-block of society the family.
Gaudium et Spes aptly summarizes why supporting the family

must be at the center of our work to reduce poverty: The
family, in which the various generations come together and
help one another grow wiser and harmonize personal rights
with the other requirements of social life, is the foundation
Beginning in 1993, the Vision 2000 Task Force began its
of society.11 Through a gift of mutual self-bestowal, parents
work of redefining and developing a strategic plan that would
become living examples of Christs love for each other and for
allow the organization, now called Catholic Charities USA, to
their children. In family life, children are introduced to the valface the challenges of the new century. The Vision 2000 docues of patience, kindness, self-sacrifice, humility, faith, hope,
ument called upon the church and others to continue to read
and charity; families provide parents the opportunity to raise
the signs of the times and engage in charitable and social
new citizens and children of God. Marriage and the family
justice action.
are the central social institutions that must be supported and
strengthened, not undermined. Therefore, our work to reduce
Taken as a whole, the Catholic Charities network has a long
poverty must have at its center the importance of supporting
history of not only serving those in need, but engaging in
the family, especially ones in need.
discussion, thought, and action to make our nation a more
just and compassionate society. Our history shows a commit-
The challenges facing families have never been so diverse and

pervasive. For many, the lack of stable employment means
that economically providing for a stable family life remains
out of reach. The fraying of the social contract means that
the institutions and bonds that families used to be able to
rely on for support are increasingly leaving them on their own.
Changes in cultural and social norms mean that children are
more likely to grow up without the love and support of both
biological parents and children in low-income families, who
need that support most of all, are disproportionately impacted
by the breakdown of strong family life.
A) Education and training
Students in community college often drop out of school for

reasons that have nothing to do with performance in the
classroom, yet a college degree is increasingly important in
achieving economic security. To respond to the challenges
that life throws at at-risk and low-income students, Catholic
Charities Fort Worth developed the Stay the Course program,
which offers comprehensive case management to address the
students challenges. Through a partnership with the University of Notre Dames Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, the program is engaged in rigorous analysis of the
impact and scalability of its offerings. In addition, early childhood and elementary education is a vital ladder to opporCatholic Charities and Supporting A School of
tunity that many Catholic Charities provide and supplement
Deeper Humanity
through Head Start or Head Start-like programs. In 2013, over
57,000
children benefitted from the education programs ofRecognizing the importance of the family, Catholic Charities
agencies are involved in pioneering programs that help ad- fered by Catholic Charities agencies.
dress challenges and threats to families social and economic
security. The five pillars of our campaign to reduce poverty
in America are each grounded in our agencies daily work to
accompany families on their journey out of poverty.
Addressing the economic challenges facing families needs

means addressing the areas of: A) education and training, B)
family economic security, C) food insecurity, D) housing, and
E) health care, all within a special focus of carefully understanding the needs of populations who are in need of special
care. What follows are brief examples of how Catholic Charities agencies are walking alongside families in communities
across America.
B) Family economic security
C) Food insecurity
Catholic Social and Community Services, Biloxi, Mississippi, is

providing opportunities for homeless people in their community. In partnership with Back Bay Mission homeless service
center, Catholic Social and Community Services, interviewed
and hired a client from Back Bays shelter program to work at
their Twelve Baskets Food Bank. While employed and receiving
job training at Catholic Social and Community Services, the
client also receives case management from Back Bay Mission.
As a result the client is now in stable housing and will become
a permanent employee of Catholic Social and Community Some of the biggest obstacles reported by agencies supporting
Services later this year. Once fully employed, the client will rural areas are a lack of access to transportation and, as a
act as a mentor to the next person to come into this program. result, the inability to access available services. In response,
agencies such as Catholic Charities Bureau in Lake City, Florida, are meeting the needs of the rural poor by bringing the
services to them. Because of the transportation barriers facing
this wide-spread and economically-disadvantaged community,
fresh foods are often difficult to come by. With the help of a
refrigerated truck, Catholic Charities Bureaus FeedA- Family
program is addressing the needs of this underserved, rural
community by delivering frozen, canned, and fresh foods to
them.
On another level, various Catholic Charities agencies work
with their refugee and immigrant communities to access
needed credit in the banking system in order to stabilize their
lives and garner access to financial services. Recently a new
partnership is emerging with the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions to serve this population.
This effort harkens back to an earlier era wherein parishes
and Catholic fraternal institutions designed credit unions to
support their members.
Likewise, Crisp!, a mobile food distribution network operated

