Founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 110 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Catholic Relief Services is headquartered in the Posner Building in Baltimore, Maryland, while operating numerous field offices on five continents.
A confluence of events in the mid 1950s—the end of colonial rule in many countries, the continuing support of the American Catholic community and the availability of food and financial resources from the U.S. Government—helped CRS expand operations.
Its name was officially changed to Catholic Relief Services in 1955, and over the next 10 years it opened 25 country programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
[5] One of the key relief workers in those early years was Father Fabian Flynn, CP, who directed their efforts in Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
[6] As the agency grew, its programming focus widened, adapting to meet the needs of the post-World War II Catholic Church and the circumstances of the people it encountered.
Soon after, the 1994 massacre in Rwanda – in which more than 800,000 people were killed – led CRS staff to reevaluate how they implemented their relief and development programs, particularly in places experiencing or at high risk of ethnic conflict.
After a period of institutional reflection, CRS embraced a vision of global solidarity and incorporated a justice-centered focus into all of its programming, using Catholic social teaching as a guide.
In 2019, CRS released its new agency strategy, Vision 2030,[7] centered around upholding human dignity by cultivating just and peaceful societies, accelerating the end of poverty, hunger, and preventable diseases, and alleviating suffering worldwide.
Established in 1977, millions of parishioners, students, and teachers participate in CRS' Lenten program, which emphasizes prayer, fasting, learning, and giving.
Seventy-five percent of funds raised support development programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America - such as the provision of food, access to clean water and meeting other essential needs.
The initial impact of the earthquake and tsunami caused the collapse of phone lines and damaged the local airport, making it more difficult for humanitarian organizations like CRS to respond immediately.
[19][20] When CRS staff were able to safely reach hard hit areas of the country, together with Caritas Indonesia, they focused on supplying food, clean water, household items, and emergency shelter.
CRS has been vocal in calling for the U.S. Congress and Trump administration to pass COVID-19 emergency funding bills providing support for those suffering from COVID-19 both within the United States and overseas.
Following the start of Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014, CRS has been supporting Caritas Ukraine, a Ukrainian Catholic not-for-profit and humanitarian relief organisation, in its emergency response efforts.
[28] CRS has partnered with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) through a €2 million grant agreement to support housing repairs for over 500 vulnerable households in conflict-affected regions of Ukraine.
CRS's argument was rejected by a federal judge in August 2022, citing it as a case of sex discrimination according to Title VII, which also includes the protection of sexual orientation.