Posted on 11/19/2008 7:37:33 AM PST by Columbo
This Sunday (Nov. 23rd) is the annual collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). You may have heard that the CCHD had given over a million dollars per year to ACORN, a radically leftist group which seeks the election of "progressive" anti-life politicians among other things. The CCHD says that they will no longer be giving our donations to ACORN because there was reported embezzlement by ACORN founder Wade Rathke some time ago. (see: http://www.usccb.org/cchd/ morin_acorn_report.shtml )
There is a lot of confusion about what the CCHD is, how it works and whether faithful Catholics can be sure their donations will be put to use in a way consistent with Catholic teaching.
The CCHD is a social justice group established by the US Bishops. They collect money and then farm it out to various local and national organizations throughout the US. This is absolutely a fine and legitimate thing to do. Unfortunately, the groups selected by the CCHD to be stewards of our donations include many organizations which promote either marxist socialism or anti-life/anti- church teaching. A complete list of last years grantees can be found here: http://www.usccb.org/cchd/ 2007CCHDGrantees.pdf
Some random examples:
The Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center: This Seattle-based leftist Catholic group actively promotes women's ordination, radical feminism, socialism, radical environmentalism, and a disregard for Church tradition. Read the brochure for their "Northwest Catholic Women's Convocation" ( http://www.ipjc. org/women/ NWCWCRegistratio nBrochure. pdf ) and ask yourself if this is something you would like to support via your CCHD donation. Also, note that one of the featured speakers is Sister Elizabeth A. Johnson who worships God as a goddess and stated ""every aspect" of the Catholic faith "is not just tainted but perverted by the evil of patriarchy. It is not that the tradition has some problems; the tradition is the problem." (see: http://www.lifesite news.com/ ldn/2007/ nov/07111305. html)
Chinese Progressive Association: A marxist/socialist group. (listed as a "meeting ground" in the communist newsletter "Voice of Revolution" http://www.usmlo. org/arch2006/ 2006-04/VR060407 .HTM) Supports Homosexual Marriage (http://www.marriage equality. org/?page= supporters).
The Somali Action Alliance: lists both the CCHD and the very pro-abortion Women's Foundation of MN as partners. (see: http://www.somaliac tionalliance. org/news. php and http://www.wfmn. org/health. shtml)
Los Angeles chapter of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice: Chairman is Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. who in 2001 stated in a speech: "The U.S. has become the number-one enemy of peace and justice in the world today.” He regularly speaks on marxist themes and has stated “The revolution this nation needs has not yet begun.” (http://www.discover thenetworks. org/printindivid ualProfile. asp?indid= 1004)
As you can see, the removal of ACORN from the CCHD's list of organizations was only the tip of the iceberg. While there are a few praiseworthy organizations listed here and there on the list, the majority is an odd assortment of socialist organizing groups (one can spot these right away by seeing the prominent red banners and power fist salutes on their home pages) and other groups antagonistic to Church teaching, be it social or moral.
A good and simple course of action we can take is not only to with-hold our donation of money from the second collection this Sunday, but also drop a slip of paper into the basket or envelope explaining that in lieu of money you will be donating prayers for the CCHD to be given the wisdom to select better organizations for its list.
So as to not punish the good groups on the list, consider donating to them directly.
Please forward to all Catholics on your list.
We had our collection last Sunday. I did not contribute. I haven’t contributed for many years.
Bump
The Catholic Church stopped backing ACORN. This may have been true in previous years, but not this one.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/13/acorn.catholics/index.html
This is sickening. We should demand that all Christian denominations make sure that not a penny goes to ACORN, pro abortion groups and pro Islamic groups.
Note this is not anti-Catholic or anti anything. Christian charity should not go to groups who hurt, steal elections or have political aims.
The Church gives sanctuary to a lot of groups and individuals we as conservatives believe do not have our country first in their hearts. Did the CC do enough to get the McCain/Palin ticket elected? I don’t believe so!
Supporting abortion rights candidates did not cause the RC Church to stop funding ACORN.
Registering Mickey Mouse and other voter fraud investigations in 11 states did not cause the RC Church to stop funding ACORN.
Only the outright THEFT of money caused the RC Church to stop funding ACORN.
If they kept funding this leftwing group for all those years, isn’t it a good idea to see what other groups they are STILL funding?
More info here on the other groups:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133903/posts
PLEASE GIVE TO THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR INSTEAD THIS WEEKEND!
Thank you SOOO much! Haven’t been to Mass the last few weekends because of family stuff - I know, I know! - but will keep this in mind for future. I’m SO ticked at the curch, especially after this election, and attend a church that is 65% african american - most of whom voted for the pro-abortion crowd’s favorite candidate. Also took great acception to the Al Smith dinner and Card Egan on the dias with all dim politicians from NY. Sent a protest email to the Card as well as my own bishop. The power of the computer!
MOst of these collection go to social justice type committees who have an agenda or don’t do their homework or owe someone a favor.
Give to Peter’s Pence and the Holy Land and throw the rest of the envelopes in the trash. Spend the money that you might have spent on that donation on a charity that you can see.
IN this day and age with the internet, it seems that we could find some worthy causes to back. A church in Africa or India, a seminary, even a small business. I’ve always wanted to help the “starving children” in Africa but I have never wanted to support some African tyrannical government and so have never felt comfortable with donating money. If I knew it was going to a specific church or person or business that I believed in, I’d be much more willing.
So much of the charity donated is taken up with administrative costs and government red tape and usually ends up in the hands of those who don’t need it ro is used as a bargaining tool to control people, in my opinion.
Yes, the CCHD stopped giving to ACORN, but the majority of the other organizations the CCHD gives to are little better if not worse. Check out some of the links in the original post.
They have, in this case, been irresponsible stewards of the money we gave them.
They have, in this case, been irresponsible stewards of the money we gave them.
Buy Bibles and copies of the U.S. Constitution to hand out to people.
I don’t contribute to much besides the retired religious fund.
Just put in a note that this organization does not conform to Catholic principles and that you will not support it. That should send a message, and the Pastor will read it, I suspect.
It’s not my pastor I have to tell this to. He gets it.
I don't know whether my pastor does or not, but it's not his decision. I'll make an extra donation to the priests' retirement, and write a note to the Bishop separately.
bump
Two Dioceses have already pulled the plug on CCHD and its collection: Charleston (SC) and Birmingham (AL)
I just looked to see what the Charlotte Diocese is doing. Local grants, from what the Diocese retains from the collection, seem mainly to be for sensible projects - tutoring, home repair, and so on - that help people in practical ways. However, the grants from the national CCHD office are “empowerment” garbage.
So my note to the Bishop will include, “I see it’s not your fault, but ...” along with my contribution to the Priests’ Retirement fund :-).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.