by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, enables
low-income families to obtain affordable and fresh produce to
support their childrens development and health. Crisp! offers
an affordable convenient way for food desert communities,
and other Chicago neighborhoods without the luxury of having
a mobile grocer, to access healthy food.
D) Housing
E) Health care
Launched in 2009 by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of

Indianapolis, the Holy Family Shelter helps homeless individuals transition in place by emphasizing ongoing supportive
case management services. With an initial goal of transitioning
25 families each year out of homelessness, the Holy Family
Transitional Services program now helps 30 families annually
move into stable, long-term housing. Over the years, Catholic
Charities agencies around the United States have employed
private capital markets to develop permanent and transitional
housing through Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Last year,
Catholic Charities agencies provided over 33,500 permanent
affordable housing units to stabilize families needing a roof
over their heads.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, is working to

increase collaboration and decrease service gaps across government health systems, particularly as it relates to their work
with vulnerable youth. With the help of a grant through Ohios
Strong Families Safe Communities initiative, and through

partnerships with government agencies and community
based programs, Catholic Charities has been able to begin
breaking down some of these silos to provide on-call crisis intervention, respite services in specialized foster homes, family
support groups, and training for rst responders. Through intensive wrap-around services and community based training,
this program provides potentially lifesaving services to ensure
that these vulnerable youth do not fall through the cracks.
Special Populations
There are subsets of the population living in poverty that require our special care and attention, such as pregnant women
and young families, youth, seniors, veterans, prisoners re-entering society, migrants, immigrants, refugees and trafficked
persons. Most recently, the plight of immigrant children and
families seeking a better life in the United States has been the
subject of much coverage and some controversy. The Catholic
Charities network has been on the front lines of responding
to their plight, following the commission to love the alien as
yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt.13
In Brownsville, Texas, Sr. Norma Pimentel and Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley set up a welcome shelter to
tend to the needs of exhausted refugee children and families during last summers humanitarian crisis on our southern
border. In the midst of political disagreement about the fate
of these children, Catholic Charities agencies in places like
Richmond, Virginia, San Jose, California, Rochester, New York,
and others, volunteered to provide foster care services to unaccompanied minors, many of whom crossed the border with
nothing more than the clothes on their back.
to strategically and comprehensively support pregnant young

women, especially those in crisis pregnancies, to sustain them
through childbirth and the construction of a nurturing home
environment. PrePareS promotes the health and wellbeing of
women, children and families through counseling, education
and supportive services, and seeks to facilitate healthy social
and emotional development for each child. It also lives out
in a tangible way the Churchs commitment to the protection
of all human life and is a powerful example of cross-agency
collaboration and our networks commitment to advancing authentic human dignity.
Innovative Programs
In addition to the five pillars of our ongoing campaign to
reduce poverty in America, CCUSA supports the innovative
work of our agencies to comprehensively and holistically address the issues keeping families from escaping poverty. One
such endeavor is the Padua initiative being piloted by Catholic Charities Fort Worth, which is devoting a team of case
managers to provide intensive and targeted intervention to
address each familys unique situation and challenges. The pilot project, which includes an individualized strengths-based
asset plan, community support, and rigorous impact evaluation through Notre Dames Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic
Opportunities, will serve approximately 200 families over the
next three to five years and has game-changing potential in
addressing the unique challenges facing families.
50 Years Later, How Best to Foster the Nobility of

