The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has issued a report with the curious title of “Review and Renewal.” Its Executive Summary delineates the purpose of this report, stating that the goal is to, among other things, “Reaffirm and clearly articulate the fundamental scriptural mandates and Catholic social principles that are the foundations of CCHD.” A further goal is to “address questions and concerns by examining carefully CCHD’s current policies, practices, tools and relationships and taking specific steps to strengthen and improve CCHD’s important work.”
An examination of this report makes it clear that the leadership of the CCHD has already failed to make the promised changes. The Campaign to Reform CCHD Now issued a report following up on the CCHD document pointing out concerns with one of the recipients of CCHD funds—the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). CIW participated in the U.S. Social Forum 2010, which “ran a collection of workshops, many of which were devoted to abortion rights, homosexual rights and Marxist Socialism.”
No wonder long-time Catholic activist Mary Ann Kreitzer pointed out to readers, “CCHD is still the same group as it began—formed to pick the pockets of Catholics in the pew to pass it to radical groups some of which work for abortion, contraception, and the election of liberal politicians like Barack Obama who advance socialism.”
The type of analysis that she and the Reform CCHD Coalition have documented makes it quite clear that the CCHD is totally committed to Saul Alinsky’s principles—principles that are anything but Catholic.
Catholic writer and editor, Stephanie Block, recently opined, “The new, improved CCHD is still all about funding Alinskyian organizing (organizing based on the organizational theories of the late, great Saul Alinsky)….which is still all about progressive politics…which is still all about killing babies.”
Block then went on to write,
While it [the CCHD] has verbally distanced itself from groups that are also indirectly engaged in activities that violate Church teachings, the money pours from Catholics, who think their donations are “for the poor,” straight into progressive coffers. So while CCHD states it “will not fund groups that are members of coalitions which have as part of their organizational purpose or coalition agenda, positions or actions that contradict fundamental Catholic moral and social teaching,” it continues to fund the Alinskyian organizing networks and their affiliates. The two “model” grantees give us a very nice picture of how this plays.
Block then sets forth the problematic nature of two recipients of CCHD support, namely the Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS) which is an affiliate of Alinsky’s Industrial Areas Foundation and Federation of Congregations United to Service (FOCUS) which is affiliated with a second Alinsky clone, PICO.
Rob Gasper of the Bellarmine Veritas Ministry exposed the seditious tactics of these organizations late last year.
It is possible that this is still occurring because far too many in the Catholic social service network have come to a point where they sincerely believe that Catholic teaching on social justice is really nothing more than imitating Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals.
The Catholic Church has never, and does not now, equate social justice with such skewed Alinskyian political agendas, but rather equates genuine social justice with respect for the dignity of the human person. This means of course that there would be no acceptance of any sinful action such as abortion, contraception and homosexuality.
Obviously faithful Catholics must step up and just say “no” to financially supporting the CCHD. Until CCHD truly reforms and renews within the context of Catholic social teaching, it is not deserving of funding, but rather should receive our prayers and our supplications to God that this scandal end.
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Contact the Reform CCHD Now coalition and become a member.
2. Let your bishop know how disgusted you are with the malevolent nature of what the CCHD perceives as “reform and renewal.”
3. Insert a note in your parish envelope on CCHD Sunday stating that you cannot in good conscience support an entity within the USCCB that has an agenda.
