The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) is a national, non-profit, applied social science research center, affiliated with Georgetown University, that studies Catholicism and the Catholic Church.
The center opened in March 1965 under its first president, Cardinal John Cody, then archbishop of New Orleans.
In 1961 the Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Richard Cushing, urged an examination of the feasibility of such an institution.
[3] In October 1965 Cardinal Cody announced the existence of the Center at a national meeting of Catholic Bishops, noting that the Center "exists to provide for us the reliable scientific and technical information we require for proper and thoughtful decisions in the very complicated areas of our ministry.
"[2] As an applied social science research center, CARA has produced many surveys; program reviews; archival, historical, and other research for a wide range of organizations ranging from the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to individual dioceses, parishes, and religious institutes.