Caritas Iraq
Part A:
Caritas is a catholic organization that reflects the Church's core teaching values, by using inspiration from the Gospels to help people in poverty, violent situations and war zones. Caritas strives to build a world where others act when people are in starving, in poverty or are in dangerous situations by lending them a helping hand to provide food, water and other basic necessities. Caritas Aotearoa is now partnering with Caritas Iraq to assist with the Iraq crisis happening at the moment. Caritas Iraq was originally founded in 1992, to help those who were affected by the war. Since then, Iraq has been raided by a group called the 'Islamic State' (ISIS), who force the people living in Iraq to either; convert to the Islamic…show more content… Common Good for all people means that 'working for the good of all - he painga mā te katoa, and respecting the rights and responsibilities of all people.'. Caritas shows this by taking steps that will make sure all people, who are in bad situations (involving ISIS), will have a positive benefit through Caritas's work, and tries to make sure all people are cared for, through the work of the whole community. This does not mean that only the people affected would help, but that the Iraqi community around the world would see the need of their people, and respond. This would mean that another principal from the Catholic social teaching would need to be recognized - participation. ‘Participation is a duty to be fulfilled consciously by all, with responsibility and with a view to the common good.’ Caritas makes sure that all people who wish to participate in any projects, including the Iraq crisis, are able to, by giving donations, or signing up to volunteer. Also, Caritas encourages the public to get involved in any situations where people are troubled due to violence or injustice, as we are all one community on earth. This idea is called Solidarity and is another of the Catholic social principles that Caritas follows. Solidarity is the idea that ‘We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be.’ Solidarity reminds us of the 10 Commandments, where God told Moses that we must love our neighbour as we love ourselves. By promoting solidarity and participation, Caritas is able to carry out large projects, like providing basic necessities for the people in Iraq, and finding shelters for them to stay at, due to the donations sent in by the public. Another form of participation is fundraising for a Caritas project, which not only raises money