Marriage and the Family
These programs are doing heroic work. They are pioneering
successful approaches to the micro-level challenges facing
families in need. But in order to break the cycle of poverty that
grips so many in our nation, we need a renewed commitment
to address the deeper, macro-level causes that leave so many
families broken, left behind, or in need.
During the preparation of Gaudium et Spes, the Second Vatican Council was writing at a time of profound and rapid
changes. The advent of the sexual revolution, a fracturing consensus on the importance of marriage and the family, and a
global struggle between capitalism and communism were the
backdrop against which the Councils work was being done.
Another untraditional approach in serving families in need is The challenges we face today as a Church and social movebeing pioneered in Washington state as part of a program ment are different, but in many ways related to, or the result of,
being spearheaded by the State Catholic Conference of Wash- the changes the Council was responding to in 1965.
ington, the dioceses of Seattle, Spokane, and Yakima and
each dioceses Catholic Charities agencies, and with support Fifty years later, progress has been made on our journey tofrom the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Pregnancy wards a society built on justice and compassion. Race reand Parenting Support for All (PrePareS) brings together holistic lations and civil rights have vastly improved since the midsocial services and pregnancy and parenting support services 1960s, and we no longer live under the imminent threat of
thermonuclear war. The unique gifts of women are now more

widely recognized, and technological advancements have increased our ability to cure disease and build communities
even across geographical distances.
moving out of poverty at the broadest level, Pope Francis

has talked about a culture of exclusion that prevents the
poor and marginalized from being welcomed into the broader
community.18
At the same time, the economic pressures and social changes

have brought new challenges to bear on families and individuals in need. The hollowing out of the American middle class
has been the result of many factors, including the decline in
manufacturing jobs, increased segregation along socio-economic lines, a widening gap between the incomes of high
earners and those in moderate-to-low income households,
and economic pressures that often force both parents into the
workforce just to make ends meet. Put simply, our globalized,
fast-paced economy no longer values the domestic sphere,
and only those already blessed with the means to thrive are
reliably able to count on the support of a strong family unit.
Marriage, according to Lerman and Wilcox (2014), is increasingly an upper-class phenomenon.15
These barriers range from the small-scale to the global. Conservative researchers and policymakers have talked about
regressive burdens like excessive licensure laws that prevent
low-income individuals from achieving an economic foothold
with a job that could lead to greater self-sufficiency.19 On the
liberal side of the aisle, observers have pinpointed a federal
minimum wage that leaves many families on the brink of economic disaster, and corporate policies and procedures that
dehumanize workers and contribute to instability.20
Other barriers that contribute to an economy of exclusion,
[or] throwaway culture include lingering racial inequities 50
years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, businesses like
payday lenders and slumlords who make their living by preying on low-income households, and more global threats, such
as climate change, which could most heavily impact those
who dont have the resources to adjust to dramatic changes.
Pope Paul VI told us Every attack on the fundamental value of

the familyis an attack on the true good of man.16 Respecting
the human dignity of every one of our brothers and sisters,
regardless of background or situation, means committing to Not all of these problems are solvable in the near-term in
reversing this trend.
fact, many of them will be the work of lifetimes. They are
entrenched, interwoven, and require concerted effort to reIn low-income and at-risk communities, in addition to falling form. Nonetheless, to serve those in need without working
rates of marriage and increasing rates of children born out- for justice would be to live out our mission with one hand
side of marriage, the problems are compounded by skyrock- tied behind our back. Gaudium et Spes echoes this concern:
eting incarceration rates, punitive welfare reform components, The Church and the political community in their own fields
and regressive implicit marginal tax rates which keep people are autonomous and independent from each other. Yet the
trapped in poverty. Researchers have found that the impact more that both foster sounder cooperation between themof this latest recession hit low- and middle-income families, selves with due consideration for the circumstances of time
particularly men, harder than previous recessions.17 There are and place, the more effective will their service be exercised
many systemic barriers that keep people and families from for the good of all.21
Like Isaiah, we are charged with the responsibility to bring

good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners.22
Therefore, to truly address the systemic causes of poverty, as
we believe is a vital component of our role, we suggest the
following three public policy principles in understanding and
addressing poverty in America.
Three Public Policy Principles: Holistic, Client-Focused, and Results-Driven

