Bishop reiterates pro-life commitment in defense of CCHD

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 34

Baltimore, Md., Nov 19, 2009 / 04:21 am (CNA).- The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ subcommittee which oversees the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has defended the program against what he called “outrageous” allegations and claims. He reiterated that the campaign is pro-life and has “zero tolerance” for funding any group that violates Catholic teaching.

Bishop of Biloxi, Mississippi Roger Morin on Tuesday addressed the fall assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on the topic of the CCHD.

He said that some attacks on the campaign are motivated by concern for the poor or for the Church’s teachings. Some critics may not understand the social teachings of the church, while others charge that the bishops are funding groups that are pro-abortion.

“The critics are using this as an opportunity to attack the shepherds of the Church. I reiterate that we are pro-life, from conception to natural death,” Bishop Morin said.

The CCHD never makes grants to organizations that are specifically involved in promoting activities against Church teaching, he said.

“You will recall that CCHD was the first national group to cut funds for ACORN,” he added, referring to the community organizing group that was accused of voter fraud in 2008.

“We say at CCHD that we have zero tolerance for any group that would violate the Church teachings.”

The bishop said it was “particularly disturbing” that people form an opinion of CCHD based on an individual incident of misconduct.

“They paint the whole organization with a broad brush using isolated instances.”

At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Bishop Morin continued his defense of the campaign. He said he wished there were not any scandals “and I wish that if there were any criticisms, that they were factual.”

He reported that he has not sensed an erosion of support for the campaign from the bishops. He also accused critics of being “constantly in operation.”

In November the CCHD issued a document “For the Record – The Truth about CCHD Funding” to respond to various charges and criticisms.

In that document, the CCHD said it “fully upholds” Church teaching on the sanctity of life.

“The Campaign funds projects that empower the poor and help them organize themselves to move out of poverty. All grant applicants are carefully screened and funds are provided only to projects with objectives and actions that are fully in accord with the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.”

Funding criteria, including conformity with the moral guidelines of the Catholic Church, are specified from the earliest stage of the application process, the CCHD commented. Projects are monitored through regular reporting and on-site visits and funding is discontinued if inconsistencies with Catholic teaching are discovered.

The Campaign noted Pope John Paul II’s praise for the CCHD, which says one of its goals has been to help poor people achieve self-sufficiency.

The CCHD document noted the allegation that its grants funded Young Workers United and the Chinese Progressive Association, who both produced voter guides that took a position contrary to Church teaching. Both groups backed same-sex “marriage” and Young Workers United reportedly also voiced support for legalized abortion and legalized prostitution.

After a joint investigation with the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the CCHD said it immediately canceled both grants and both organizations returned the grant money.

The CCHD said investigation was continuing into the Prebel Street group and the Women’s Community Revitalization Project, which allegedly were involved in activity contrary to Church teaching.

The CCHD said that investigations into several other accused groups found no activity contrary to Church teaching.

The Los Angeles Community Action Network (LACAN), which was accused of promoting same-sex “marriage” and actively supporting contraception and the morning-after pill, was cleared by a review conducted by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the CCHD reported.

Addressing the charges against the Mobilize the Immigrant Vote (MIV) coalition in California, the CCHD said six of the seven coalition members are currently funded by the CCHD and all six confirmed that they were never consulted about MIV taking positions on ballot initiatives contrary to Catholic social teaching.

Comments: 34

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Bill
Arlington, TX, USA 11/21/2009 01:41 PM EST

CCHD has a past record of funding too many questionable groups. That sadly speaks for itself. Therefore, CCHD should be terminated and a completely new fund organized that will only fund groups with a clearly demonstrated record of supporting Christian values. Such groups should be audited on a periodic basis to ensure that the groups maintain such values and actually use 100% of the donated funds in a manner consistent with the goals of the new fund.

Published by: Numeaning
Houston Tx 11/20/2009 11:44 PM EST

After Jenkins of Notre Shame,I believe Vatican 3 has arrived.

Published by: Not Surprised
Aliquippa PA USA 11/20/2009 08:13 PM EST

The CCHD is now officially BUSTED! And so is every bishop who shot his mouth off to defend it. Disband the USCCB NOW!

