CHURCH
08/23/2010

More Problems at the Catholic Campaign for Human Development

socialforum1

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the anti-poverty program run by the USCCB, came under fire this past year for funding groups who were explicitly supporting abortion, contraception, and same-sex marriage.

After its internal investigation, the CCHD claimed there were problems with only five groups out of the 51 listed as problematic by the Reform CCHD Now coalition. These five groups were subsequently defunded. (The approximate total number of CCHD grants in a year is 250.)

However, new evidence has emerged that adds 16 new groups to the 51 originally listed as problematic by the Reform CCHD Now Coalition. The 2010 CCHD list of grantees has yet to be released, so we have to wait to learn how many of the problematic groups were funded once again. (The troublesome fact that the announcement of the 2010 grantee list has been delayed a month later than usual is an issue we will return to later.)

Here’s the story…

An event entitled the U.S. Social Forum 2010 was held in Detroit on June 22-26. Dozens of People’s Movement Assemblies (PMAs) from across the country attended the Forum, “to set a national action agenda.” Also present were 21 CCHD grantees, along with a retired bishop, a smattering of Catholic parishes, and 11 Catholic organizations. Five of the 21 CCHD grantees were already listed as problematic, but 16 were not on the list from last year (see list below). Several organizations defunded by the CCHD were also present.

Unfortunately, the program attended by these groups supported by the donations of U.S. Catholics contains numerous workshops promoting homosexuality, Marxism, and abortion (complete list below). Is there any reason not to conclude these are elements of the “national action agenda” being defined at the Forum?

Here are some representative examples of the workshops:

Abortion:

Marxism:

Lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer workshops:

At least one CCHD grantee, Justice in El Barrio, gave a presentation at one of the LGBTQ workshops. You can sample the U.S. Social Forum yourself by watching coverage of the USSF 2010. Throughout the forum, Free Speech TV ran commercials promoting gay rights, including same-sex marriage.

 

One criticism leveled at the CCHD Reform Now research is that it was alleging “guilt by association.” But that misses the point completely. The presence of 21 CCHD grantees at U.S. Social Forum isn’t problematic because grantees are keeping company with the wrong people, but because they’re actively participating in a forum designed “to set a national action agenda.” Looking at the program, it’s safe to assume that the agenda includes the right to abortion and gay marriage, as well as a larger ideological commitment to various forms of Marxism — an ideology condemned by the Catholic Church.

Those participating in the forum can hardly claim they were innocent bystanders; that wouldn’t pass the smell test. The stated purpose of the U.S. Social Forum was to stress the importance of working on a unified front. Thus, the evidence from the forum itself suggests not so much guilt by association as guilt by participation.

At the very least, this latest incident proves the CCHD problem did not end with the 5 defunded groups.

Just how many of the remaining 62 problematic groups will be on the 2010 list of CCHD grants is an open question. The CCHD is waiting until the end of September to release the new list, when it is normally released at the end of August. Why? Is the CCHD holding the list so that it can’t be properly examined before the bishops decide the program’s fate? Taking a month away from that examination process prior to the bishops’ meeting in November will not help rebuild public trust.

After all the controversy surrounding the CCHD last year, you’d think there would be more due diligence and transparency in selecting grantees. Instead, we get less.

♦          ♦          ♦

Current CCHD Grantees in attendance at the USSF meeting:

Identified Catholic organizations in attendance:

Formerly Funded CCHD grantees and other groups of interest:

Titles of pro-abortion, birth control, and sex-ed workshops:

Titles of Marxist or socialist workshops:

Titles of LGBTQ workshops:
Deal W. Hudson Deal W. Hudson is president of Catholic Advocate, an organization which engages and encourages faithful Catholics to actively participate in the political process to support elected officials and policies that remain consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Formerly publisher and editor of Crisis Magazine for ten years, his articles and comments have been published widely in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and U.S. News and World Report. He has also appeared on TV and radio news shows such as the O'Reilly Factor, Hannity & Colmes, NBC News, and All Things Considered on National Public Radio. Hudson worked with Karl Rove in coordinating then-Gov. George W. Bush's outreach to Catholic voters in 2000 and 2004. In October 2003, President Bush appointed him a member of the official delegation from the United States to attend the 25th anniversary celebration of John Paul II's papacy. Hudson, a former professor of philosophy for 15 years, is the editor and author of eight books. He tells the story of his conversion from Southern Baptist to Catholic in An American Conversion (Crossroad, 2003), and his latest, Onward, Christian Soldiers: The Growing Political Power of Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States, was published in March 2008. He is married to Theresa Carver Hudson, also a Baptist convert, and they have two children, Hannah, 21, and Cyprian, 13, who was adopted from Romania in 2001.
Freelance Web Developer

21 Comments

  • Bob G 08/22/2010 9:21 pm

    Was this “US Social Forum 2010″ an explicitly Catholic event, sponsored by Catholics? Or was it organized by non-Catholics? If the former it seems that the CCHD has become openly non-Catholic. We need a revolution in the Church all right–against these functional atheists and acquiescent bishops, many of whom lean toward the liberal persuasion. It is truly scarey that CCHD would sponsor or fund any organization associated with this event. CCHD needs to be shut down and replaced by a new organization that reflects Catholic principles

  • Don L 08/23/2010 1:15 am

    How long are we to remain blind to the very real probability that this mess is not accidental? Is this what it means to be as wise and cunning as serpents? If we can investigate Nuns, and wayward priests and Bishops for sexual abuse problems, where are the investigations that are necessary to prevent the corruption of a very basis element of Catholic faith -charity? It is clear to this observer that the institutional Church in America has serious problems with those who seek paradise here on earth, and are seemingly inactive when it comes to the salvation of souls. 53% of Catholics under our sheherds voted for the most pro-abortion/infanticide president in history and not even the mention of “reform” passes the lips of the USCCB; apparently their not bothered enough by such scandal -never mind that which occurred at Notre Dame. 
    This group needs to find out who’s behind these decisons, and who allows them to stay in power -as if millions to ACORN, helping the election of the poster child for the culture of death was just an mere slip.

  • Austin 08/23/2010 2:22 am

    Remember back in the early 1990′s, the scandal with the United Way?  They had executives who worked for the charity, pulling down huge salaries, flying around in private jets, etc.  Spending money on themselves which should have gone to people in need.

    Here we have money, donated by Catholics, going to groups with whom they greatly differ in goals, attitudes, etc.  What’s going on? Well, it would appear that one of two things is happening: 1. The people running the charity have lost control of it. or 2. The people running the charity do not agree with the goals of the donors.  In either case, it appears that some action is needed.

  • Todd 08/23/2010 4:20 am

    Deal, there’s no particular moral problem with marxism. Not terribly popular in most circles these days, and never very effective as an antidote to the extremes of narcissism capitalism, but I haven’t seen a platform for the effective criticism of capitalism. Except maybe for living in the Great Recession.

    We should all keep in mind that CCHD is not charity. “Human development” implies power in the hands of people, not just an open hand waiting for a handout. Catholics can make their own choices about the CCHD: some giving nothing, some giving more, and some giving elsewhere. And in the internet age, I’m sure conservative Catholic operatives can unearth the doo-doo on the sixteen or whatever groups in plenty of time. 

    I am interested in hearing of alternatives. Instead of buying out a fish market, how would you fund the school for teaching-to-fish?

  • Doug 08/23/2010 5:12 am

    So this is where at least some of the money that we put into the basket goes? Or is it just on one or so of the 52 weeks of the year? As if that makes it better.

  • Stephen 08/23/2010 5:40 am

    Great point, Dr. Hudson, about the difference between guilt by association and guilt by participation. The catholic Left will continue to hide behind this smokescreen but events like this – properly exposed – make that every more difficult.

  • Ryan Haber 08/23/2010 5:48 am

    I tithe.  I am glad to do it because I am selfish.  Tithing is a good check on my selfishness and since I began, my money troubles have literally disappeared.  I don’t have loads of money, but really, no more bounced checks, no more worrying, no more coming up short at the end of the month.  And to boot, my conscience is absolutely clear with respect to my duty to “give back” financially.  Or it was.

    Here’s my problem and my question.

    I have a hard time giving money into our general collection knowing that some of it funds the CCHD.  When I donate to my parish, I always earmark it for some particular ministry or another.  Now, money being fungible, I know that frees up other funds which then pay annates to the bishop and from there, some of it provides the upkeep of the CCHD.  Consequently, more and more, I don’t give to the parish or the bishop’s appeal, but to Catholic apostolates not directly linked to the US bishops: a missionary group that supports the Church in the Russian Far East, an apostolate to male prostitutes in Chicago, missionaries that live in Southeast DC.

    Is it wrong for me to withhold from the parish/diocesan structure of the Church and give instead to other Catholic organizations?

    I am confident in my mind that to do so is acceptable; but my conscience is not easy.  This story, far from setting me at ease, has only provoked the question anew.

  • Dawn Elizabeth Slike 08/23/2010 6:46 am

    This is the reason I do not support the CCHD. Too much risk of supporting completely anti-Catholic groups and agendas.  It is the same reason I do not support the Republican National Committee or any umbrella groups promoting a political party. Each candidate has his or her own campaign fundraising effort.  No need to support umbrella organizations which may also be throwing money at pro-abortion and/or pro-gay rights candidates. We all need to take the time to do the research and support the causes and candidates we believe in. It makes for more restful sleep at night.

  • Stephen 08/23/2010 7:41 am

    Ryan,

    Have you tried talking to your pastor about the funds sent to the CCHD? If he is defensive and accusatory about such questions, then you may want to look at joining another parish. Faithful and orthodox priests, even if they don’t share your specific concerns re: the CCHD (due to a lack of knowledge, not sin), will respect your position and consider making the CCHD an optional contribution for parishioners. And if he is not faithful and orthodox, then you have a very good reason to be elsewhere. 

    One usually has fewer diocesan options, but there is nothing wrong with withholding funds from any organization that you feel is funding corruption. What’s important is that you keep tithing, including to your parish and diocese if you can be sure that the money is not working against the Church.

  • Deacon Ed 08/23/2010 8:49 am

    the problems at the USCCB is to move the offices to Carson City, Nevada (Sorry, Carson City)!

  • Jerry Schmutte 08/23/2010 1:21 pm

    The article fails to mention that the USCCB took the list of 2009 CCHD grantees off their website to avoid scrutiny. The downright sleaziness of their reaction to the continuing charges almost bothers me more than the charges themselves.

  • Kathryn 08/23/2010 1:55 pm

    Ryan:

    I don’t see anything wrong with what you are doing.

    For myself, I’ve soured a great deal on the concept of charity–or rather what might be called “501(3)c Charity”…giving to organizations as opposed to the people around you who could really use the help.  Too late did I consider that a family member could have used the money we were giving to groups (all good ones I might add).  It just never crossed my mind until very late in the situation that charity really does start at home, and sometimes you can’t get a tax deduction for it.

    I’m not saying don’t give to organizations, but if you question whether your money is being used for less than good purposes, look around and see what else to might do with it to further the Kingdom of God.

  • Catholicus 08/23/2010 5:13 pm

    I have stopped doing charity through the collection basket a long time ago. I make direct donations to priests and organizations I trust. But all this mayhem won’t stop if our bishops don’t feel that the faithful, or a significant part of their most loyal flock, won’t take it any longer. Why not write to your bishop or to the president of USCCB and demand that our shepherds do their pastoral duty, which includes correction (and where necessary punishment) of the wayward?

  • AT 08/23/2010 5:16 pm

    Agree 100% that the Church should not be funding any of this. But I also believe that the Church should engage these constituencies, head on. Many of them drive, blindly, a

  • Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick 08/24/2010 1:13 am

    The ugly truth is the USCCB is a socialist, pro-abortion, anti-Catholic organization. It is futile to spend time and resources trying to identify particular problems with particular programs. It’s long past time to rip the Band-Aid off completely, and abolish the USCCB, as the Pope has already requested.

  • Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick 08/24/2010 1:23 am

    The general precept that we should support the Church does not obligate you to donate to those who use the money to promote evil. There are only a few dioceses in the U.S. that do not support socialist political groups, heretical “ministries,” etc., through the CCHD or otherwise.

    Only the fifteen or so bishops in the U.S. who are obeying Canon 915 (by denying Communion to pro-abortion Catholics)should even be considered as possible recipients of donations. Thus, the task of discovering which dioceses deserve ANY donations is greatly simplified.

  • Mike Malone 08/24/2010 8:56 am

    What’s new???  It’s the same stuff going on year after year where our bishops fail to uphold the teachings of the Church…..Oh my!

  • gb 08/25/2010 6:57 pm

    Ryan, I have had the same experience with tithing so I understand what you mean.
    Also, I thought that the only dollars that went to the CCHD were from the special collection that’s taken up each year around Thanksgiving. We stopped giving anything to that years ago. We’ve also gone to giving to specific priests or causes because our diocese doesn’t “think with the Church”, sad to say!

  • raised catholic 08/27/2010 6:30 am

    The reason CCHD has so many of these groups on their funding list is because these organizations are meeting the needs of the most destitute in our society. The knee-jerk reaction from so many Catholics to defund these groups on an ideological basis points to the growing chasm between the dogma of the Catholic Church, and what poor people really need. No wonder the Church is dying in America. The Vincentian priests that I grew up knowing saw this chasm and battled it everyday. It will be a shame if CCHD defunds these groups.

  • UNBELIEVABLE 09/01/2010 5:17 am

    With reactionaries and pro-inquisition Catholics that persecute the Left in the Church, no wonder the pews are more empty every week.  Maybe we should look inward and reform the Church: get rid of pervert priests, open the church to gays and lesbians, come out strong on pro-immigrant programs and then, maybe we’ll have a Church that reflects the TRUE values of Christianity and stop bleeding Parishoners to competing religions that teach Christian tolerance.

  • Carl 09/02/2010 9:33 pm

    Imagine the wailing and grinding of teeth if there where stories of the USSCB supporting “right wing” adgendas and grantees!