The objective of the social watchdog that Portuguese Caritas is about to set up, according to its President, Eugénio Fonseca, is to review the situation of poverty in Portugal, analyse “the causes of the social problems that afflict its inhabitants, and determine how many of them are poor, the age groups most affected by the phenomenon and what types of poverty are involved”. In the initial phase of the project, which ought to be implemented in the first quarter of 2007, the relevant information will be furnished by five parishes in each of the country’s 20 dioceses, with a view to obtaining preliminary data for 25% of the national territory. These data will then by updated every six months and, Fonseca added, will permit Caritas to acquire the necessary tools for social interpretation; today, for example, the number of people being assisted by the Church in Portugal is not known”. The permanent Commission of Portuguese Caritas also announced some proposals for action in the years ahead, such as the need to create, in each parish, a social action group, able to raise the awareness of Christians about sharing their own goods. Another initiative that came out of the Caritas meeting is the definition of the slogan for the National Day of Caritas: “Equality of opportunities for everyone”, planned for 11 March 2007. These proposals will have to be confirmed at the next meeting of the General Council of Portuguese Caritas, due to be held in the Azores in November.