Published by: Diane Alden
Carrollton, GA 11/20/2009 02:53 AM EST

The bishops are rationalizing the fact that the kind of 'charity' they espouse has more 60s cultural marxism and secular humanism about it. More often than not they pay lip service to issues of life and death while handing over the poor to govt. bureaucrats or 'programs' .. and they call this 'charity.' They run from the fact that LBJ's 'war on poverty' basically destroyed the black family at a critical juncture of black partipation in the American experience. Funding groups LIKE ACORN or any others who purport to 'help the poor' is an abomination and misuse of money given by Catholics or anyone else in good faith. Unfortunately since the 60s, there has come to be more Saul Alinsky ends justify the means social manipulation that looks good but accomplishes little re advancement of the poor, particularly inner city or rural minorities. Way too much 'social justice' is administered by those who have no or little inclination for the salvation of souls or good order or even the best interests of the poor and disadvantaged at heart. The fact is before 60s black families were intact, the illegitimacy rate was lower than whites, and even in places like Detroit and Chicago, Harlem or Atlanta, culture thrived. I am convinced most in the hierarchy in the US and abroad have a Hegelian view of human nature, a materialistic view that believes the poor can only advance through a govt. 'program' or agency: this isn't charity, it is master manipulators shedding responsibility.

Published by: Graham Combs
Royal Oak, Michigan 11/19/2009 08:58 PM EST

I suspect that his excellency shares criticisms of the new missal that the average Catholic is not smart enough to appreciate a liturgy that demands more than a second-grade reading comprehension. Like the Democrats, some bishops have little respect for our intelligence, our experience, and our understanding of how the world works. Whenever I hear someone in the Church say there is no Left or Right, their default position is almost always liberal. I'm sorry, your excellency, but I am too old for fairy tales. The health, education and safety of our children is unrelated to "organizing ourselves out of poverty." Who talks like that? Who believes that stuff? Anyway, isn't that what Fr. McGivney accomplished with the Knights of Columbus? Except it involved something more substantial than designing and carrying signs. WE DON'T NEED CCHD! We need schools. We need smart, devout priests and religious. We need orthodoxy, not Episcopalianism. To this former Anglican, the rhetoric of social justice sounds like High Church leftism.

Published by: Jay Damien
Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ 11/19/2009 08:09 PM EST

What services did ACORN ever provide that caused the USCCB to support them and others like them? Inquiring minds want to know. Were the bishops playing politics with our money?

Published by: taad
Louisville/oh/usa 11/19/2009 07:34 PM EST

The problem is they trust each diocese to "investigate" these groups. In todays world, I would think that very few groups are not in bed with the abortion industry and the "gay movement". The question is, can the church work in this type of culture the same way it has for 30 years. Or do they need to rethink this program. I do not trust the way it is being handled with much niavite.

Published by: John Mizerka
Hayward, WI USA 11/19/2009 05:03 PM EST

This is the same bishop (Morin) who was in New Orleans when ACORN had a vacant funeral parlor there as their office for 294 organizations of its various tentacles. Yet they were funding these group under those circumstances. These guys apparently cannot identify organized crime when it jumps up and bites them. Appears that Bishop Morin is a Mahony caliber investigator.

Published by: Cody
Tucson 11/19/2009 05:00 PM EST

The former ACORN official, Anita Montcrief, left them because she discovered they didn't give a hoot about the poor. Ms Montcrief says that ACORN's founders were just trying to create chaos and crisis to aid the democrat party agenda. But the Bishops still gave $7,000,000+ to ACORN! The Bishops are now in bed with So They Might See, a left wing attack machine against supposed conservative hate speech. STMS was started by the United Church of Christ which advocates abortion, contraception, and women's health issues. How much money does CCHD give them? The Bishop's Catholic League Immigration Network (CLINIC) also has received money from George Soros, a big supporter of left wing issues including abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality. So Bishop Morin, to use a term applied to 80 some Bishops by Archbishop Sheehan, I think your comments in this article on CCHD are "hysterical"!

Published by: Michelle Wolven
Dallas, GA.30132 11/19/2009 04:52 PM EST

Interesting, in just a few minutes of research I was able to find that LACAN does still lobby for Gay/ lesbian and transgender rights. They are members of another organization and that is part of their mission! OH, But they were cleared, I forgot. How can we trust these guys?

Published by: JOhn Mizerka
Hayward, WI USA 11/19/2009 04:47 PM EST

Normally one fully investigates before the horse is released from the barn. Seems like backwards to me. Ditto on the Mahony comment above; he couldn't find evidence of the horse in the barnyard! Why are we not funding Catholic schools and hospitals with the money of the faithful. Forget the democrat party pet projects and get back to faith in Christ. Our stupid socialist government will never be our savior.

