Four US Bishops Did Not Take up Collection for Embattled CCHD

LifeSite ^ | November 23, 2009 | Patrick B. Craine

[NYer]

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - While many U.S. bishops have publicly acknowledged problems with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) has confirmed that at least four bishops opted to not take up this year's national collection.

A controversy has erupted in the U.S. Church in recent weeks after evidence came to light showing that numerous CCHD grantees have promoted issues and practices in violation of Catholic teaching, including abortion, contraception, and same-sex "marriage."  In response to the revelations a coalition of Catholic organizations, the Reform CCHD Now Coalition, formed, calling for a boycott of the November 21-22 national CCHD collection.

Shortly thereafter Bishop Roger Morin, chairman of the USCCB's subcommittee on the CCHD, delivered a passionate plea to the bishops' plenary meeting last week, pledging the CCHD's commitment to ensure grantees' respect for Catholic teaching.

In his speech Morin lashed out at what he called "outrageous" allegations that the bishops' charitable-arm funds pro-abortion and anti-family organizations "or other untruths." He charged that some such claims were motivated by "ideological or political agendas." The bishop chairman of CCHD even went so far as to state, "For these groups, this seems to be just another way to attack the Church and its shepherds."

Nevertheless, at least four bishops will not contribute to the national CCHD fund this year: Bishop John O. Barres of Allentown, Pennsylvania; Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska; Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin; and Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham, Alabama.

Bishop Barres has suspended the collection for this year, though he may continue it in future years, said diocesan communications director Matthew Kerr in an interview with LSN.  Kerr said that Bishop Barres gave no reason for the suspension and also that, as a new bishop, he is "reviewing a lot of things."

Further, Bishop Bruskewitz has chosen not to take part in the CCHD collection, says diocesan chancellor Fr. Daniel Rayer.  It had normally been included in a combined collection, he said, but they have now dropped it for the first time.  Bishop Bruskewitz was not available to comment further today.

As he did last year, Bishop Morlino chose to allocate the national campaign's portion of the collection to a different cause.  Last year, the funds were sent to the Hurricane Ike recovery fund, and this year he allocated the contributions to the Little Sisters of the Poor, who have an international outreach to the elderly.

In a November 11th letter to the faithful of his diocese, Bishop Morlino assured them that the diocesan portion would continue to support "important tasks of assisting the poor of our own diocese."

He insisted, however, that their money would not be allowed to support groups violating Church teaching.  "In light of recent discussions and protests regarding money from CCHD going to fund ACORN and other entities which do not uphold, and sometimes act in opposition to, the teachings of the Church," he said, "I feel it necessary to make clear that your money will not go to such groups."

According to CCHD policy, every funded group must be vetted by the local bishop.  Of the collected funds, however, 25 percent remains in the diocese, while 75 percent goes to the national fund, which is then distributed to grantees throughout the nation.  So while a local bishop has control over which groups are funded in his own diocese, if his diocese contributes to the national fund he cannot personally ensure that the funds go only to grantees that are in line with Church teaching.

Bishop Baker held his second annual collection for the Church of Latin America in lieu of the CCHD collection.  In a November 6th letter, he informed the faithful of this collection for November 21-22 and extolled the good work brought about in the past by American Catholics' donations to Latin America.

At the end, he wrote: "The offertory envelopes you have may include an envelope for 'Catholic Campaign for Human Development,' instead of the 'Church in Latin America.'  If this is the case, just cross out the 'Campaign' name, and write in 'Church in Latin America' for this year."

Stephen Phelan, communications manager for Human Life International, and spokesman for Reform CCHD Now, said he was "pleased" at the leadership exercised by these bishops.  "Of course we're pleased that some bishops have chosen to suspend their support of the CCHD until serious reforms are made, or until they are sure that the groups they support do not oppose the Church in any way," he commented.  "These are positive developments, and very much in keeping with the call of our shepherds to lead their flocks in service and in truth."
 
"We continue to watch for major reforms at the national level, and stand ready to support the CCHD should these reforms happen," he stated.  "We continue to pray that these reforms will take place and that the CCHD can be a cause that unifies Catholics instead of one that divides us."

[NYer]

The Eastern Catholic bishops did not take up this collection either.

[SumProVita]

I honestly believe many of our bishops and priests are ignorant about what is going on with the Campaign for Human Development.

[netmilsmom]

We didn’t have a collection.
I’m not sure if it was all of Detroit or just us.

I’ve looked through the other parish bulletins on their websites. I’m not seeing a second collection anywhere.

[manc]

If one Bishop etc will not go with the faith of the church then the Pope should remove them.

Also the Catholic church have their own to look at for the problems because if they had been speaking up then the church would not have gone so liberal.