As part of CCUSAs centennial celebration, the organization
held a number of regional listening sessions or poverty
summits to better understand and synthesize the challenges
facing low-income individuals and families. We also compiled
the latest strategies being pioneered by our member agencies to assist them on their journey. The lessons learned were
turned into a piece of legislation that was introduced into
Congress, but fell victim to partisan gridlock. However, these
three focus areas, based on the lived experience of our member agencies, remain our guiding principles in advocating for
a stronger response to the problem of poverty in America and
build opportunities for families to thrive. They are:
1) Holistic
The current system of fighting poverty was developed
in an era of slide rules and electric typewriters. While
we have tinkered with the social safety net over the last
51 years, our national approach is still largely dictated by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., removed from
the daily realities facing families and communities. Any
meaningful reform should look at the system as a whole,
break down bureaucratic silos that hinder effectiveness,
and support the formation of strong families as the basic building-block of a healthy society.
2) Client-focused
Truly ending poverty starts with recognizing the dignity inherent in every person, and building from their
strengths and assets. Utilizing a case management approach, attacking the unique problems trapping each
individual and family in poverty, and stabilizing those in
need before they are at-risk, as opposed to after they
have already fallen into poverty, requires leveraging federal, state, and community resources in the manner that
will be most effective, efficient, and targeted in breaking through the barriers keeping people in poverty from
achieving their potential.
3) Results-driven
In order to invest in what works, we need to know what
in fact does work. While the ministry of charity will continue for as long as the poor are with us, effectively addressing the structural and personal challenges impacting families in need requires rigorous, impartial analysis
of our strategies and programs. Our partnership with
the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities is
testament to our belief in the importance of evaluation
and commitment to supporting measurement and using
those results to not only scale up existing programs, but
work with policymakers to craft safety-net programs
based on examples that have been proven to work.
These three principles guide our work; they set forward an ideal
direction but do not preclude us from engaging in discussions
about different perspectives or approaches. As Congress and
state governments pursue reform of our social service programs,
we encourage them to keep in mind these policy principles, as
well as the four fundamental pillars of Catholic Social Doctrine:
subsidiarity, solidarity, respect for the common good, and the
essential dignity of the human person.
Joy and Hope for a World in Need
Whether providing housing for the widowed and orphaned in

18th-century New Orleans, ensuring immigrants in 19th-century New York didnt go hungry, or working to assist those impacted by outsourcing in the 20th-century Rust Belt, Catholic
Charities has adapted to meet families and individuals where
they are and accompany them on their journey.
The recent Extraordinary Synod on the Families addressed

many of these same questions about how to strengthen the
family, including the Churchs need to denounce with clarity
cultural, social, political and economic factors, such as the
excessive importance given to market logic, that prevent authentic family life and lead to discrimination, poverty, exclu- Saint Pope John Paul II wrote that the Church must be continually encouraging authentic human dignity, the value of work,
sion, and violence.23
and standing in solidarity with those in need, The Church is
The Synod bishops recognized that material poverty often pre- firmly committed to this cause, for she considers it her misvents couples from forming the supportive bonds of family, sion, her service, a proof of her fidelity to Christ, so that she
and that in many marginalized, disenfranchised, or low-in- can truly be the Church of the poor.25
come families, the fruit of poverty and unemployment is a
feeling of isolation. They wrote, One symptom of the great Now, faced with ever-more-complex and globalized challenges,
poverty of contemporary culture is loneliness, arising from the the need to continue walking along side those in need while
absence of God in a persons life and the fragility of relation- working to address the deeper causes of poverty and want
ships. There is also a general feeling of powerlessness in the has never been more important. The efforts of Catholic Charface of socio-cultural realities that oftentimes end in crushing ities, and the Church, must now more include a focus on the
families.24 Our agencies see this reality every day; oftentimes, systemic barriers preventing families from achieving economthe presence of a supportive family member, friend, or men- ic and social stability. Our mission of spreading gaudium and
tor can be the difference that helps someone surmount the spes to those in desperate need of joy and hope is not someobstacles that had been trapping them in a life of materi- thing that is limited to the Catholic Charities network, but to
al and spiritual poverty. These are not issues limited to the the whole body of Christ, The spirit of poverty and charity are
poor middle-class and even high-income families struggle the glory and witness of the Church of Christ.26
with these pressures. Far from being extraneous to the work of
Catholic Charities, addressing the systemic challenges facing The Lord hears the cry of the poor; can we do any less? The
griefs and anxieties of those in need are summoning us to
all families is a vital part of our mission.
action; as members of one human family, as brothers and
Throughout its history, Catholic Charities in the United States sisters in Christ, we must respond.
have lived out this call interpreting, as Gaudium et Spes
calls us to do, the signs of the times to respond in the manner most appropriate to the challenges of the present day.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Brian Corbin
Senior Vice President for Social Policy
Catholic Charities USA
He has studied philosophy and politics at the Catholic

