Guiding Values and Principles
DIGNITY AND EQUALITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON: All of the humanity possesses a basic dignity and equality that come directly from our creation and not from any action on our own part. All people are created equal and make their own unique contributions to our world. We serve people impartially, particularly those who are the poorest and most vulnerable, according to objective assessments of their situations and needs and the needs they express, irrespective of race, age, sex, physical ability, ethnicity, creed, or political persuasion.
INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: We view development as based on a holistic understanding of the human person, within the context and experience of the family and wider community, embracing emotional, physical, spiritual, psychological, material and economic elements. Wherever we work, we strive for the development of the whole person and the whole community and transform unjust social systems.
At Caritas Cyprus, we work without prejudice, we don’t preach, and we pride ourselves on celebrating diversity. We believe our Christian values are best shown through working for justice and an end to poverty in Cyprus.
COOPERATION AND SUBSIDIARITY: We are committed to authentic cooperation and partnership, characterized by honest feedback, joint planning, accompaniment, transparency, and accountability with a genuine openness and sensitivity to the other’s needs, feelings, expertise, experience, and wisdom. It is based on mutual respect, trust, and goodwill. We believe that a higher level of government or organization should not perform any function or duty that can be handled more effectively at a lower level by people who are closer to the problem and have a better understanding of the issue.
PEACE AND RECONCILIATION: We believe that cultivating a culture and space for peace and reconciliation is crucial to ending violence, relieving the suffering of those affected by conflict, and addressing the causes. In all that we do, we reflect on how we can reinforce this commitment through education, awareness raising, advocacy, dialogue, and conflict-resolution.
PROFESSIONALISM AND HEARTFELT CONCERN: We are committed to improving our work, what we do, and how we do it through continual reflection, capacity-building, monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge management. At the same time, we are also committed to providing services with heartfelt concern, compassion, and a human-centered approach.
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic social teaching is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live out our faith in the world. It is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements around the world. It shines a light on how we should relate to one another, in the family, society, politics, and economics.
Watch a three- minute video on Catholic social teaching developed by one of our Caritas family members, CAFOD:
Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching (PDF) Read more about some of the CST principles which inspire our work: dignity, solidarity, the common good, option for the poor, peace, creation and environment, the dignity of work and participation.
Caritas EUROPA Faith and Action Web Platform This platform provides a space for in-depth interdisciplinary and ecumenical reflection. The focus is on the relationship between the Catholic Church’s praxis and the social thought coming from various Caritas organisations. It allows for practical and academic exchange on how to better develop this relationship for the mutual benefit of all. The platform is designed around concrete urgent social themes, offering serious, respectful and innovative reflections on bridging religious praxis and contemporary societies. Faith and Action offers a forum for the voices of diverse people of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. It offers concrete examples, records current research and assesses the relevant literature.