The attacks on CCHD come every year at about this time. They are almost funny in their scope. On the serious side they are serious acts of calumny. They are offered by mostly individuals with a simplistic and purist, narrow and tunnel-vision approach to any involvement in the world. These people are right out of central casting for playing the Pharisees in a movie about the Life of Christ. Having said that, we have to answer them. Below is Monica Landeros', Associate Director of the Office of Public Policy, message to pastors about the current attacks:
Dear Pastors,
The annual CCHD collection is right around the corner, and in response to the recent negative portrayal of and numerous allegations about CCHD’s compliance with Catholic Social Teaching, we would like to share the following with you. This information is as a resource for you only, in case you should have questions or complaints from your parishioners about the CCHD program.
As the USCCB has repeatedly stated, CCHD fully upholds our Church’s teaching on the sanctity of human life from conception through natural death. They also fully support the protection of traditional marriage, as between one man and one woman. The Campaign funds projects that empower the poor and help them organize themselves to move out of poverty. All grant applicants are thoroughly screened and funds are only provided to those groups and projects with objectives that are clearly in line with the moral teaching of the Catholic Church. If evidence of non-compliance is discovered at any point during the term of an organization’s grant, they will be defunded immediately, and all monies will be returned to the Campaign.
Locally, the Campaign has been attacked for funding two of our organizations. East Palo Alto based Nuestra Casa was listed as a member of Mobilize the Immigrant Vote (MIV). However, this does not imply in any way that Nuestra Casa supports the social agenda of MIV. Nuestra Casa has confirmed that they were never consulted about MIV taking positions on ballot initiatives contrary to Catholic Social Teaching. Additionally, the Mobilize the Immigrant Vote website includes this statement: “the partner organizations listed above do not necessarily endorse MIV’s formal positions on ballot measures or policy proposals.” The San Francisco Organizing Project (SFOP) is a community organizing group that has always maintained a strong relationship with our office and the Archbishop. SFOP has not engaged in any activities contrary to Church teaching. Most recently, SFOP has worked to expand access to health care to children and low-income communities. SFOP is fully aware of the Catholic Church’s position on health care, and they in no way support or endorse funding for abortion or any other life issue that would be contrary to the Church’s teaching.
The Bishops have currently been meeting in Baltimore to discuss the situation of CCHD. To date, the CCHD Subcommittee has had positive and productive sessions. Bishop Morin and his staff have had positive and supportive meetings with the Bishops' Administrative Committee and the Collections committee. All have voiced support for CCHD and our common efforts to carry out its essential mission in these days of negative and unfounded attacks. A strong, supportive and helpful statement adopted unanimously by the Bishops' CCHD Subcommittee and the Chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development is attached. Please use it in as many ways as are helpful to you and your parishioners. We encourage you to support the Campaign and all of its good work, especially during these rough, economic times.
In Christ,
Monica M. Landeros
Associate Director