Published by: Chris J
New Orleans, LA USA 11/19/2009 04:41 PM EST

Bishop Morin's very words PROVE that CCHD has funded groups opposed to church teaching! "The CCHD never makes grants to organizations that are specifically involved in promoting activities against Church teaching, he said. "You will recall that CCHD was the first national group to cut funds for ACORN,” he added, referring to the community organizing group that was accused of voter fraud in 2008." Do some research folks. CCHD's support for groups opposed to Church teaching continues year after year. Having "specific guidelines" clearly isn't good enough. You cannot in good faith support CCHD until it is reformed. Let them spend the next year doing so before giving again.

Published by: Minnesota Mary
MN USA 11/19/2009 04:07 PM EST

The Bishops have knowingly been funding left-wing Alynsky organizations for decades. The "Wanderer" has been exposing this scandal in the Church for years, and it is one of the reasons why the Bishops despise this fine publication. People wake up! Your Church has been hijacked by a bunch of Marxists!

Published by: Michael R. Zboray
Montvale NJ 11/19/2009 03:59 PM EST

Of the Bishop's desire for the CCHD to conform to the teaching of the Church, I have no doubt. As to their ability to translate that desire into conformance by the CCHD I have much doubt. Responding to non-conformance to policy is not the same as running a system the conforms to policy. Open the books and keep them open. The time of blind faith in the Hierarchy's ability to manage this organization has long gone.

Published by: Mark
Bismarck 11/19/2009 02:55 PM EST

The Bishops have instructed American Catholics in the past that our greatest duty is to form ourselves into models of virtue and become sound morally in matters of the faith. You can’t have it both ways, if we form our consciences and see something that is inherently evil, i.e. giving money to groups that promote abortion, homosexual marriage and contraception, then we are called to point that out, as it says in the Catechism, “Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act…[Every person] is obliged to follow faithfully what he [or she] knows to be just and right” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1778). We Catholics have a lifelong obligation to form our consciences in accord with human reason, enlightened by the teaching of Christ as it comes to us through the Church. The Church also teaches the virtue of prudence. Is it really prudent to give money to the CCHD when it is clear that millions of dollars has and continues to go to be funneled to morally suspect groups??? Again our Church has instructed us as lay Catholics to, “to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1806). Prudence shapes and informs our ability to deliberate over available alternatives, to determine what is most fitting to a specific context, and to act. Doing good and avoiding evil.

Published by: Lee
belfair, wa, u.s.a. 11/19/2009 02:07 PM EST

Interesting that JUST FAITH is one of the proud recipients of CCHD monies. If one reads the JUST FAITH newsletter, you will find that they advocate illegal immigration and have no thought for the unborn. If you "you tube" Jack Jezreel, you will find him mocking the faithful and talking about "redefining the Eucharist." No - the CCHD will not get any of our money nor talent. I prefer to keep our money going to support organizations that I know are 100 % Catholic in their teachings and not entrust it to those who have been caught red handed in not being good stewards of what they have taken in.

Published by: bill
butler,pa,16001 11/19/2009 01:17 PM EST

I think i read where CCHD funds as a point of its charter, community organizing groups--why would anyone support funding to groups who are probably going to be Democratic Party Activists. CCHD needs reformed now.

Published by: Ricky Joyce
Oklahoma 11/19/2009 01:13 PM EST

You either support "community organizing" in the Alinskian style or you don't. If you DON'T, then DON'T support CCHD.

Published by: Roger
Cadiz, OH 11/19/2009 01:12 PM EST

Yes, the bishop reiterates pro-life commitment... But the screening, such as it is, is left to staffs that have, er, socialist leanings and overlook the anti-Catholic positions of these groups for all the other alleged good they do. The real question, then, is whether the CCHD staffs can be trusted to use Catholic teachings as criteria. In the meantime, Catholics can't go wrong to support groups that support Catholic teachings.

Published by: mary tim
ballineen/co.cork/ireland 11/19/2009 01:09 PM EST

why did their lordships have to cancel so much funding. should it not have been checked before hand. the men who spoke to raymond arroyo said what they found was in the newsletters of the funded organizations and on their websites. before funding check! with a collection looming they want the bread to come in. NO THANK YOU.

Published by: Roger
Cadiz, OH 11/19/2009 01:08 PM EST

Published by: Blake Helgoth
Monument/CO/USA 11/19/2009 01:06 PM EST

Hmmm, seems those pesky little facts keep getting in the way of the bishop's defense!