University of America (BA, 1984), political economy at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and organizational
leadership at Youngstown State University. He is also a
Knight of the Holy Sepulcher.
Cynthia Dobryznski
Senior Vice President for Mission and Ministry
She has studied theology and psychology at Georgetown

University (BA) and pastoral ministry at Boston College (MA).
She is the co-author of Love One Another: Catholic Reflections on How to Sustain Marriages Today (New York: Crossroad Pub. Co, 2010).
Patrick Brown
Manager, Communications and Partnerships
He studied economics and political science at the University

of Notre Dame (BA, 2011).
Pope Paul VI. Pastoral Constitution on the

Church in the Modern World - Gaudium et
Spes. 1 Vatican: the Holy See. Rome, 7
Dec. 1965.
Gaudium et Spes. 88
Gaudium et Spes. 4
Gaudium et Spes. 52
Catholic Charities USA vision statement.
Gaudium et Spes. 52
11
United States Conference of Catholic

Bishops. Seven Themes from Catholic
Social Teaching. < www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching.cfm > Washington, DC:
2005.
12
Leviticus 19:34
13
Gaudium et Spes. 4
Portions of the following section are heavily

taken from Catholic in Charity and Identity, 15Robert I. Lerman and W. Bradford Wilcox.
published in 2010 by Catholic Charities USA. For Richer, For Poorer: How Family Structures
Economic Success in America. Institute for
7
Second Plenary Council of Baltimore, Pasto- Family Studies/American Enterprise Institute. October 2014.
ral Letter. Baltimore, Md. October 1866.
Gaudium et Spes. 4
Pope Paul VI, Message for the World Social

Communication Day. Vatican: the Holy See.
Rome, 7 Apr 1969.
16
Cadre Study (Toward a Renewed Catholic

Charities Movement: A Study of the National
17
Monique Jethwani, Serena Klempin, and
Conference of Catholic Charities.) WashingRonald
Mincy. What the Recession Did to
ton: National Conference of Catholic ChariAmerican
Fathers. The Atlantic Monthly. 6
ties, 1972.
Jan 2015.
9
U.S. Census Bureau. Income and Poverty

in the United States: 2013 Current Population Reports. Washington, DC: September
2014.
Sharon Parrott, Arloc Sherman, and Danilo Trisi. The War on Poverty at 50, Overview.
<http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=4069> Center on Budget and
Policy Priorities. Washington, DC: 7 Jan 2014.
20
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Gaudium Et Spes and The Praxis of Charity

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GAUDIUM ET SPES AND THE PRAXIS OF CHARITY

Interpreting the Signs of the Times in Our Work to Accompany Families

PATRICK BROWN | BRIAN CORBIN | CYNTHIA DOBRZYNSKI

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TRADITION CONFERENCE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF GAUDIUM ET SPES

Interpreting the Signs of the Times in Our Work to Accompany Families

We call for a holistic approach, focused on individual needs

In this paper, we offer a brief history of our movement and

CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA | PAGE 3