MANDATE OF THE BISHOPS COMMISSION FOR CARITAS AUSTRALIA (the Commission)
5 September 2006
PREAMBLE
“Jesus stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.(Luke 4: 16-19, 21)Inspired by this proclamation Caritas Australia strives to build a civilization without exclusion, discrimination, violence, intolerance and dehumanizing poverty.
1. Membership and Meetings
1.1 The Bishops Commission for Caritas Australia shall comprise three bishops as determined by the Conference by-laws.
1.2 The Commission shall meet at least four times each year at a time and place determined by the Chairman of the Commission.
2. Areas of Responsibility
The Commission promotes the life and mission of the Catholic Church in Australia through:
2.1 oversight of the Church's delivery of international aid and development as implemented by Caritas Australia,
2.2 providing leadership to the Catholic community on International issues.
3. Particular Functions
In particular, the Commission performs the following functions:
3.1 monitors the activity of Caritas Australia in the provision of international aid and development
3.2 develops national policies in specific areas of its responsibility as approved or requested by the Conference.
3.3 undertakes public and private advocacy, in accordance with Conference policy, in support of the work of Caritas Australia in the provision of international aid and development
3.4 undertakes such specific projects as the Conference may, from time to time, approve or request.
4. Advisory Role
The Commission advises the Bishops and the Conference on issues that arise in the areas of its responsibility and, where appropriate, makes recommendations for action that might be undertaken at a national level.
5. Advisory Bodies
The Commission establishes, in accordance with the mandate in Schedule 1, the following advisory body to assist it in its responsibilities::
5.1 Caritas Australia National Council
6. Relations
6.1 Through Caritas Australia the National Office maintains formal relations with:
6.1.1 The National Council of Caritas Australia
6.1.2 The Commonwealth Government, The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), Caritas Internationalis (CI), and other entities as deemed appropriate
6.2 The Commission maintains informal relations with any appropriate organisations as the Commission sees fit in order to carry out the work
7. Offices
The Commission supervises the work of the following offices in accordance with the mandates detailed in Schedule 2.
7.1 Caritas Australia
8. Secretariat
The Secretariat for Caritas assists the Commission in fulfilling its tasks.
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