11.1: Catholic Action against PovertyCatholics are to help the poor both at their own and other countries. They can do this in a number of ways. Firstly, there is political action for the cause of justice. Catholics should vote for political parties which will act justly in the world. For instance, if a party is not committed to trading fairly with the underdeveloped countries, no Catholic should support it. Catholics should also press their politicians to act in support of justice in the world. For example, many countries are so heavily in debt to European and American banks that they cannot feed their people and develop themselves. Catholics, along with other concerned people, have pressed that the debt be wiped out. Secondly, Catholics are encouraged to buy and invest ethically. They should not invest their money in firms which act in an unjust way to the poor. If possible they should not purchase goods from such firms, so that these firms will be pressurised to change their behaviour. Catholics and people of similar persuasion will sometimes buy from organisations such as Tradecraft, which sell goods made by the Third World Poor and give them a fair price for their goods. Thirdly Catholics will support the work of charitable organisations, such as Cafod and Christian Aid. Some will merely give money, but others will go as volunteers to work in underdeveloped places. Task RC 1
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Cafod is the official arm of the Catholic Church working for charity in underdeveloped lands. It is one of the most efficient aid organisations, because it uses existing church organisation for its activities, and thus has minimum administration costs, so much more of its money can go to Third World people. Cafods aim is to help the poor to help themselves. It does the following things:
Visit the Cafod site on the Intranet Task RC 3
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