Secular Clergy Common Fund

The Secular Clergy Common Fund is a specialized UK charity (reg. 234473) dedicated exclusively to providing financial relief to incapacitated Roman Catholic secular priests in England and Wales who are registered members. Established as a mutual assistance scheme rooted in Catholic principles of compassion, solidarity, and stewardship, it ensures a dignified standard of living for priests unable to perform duties due to old age, infirmity, or illness. Governed by elected clergy serving three-year terms and adhering to Charity Commission standards, the fund emphasizes prudent financial management, ethical investments avoiding contraception-related entities, and relational decision-making to safeguard both current and future beneficiaries.

It funds solely individual subsistence grants covering essential day-to-day needs, including accommodation, healthcare, medical costs, and welfare support, aimed at alleviating poverty and enhancing quality of life. No broader projects, community initiatives, or organizational funding is supported; all resources target personal hardship relief for eligible members.

Eligibility is highly restricted: only member Roman Catholic secular priests in England and Wales facing incapacity qualify—no organizations, non-members, or external entities. There are no income thresholds, unsolicited applications, online forms, deadlines, or open calls; support is assessed internally by the elected board on an ad-hoc basis as needs arise.

Distinctively, this closed mutual benefit association rejects all non-member requests, project-based or institutional funding, and operations beyond its core constituency, setting it apart as a niche, clergy-led safety net rather than a general grantmaker. Charities seeking support for parishes, communities, or non-personal causes should pursue alternatives.