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Catholic World News News Feature

Cleveland Diocese Donated $30,000 To Group With Ties To Abortion July 06, 2001

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Jul 6, 01 (CWNews.com/LSN.ca) - Ohio Catholics who were distressed on learning that the Diocese of Cleveland donated $30,000 last year to a community organization affiliated with the National Abortion Rights Action League, have issued new protests upon learning another grant was made this year.

Several Catholics had contacted the Diocese to protest last year's funding of a group with links to NARAL through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). However, the diocesan newspaper, the Cleveland Catholic Universe Bulletin, reported June 22 that the Cleveland Diocese's CCHD grants for this year once again include $30,000 to the same organization-- Organize! Ohio's Grassroots Leadership Development Program.

Organize! Ohio's (OO) list of member organizations last year included the National Abortion Rights Action League of Ohio (NARAL). OO's web site described NARAL as "the political arm of the pro-choice movement in Ohio." While NARAL does not appear on OO's member list this year, Kate Pilacky, Project Director for OO, said that for administrative reasons and not because of "any controversy going on with right-wing groups."

OO's mission, according to its web site, is "to build a system of support for community organizing by providing training, increasing communication, and advocating for resources to strengthen local organizing efforts around the state. The project also provides an avenue for local organizing groups to act on a statewide level on policy issues of common interest."