Catholic World News

Chicago archdiocesan officials lash out at critics of Catholic Campaign for Human Development November 13, 2009

Four officials of the Archdiocese of Chicago have blasted critics of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the US bishops’ controversial anti-poverty effort.

“Recently, CCHD has come under attack from certain groups whose motivations and objectives are rooted in partisan politics, rather than faithfulness to Catholic teaching and concern for the poor,” according to the officials. “These groups have gone so far as to call for the elimination of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, making erroneous and inflammatory statements about the program, its supporters, and the projects it funds. Despite efforts on the part of the CCHD staff to reach out to these critics and respond to their concerns, anti-CCHD rhetoric has only become more fervent and hateful, and the time has come to rally in defense of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.”

“The charge that criticisms of the CCHD are rooted in partisan politics is patently false,” responded Michael Hichborn of the American Life League. “The criticisms are rooted in the fact that organizations being funded by the CCHD have been, and still are, involved in activities and in promoting philosophies that completely contradict Church teaching. These activities and philosophies include the promotion of birth control, same-sex marriage, abortion and, in some instances, even prostitution.”

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Church officials, critics clash over Catholic Campaign for Human Development (Renew America)
• US bishops' award highlights plight of Florida agricultural workers-- including slavery (CWN, 11/11/09)
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development (USCCB)
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Information (American Life League)
• Reforming the Catholic Campaign for Human Development

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• Posted by: mkvh1980 - Nov. 13, 2009 10:13 PM ET USA

  The U.S. Bishops already have a vehicle in place for delivering services to the poor and its called the "parish." There are hundreds of Catholic organizations & programs in place across the country that do the same work. We actually suffer from 'program fatigue' in our faith community. A grant-funding body by the USCCB is a social justice luxury which undermines the moral teachings of the Church by providing money to groups like ACORN.

• Posted by: extremeCatholic - Nov. 13, 2009 10:02 PM ET USA

  These officals might have better deployed their skills to determine "motives" on past recipients of funds donated by American Catholics. Also, if it has become a precondition for grantees to promote Catholic teaching in order to receive CCHD funding, then that is news to us all, and especially the grantees.

• Posted by: sparch - Nov. 13, 2009 10:19 AM ET USA

  When will the Bishops take control of this errant organization if they plan to keep it active. If not, close it down and create another vehicle to help the poor while adhering to Catholic ideals