The Catholic philanthropic tradition in America
By: Mary J. Oates.
Series: Philanthropic studies
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 1995
Place of publication: Bloomington
Language: eng
Number of pages: 231
Subjects: Catholic Church -- United States -- Charities -- History.
Description: From their earliest days in America, Catholics organized to initiate and support charitable activities. A rapidly growing church community, although marked by widening church and ethnic differences, developed the extensive network of orphanages, hospitals, schools, and social agencies that came to represent the Catholic way of giving.

But changing economic, political, and social conditions have often provoked sharp debate within the church about the obligation to give, priorities in giving, organization of religious charity, and authority over philanthropic resources. This first history of Catholic philanthropy in the United States chronicles the rich tradition of the church's charitable activities and the increasing tension between centralized control of giving and democratic participation.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 215-222) and index.