Take the north east where most catholics live.
It is disgusting that that area is a Dem, wacko left area.

It is high time the church fought back and every Sunday mention how the church is against abortion , and the homosexual agenda. They need to remind their congregation that it is their faith which should be important and that you cannot be catholic on a Sunday and then a Dem on a Monday.

Voting for the left is voting against their faith and this needs to be shouted out at ever Sunday mass.
I am fed up of hearing off north east Catholics that they go to church or they will even go on Christmas even and yet they are Dems.

This Christmas even every church should have a sign saying how Jesus came to us to save souls not to kill them ion their mothers tummy.
He believed in a good family tradition not some perverted sick view of it .

Marriage is the foundation of a family and a good upbringing.
It takes a mother and a father to raise a child .

Not village like Hillary said as that means even the village idiot will be raising your child plus why are those who are not in your family having a say your child.

[Friendofgeorge]

For those that can handle the truth.....People that support abortion and homosexuality in any way shape or form, do not have the Spirit of Christ within them! CASE CLOSED!!

So the Catholic Church or any Church can say otherwise, but it only means they are not Christian.

I think there should be 2 definite distinctions in the Catholic Church...You simply have your Christian Catholics and you have your NON Christian Catholics! This is true in all main line denominations.

The NON Christian Catholics support abortion/homosexuality, and Christian Catholics accept Christ and the teachings of the Bible.

The Non Christian Catholics spit on Christ!

[RebelTXRose]

We had an envelope in Buffalo Diocese. There was no second collection - they wanted TWO envelopes.

Mine stayed home - in the round file.

[manc]

AGREED
NAIL ON HEAD

Do not ever say your are a Catholic to me (goes for anyone) whe you support homosexuals, do not bother about homosexuals or you say nothing about babies being killed.

As for those northeastern liberals who say they are but vote against their faith .

well

you are not Catholic and you would be good to leave the church and do not bother coming on Christmas even either as you’re a hypocrit

not you friend of george BTW

[NYer]

I am fed up of hearing off north east Catholics that they go to church or they will even go on Christmas even and yet they are Dems.

Sounds to me like you are being called to a vocation.

[NYer]

So the Catholic Church or any Church can say otherwise, but it only means they are not Christian.

The Catholic Church assists homosexuals to leave that lifestyle. What does your church do, in the name of Christ, to assist them?

[TheStickman]

Bishop Baker ROCKS!!!

[CT-Freeper]

They took up the collection in our parish, but there were bulletin inserts by the doors and in all the pews encouraging everybody to withhold donations until CCHD can better document where all of the money collected is going to.

Also, our pastor usually announces prior to the collection what the second collection of the day will be for (i.e., “The second collection today is the annual collection for the school.”). However, there was no mention of it at all this week.

[mware]

My priest did but the collection plate was almost empty.

Most of us watch EWTN and know about the scandal involving CCHD

[mware]

Although I refused to give to the CCHD, I did put in an extra $10 in the regular collection and designated it for the new doors our parish just had installed.

[Friendofgeorge]

Obviously you did not read my post, before you commented. I was not attacking the Catholic Church!!!

Here is what I said...re read and I await your apology

For those that can handle the truth.....People that support abortion and homosexuality in any way shape or form, do not have the Spirit of Christ within them! CASE CLOSED!!

So the Catholic Church or any Church can say otherwise, but it only means they are not Christian.

I think there should be 2 definite distinctions in the Catholic Church...You simply have your Christian Catholics and you have your NON Christian Catholics! This is true in all main line denominations.

The NON Christian Catholics support abortion/homosexuality, and Christian Catholics accept Christ and the teachings of the Bible.

The Non Christian Catholics spit on Christ!

[EDINVA]

This is a healthy, and long overdue, debate within the Church.

[NYer]

there were bulletin inserts by the doors and in all the pews ...

Interesting! The only way inserts make their way into bulletins is with the pastor's permission. Good for him!

[Sporaticus]

My money goes to feeding the poor via CRS Catholic Relief Services. Havent been able to find anything bad about them despite the fact that its run by the UCCSB. They predominantly spend their money overseas where the bang for the buck and buying rice by the shipload ensures that my money helps the most people. None of this touchy feeling giving for me. CCHD even if it were 100% responsible in directing funds acc. to Catholic Teaching would still be wasting the vast majority of the $$ on irrelevant fluff.
Hard working peoples money should be spent on a fund that
displays Catholic philanthropy and liberal philandering.

[Sporaticus]

Correction/Edit: Hard working peoples money SHOULDNT’ be spent on a fund that displays Catholic philanthropy and liberal philandering.

[SuziQ]

Bump for later reading