Public Policy

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Catholic Relief Services complements and enhances its humanitarian and development programming by addressing the systems and structures that affect those efforts, advocating for stronger and more effective policies to address the needs of the world's most vulnerable. Meeting the basic needs of survival and human dignity through sound and robustly funded foreign assistance is critical if we are to realize a world with stability, peace and prosperity. Our policy and advocacy work is evidence-based and verified by drawing from the breadth and depth of our programs in more than 100 countries around the world.

CRS examines the issues that are dramatically impacting the safety and well-being of poor and vulnerable people worldwide. Our work is based on the principles of Catholic social teaching, with primary focus on protection of the dignity of the human person. With that in mind, our advocacy engages the U.S. government to advance the following principles:

  1. Elevate a principled approach to foreign assistance.
  2. Uphold human dignity and defend humanitarian principles.
  3. Engage and strengthen local leadership.
  4. Promote the value of faith-based organizations.
  5. Enable effective and efficient assistance delivery.

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Learn more with CRS Research & Publications, CRS Media Center, and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).