Charity embracing justice is legacy of religious orders, says nun

Published: 2008-02-27

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The legacy of religious orders is one of charity embracing justice, according to Sister Margaret John Kelly, a Daughter of Charity. Congregations of men and women religious "quarried, carried and polished the stones which have helped to build the marvelous and massive organization of Catholic Charities." Sister Margaret is a lecturer and writer on health and human services issues and former provincial superior of the northeast province of the Daughters of Charity. She spoke at a Feb. 21 luncheon honoring religious orders for their charitable contributions to the poor and vulnerable of New York. The event was sponsored by Catholic Charities to celebrate the bicentennial of the Archdiocese of New York. It was held at the archdiocesan Catholic Center. Sister Margaret said the legacy of the religious congregations in New York "gathered energy as it moved from the hovels and points of entry in the 19th century to the halls and courts of power in our 21st century and from the provision of custodial care to sophisticated approaches to advocacy."

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .