New Report on CCHD: Disappointing

In 2010, in the hope of reforming the USCCB's Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Reform CCHD Now coalition sent a report to every U.S. bishop detailing the pro-choice, pro-homosexual, pro-Marxist organizations that have received grants from the CCHD. In spite of the USCCB's promise to remove dissenting organizations from among its grantees, the latest report shows that the number of dissenting organizations has increased from 21% to 24%.

These 54 organizations received a total of $1,863,000 of the $7,608,000 distributed in CCHD grants in 2010-2011.

Yes, that's your money, friends--the money you put in the collection plate whenever the CCHD makes its annual appeal (which is slated for next month).

CCHD guidelines require that “no grantee may participate in or promote activities that contradict the moral and social teachings of the Church.” In spite of this, in the past year, the CCHD has given money to the following groups, among others:

NYC AIDS Housing Network ($30,000) –Distributes condoms and promoted Transgender Day of Remembrance

Southwest Organizing Project ($45,000) –Lead agency for a contraception promoting sex education program

DesisRising Up and Moving (DRUM)($35,000) –Promoted Transgender Day of Remembrance and received grant money specifically for LGBT activism

United Workers Association ($50,000) –Joined a coalition that supports same-sex marriage

Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center($28,000) –Promoted pro-abortion National Organization for Women and pro-homosexual P-FLAG on its website

The list is much longer; to view the complete list, read the 2011 report here.

The CCHD has offered its response to what it calls "attacks". The problem is that the CCHD's defense is vague and makes assertions without substantiating its claims; the CCHD basically argues that the allegedly dissenting organizations are not really in dissent--in spite of explicit language on these organizations' websites that claim they support, sponsor, or partner with groups that promote things contrary to Catholic teaching. It would be helpful, for instance, if the CCHD offered a point-by-point refutation of the very thorough RCN report, detailing how it is that, say, the Michigan Organizing Project--which has received thousands upon thousands of dollars for pro-homosexual activism--does not dissent from Catholic teaching. Until it does, the CCHD's protests ring hollow.

And here's this helpful little tidbit from the social justice arm of the USCCB:

CCHD relies far more on the experience and judgment of the local bishop and diocese than on the accusations of those with a long record of attacking the USCCB and bishops to advance their own ideological and ecclesial agendas.

And what if the local bishop is little concerned that the organization dissents from Catholic teaching? (It has been known to happen...)

Exactly what "ideological and ecclesial agendas" does the CCHD refer to here? The agenda that the Church only fund organizations faithful to Catholic doctrine?

And people wonder why there is so much anger at the bishops...

If you'd like to write a letter telling the CCHD you will not be contributing to them until they genuinely reform their ways, you can do so here:

cchdgrants@usccb.org

rmccloud@usccb.org