Published by: Ellen Wilhelm
Wisconsin 11/19/2009 12:52 PM EST

Rather than investigating what an individual project promotes, perhaps the CCHD would do better to look at what an organization promotes before awarding money to it. Even if a project is worthwhile; if the organization in general, does not promote basic Catholic values regarding life, poverty, and marriage, it should not be awarded. When I give to CATHOLIC organizations, I would expect that to be a MINIMUM standard.

Published by: mary J.
Canada 11/19/2009 12:32 PM EST

I agree with "Why does any of the money go to outside organizations? Doesn't the Catholic Church have the mechanism to funnel the money through our own churches and other organizations that are truely Catholic? " 100% Our Catholic Church and groups oftentimes need help to promote the pro life message - why oh why are they not getting it. I feel it is time to do much soul searching for all in Church leadership positions.

Published by: Judy Meade
Jacksonville FL USA 11/19/2009 11:57 AM EST

I agree that there are many solid Catholic organizations to which we can donate our $, so why would be bother with the ones that have a questionable (still) record? If the CCHD cleans up its act, wonderful. However, I will still give to other worthy causes instead.

Published by: Dan in Calgary
Calgary Alberta Canada 11/19/2009 11:49 AM EST

"After a joint investigation with the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the CCHD said it immediately canceled both grants and both organizations returned the grant money." Sounds like getting caught red-handed to me! Would the "investigation" have occurred at all but for the accusations? We in Canada have had a similar issue with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and their pet, the Canadian Catholic Organisation for Development and Peace. After much lamenting of the audacity of rank-and-file Catholics daring criticise their shepherds, and a whole lot of whitewashing, some things are quietly being improved. My prayers for those vigilant Catholics who keep their eyes open and are not intimidated into silence. A wrong is a wrong, no matter who commits it. Dan in Calgary

Published by: EK
Chicago, IL USA 11/19/2009 11:45 AM EST

How did ACORN qualify to begin with? The point of the current controversy must include this question. Regardless of the ACORN scandal, it would seem to be a political advocacy group outside the province of what most of us would consider Christian charity, right?

Published by: B.F.
Omaha, NE 11/19/2009 11:21 AM EST

If Bishop Morin is on the level, he needs to let the public see the accounting ledger to groups supported by the CCHD. And let independent investigators look at all of the allegations with a "fine toothed comb"; which would include talking to the accusers. It appears that the bishop's investigation went only as far as to talk to the organizations in question. Did he look at the evidence of the accusers? If he did, it doesn't say that in the article. And I have not heard Bishop Morin make any statement to that affect. It's kind of like a guilty man in a murder trial where only the defense is allowed to plead his client’s case. Of course they're going to plea "not guilty" and try to defend their position. The prosecution never gets a chance to argue their side of the case.

Published by: lacrossecath
La Crose, WI, USA 11/19/2009 10:38 AM EST

Time for an independent investigation.

Published by: Jay
Los Angeles, CA 11/19/2009 10:33 AM EST

Excuse me? Why isn't this money staying in the Catholic Church? We are closing schools and parishes all over the place. Let's use the money to support our schools and forget about outside community organizations. Educating the next generation is the best way to get people out of poverty. The most telling point for me is that the CCHD has to investigate and then retract previous grants. That is not change I can believe in. Reform CCHD.

Published by: Faithfulbutsinful
Maryland 11/19/2009 08:47 AM EST

Why does any of the money go to outside organizations? Doesn't the Catholic Church have the mechanism to funnel the money through our own churches and other organizations that are truely Catholic? How about this money going to teaching the truth to our nation instead of funding another organization?

Published by: Meh
Meh 11/19/2009 08:35 AM EST

... just in case people forgot what elderly professional celibates thought of women?

Published by: Don Johnson
Baily, AL 11/19/2009 06:40 AM EST

If the CCHD screens potential recipients up front, why are they investigating groups they awarded with grants?

Published by: Clair Meyers
Sacramento 11/19/2009 05:54 AM EST

Rate: Excellent

The article had me going, then the second to last paragraph blew it. Cardinal Mahony often holds opinion and practices contrary to Rome teaching. Also, on a trip to China, he visited State catholic churches not recognized by the Vatican, instead of underground church in alignment to Rome. So, CCHD goes to LACAN, then my money doesn't go to CCHD. CRS instead. quote - "The Los Angeles Community Action Network (LACAN), which was accused of promoting same-sex “marriage” and actively supporting contraception and the morning-after pill, was cleared by a review conducted by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the CCHD reported."

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com