Cardinal George, CCHD withdraw support after immigrant coalition backs same-sex marriage
July 31, 2013
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago has defended the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s decision to cease to fund the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) after the group announced its support for same-sex marriage, a Chicago news radio station reported.
After several local politicians condemned the decision in a half-page newspaper advertisement, Cardinal George issued a response.
“Donors to the CCHD give to this anti-poverty organization with the understanding that their money will be passed on to organizations that respect the teachings of the Catholic faith,” he said. “Organizations that apply for funds do so agreeing to this condition. On May 23, the ICIRR board broke faith with its member organizations when it publicly supported so called ‘same-sex marriage.’”
“For its own political advantage, it introduced a matter extraneous to its own purpose and betrayed its own members, who were not consulted,” he continued. “The CCHD had no choice but to respect the unilateral decision of the ICIRR board that effectively cut off funding from groups that remain affiliated with ICIRR. Without betraying its donors or the Catholic faith, the Catholic Church’s long-standing work for immigrant groups and for immigration reform remains intact.”
Cardinal George also responded to the politicians’ charge that “Church leaders have decided to use immigrants and those who seek to help them as pawns in a political battle.”
“Because the signers of the letters are Catholic, they know that in a few years, like each of us, they will stand before this same Christ to give an account of their stewardship,” said Cardinal George. “Jesus is merciful, but he is not stupid; he knows the difference between right and wrong. Manipulating both immigrants and the Church for political advantage is wrong.”
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Further information:
- George Defends Pulling Funding For Immigrant Group Over Same-Sex Marriage Stance (WBBM Newsradio)
- Cardinal George: An open response to an open letter (Chicago Sun-Times)
- Cardinal George accused of using immigrants in gay marriage battle (National Catholic Reporter)
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Posted by: unum -
Jul. 31, 2013 11:31 PM ET USA
Kudos to CCHD for having the courage to defund when called for, and to Cardinal George for endorsing the CCHD move.
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Posted by: -
Jul. 31, 2013 8:59 PM ET USA
“Jesus is merciful, but he is not stupid; he knows the difference between right and wrong." Finally a Prince of the Church gives me something I can paint on my escutcheon. I'm ready to run it up the flagpole. I'm ready to stand and salute!
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Posted by: JimKcda -
Jul. 31, 2013 6:27 PM ET USA
Wow! A Cardinal who actually understands the situation! Who might be next? CRS?????
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Jul. 31, 2013 6:09 PM ET USA
Yes! If the CCHD continues to make prudent decisions such as these,I will resume donations to them. We Catholics have a right to choose charities in line with Church teaching. There are organizations that support immigrants without sanctioning immoral behavior.
