OPEN LETTER TO PRIESTS ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Dear Father,


You are no doubt well aware of the on-going controversy surrounding the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). The recently released American Life League report evaluating CCHD grants found that the situation in 2010 was worse than the previous year. Sadly, the same scenario has repeated, like an endless loop, since CCHD’s establishment in 1969. Concerned Catholics expose grantees who directly or indirectly promote abortion, contraception, liberation theology, the gay agenda, etc. CCHD engages in “reform,” but the objectionable grants continue. In this latest go-around, CCHD has attacked ALL and others accusing them of an “agenda” and claiming their critique is rehashed information. But within weeks of ALL’s exposé, CCHD defunded a group in the report.

Recently Real Catholic TV entered the fray with a CIA (Catholic Investigative Agency) review on CCHD which is devastating. Twenty-four percent of the collection last year went to groups that either directly or indirectly support abortion, contraception, the homosexual agenda including same-sex marriage, and cultural Marxism. Real Catholic TV exposed several additional groups besides the ALL list. The fact is, millions of dollars collected through CCHD from unsuspecting Catholics went to these evil organizations.

Serious questions must be addressed with regard to the annual CCHD collection:

1) Does giving to CCHD constitute formal cooperation with evil? If you know a percentage of the money promotes abortion, contraception, and same sex marriage, is it a sin to contribute?

2) Is it dishonest to tell people in the pews the collection is being taken up “for the poor” when direct services to the poor are ineligible for funding, i.e., the corporal works of mercy. Obviously, most people interpret helping the poor as feeding, clothing, and sheltering them – not empowering community organizing groups.

3) Do Catholics have a right, in justice, to know the truth? Is it a sin of omission not to give them the information they need to make informed decisions about giving?

4) Does a priest become complicit in the evil CCHD promotes if he takes up the collection? Is he obligated to obey the bishop if he is ordered to take up the collection without comment or must he choose between obedience to God or obedience to the bishop?

5) When Catholics become aware of the controversy and realize what they have been supporting, does it erode their confidence in the Church and the clergy?

These are provocative questions, Father, but CCHD is undermining the teachings of the Church and advancing the worst moral evils of our day. And it continues to do so year after year while engaging in bogus reforms that change nothing. While CCHD officials have ridiculed and condemned websites and blogs criticizing CCHD, the facts speak for themselves. Information is available at:

http://reformcchdnow.com/

http://www.realcatholictv.com/store/showvid.php?product=217&tag=30

http://www.catholicmediacoalition.org/cchd.htm

Please know, Father, that the faithful appreciate your generous service to God and His people and pray for you daily.