We are pleased to inform you that the Catholic Union Charitable Trust will be formally launched at a reception to be held at Archbishop’s House, Southwark on Tuesday 10th February 2015 at 6.30pm in the presence of His Grace, the Most Rev. Peter Smith, Archbishop of Southwark and Sir Edward Leigh, President of the Catholic Union of Great Britain.
The Catholic Union of Great Britain (CUGB), was formed in 1871, and is the leading Catholic lay organisation to promote the spiritual, moral and social teaching of the Catholic Church in the public arena. It has successfully achieved this aim mainly through the work of its Parliamentary and Medical Ethics Committees.
However the CUGB has been operating at a disadvantage because of its lack of charitable status. This is because some of its activities, such as Parliamentary lobbying, do not meet Charity Commission (and HMRC) requirements for obtaining Gift Aid.
The CUCT has now been set up as a registered Charity in order to overcome this problem. The CUCT intends to use such funding to promote the CUGB, by holding seminars, lectures and other events highlighting Catholic social teaching and values.