ABSTRACT

The commandment to love God and thy neighbour has inspired Christian communities over the centuries to organise countless efforts to care for poor and vulnerable members of society. Since its inception, the Catholic Church has made caring for the poor one of its central activities as lay and religious men and women have organised charity through Catholic parishes throughout the world. As a global institution, the Catholic Church’s charitable and social welfare functions have touched nearly every corner of the world, and in doing so, it has influenced and been influenced by many other faith-based and secular partners in addressing human need, including the profession of social work.