The Bishops have just declared that they will no longer be donating any of that money to ACORN. You’re safe putting $$ in the envelopes tomorrow.
catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=14309
God bless all of us,
Ruthie
I received an email from a Protestant friend that associated the “Campaign for Human Development: The Catholic Church working to end poverty and injustice in America; We’ll turn your dollars into hope for the poor of our nation” envelopes that we will receive (apparently) on the Sunday before Thanksgiving with Acorn and other political activities, including support of candidates that are not pro-life. Is that true? If so, could you give me more information? If not, could you please point me to the truth with resources to back up the claim? She was sent an email by
EagleForum.org that can also be seen online:
eagleforum.org/column/2008/nov08/08-11-14.html.
Thank you!
Sandy G
in San Antonio, TX
DO NOT SUPPORT THIS GROUP!!! I can’t shout that loudly enough.
firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=1216
Obama and the Bishops
By Richard John Neuhaus
Friday, November 7, 2008, 8:16 AM
Which brings me, finally, to another and related matter that will surely be discussed in Baltimore and deserves to be on the agenda. The Campaign for Human Development (CHD) is an annual collection in parishes, usually on one of the last two Sundays in November. It used to be called the Catholic Campaign for Human Development but the Catholic was dropped, which is just as well since it has nothing to do with Catholicism, except that Catholics are asked to pay for it. Some bishops no longer allow the CHD collection in their dioceses, and more should not allow it. In fact, CHD, misbegotten in concept and corrupt in practice, should, at long last, be terminated.
Ten years ago, CHD was exposed as using the Catholic Church as a milk cow to fund organizations that frequently were actively working against the Church’s mission, especially in their support of pro-abortion activities and politicians. Now it turns out that CHD has long been a major funder of ACORN, a national community agitation organization in support of leftist causes, including the abortion license. ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is under criminal investigation in several states. In the last decade CHD gave ACORN well over seven million dollars, including more than a million in the past year. It is acknowledged that ACORN, with which Sen. Obama had a close connection over the years, was a major player in his presidential campaign. The bishops say they are investigating the connection between CHD and ACORN. They say they are worried that it might jeopardize the Church’s tax-exemption. No mention is made of abusing the trust of the Catholic faithful.
What most Catholics don’t know, and what would likely astonish them, is that CHD very explicitly does not fund Catholic institutions and apostolates that work with the poor. Part of the thinking when it was established in the ideological climate of the 1960s is that Catholic concern for the poor would not be perceived as credible if CHD funded Catholic organizations. Yes, that’s bizarre, but the history of CHD is bizarre. The bishops could really help poor people by promptly shutting down CHD and giving any remaining funds to, for instance, Catholic inner-city schools. In any event, if there is a collection at your parish this month, I suggest that you can return the envelope empty—and perhaps with a note of explanation—without the slightest moral hesitation.
After this week’s elections, we must brace ourselves for very difficult times, keeping in mind that difficult times can be bracing. As for the meeting of bishops next week: Let the Church be the Church, and let bishops be bishops.
Our collection in Church is the 23rd. I plan to put an acorn in my empty envelope.
