Concern about USCCB Campaign for Human Development

[po18guy]

It is well known among those who watch, that the USCCB has been taken over by activists. They are fully in tune with the social justice warriors and, in some cases, have seriously neglected the Gospel. This is simply fact. Can you see any clarity in their political statement? Do you see a condemnation of socialism, or a thinly veiled, tacit approval of it as a means of generating a social utopia under the guise of the Church. I see nothing more than typical leftist double-speak.

For those who think that Jesus came only to preach social justice, here are some sobering words from Monsignor Charles Pope. He dares speak of the social justice “gospel” as an idol:

Beware the Strangest Idol of All – A Reflection on How Even Works of Charity Cannot Eclipse Obedience to Christ
Beware the Strangest Idol of All - A Reflection on How Even Works of Charity Cannot Eclipse Obedience to Christ - Community in Mission

 

[TheLittleLady]

First of all, the Church is NOT a political arm of any party. Of course the Church can fund efforts where Democrats and Green Party and Libertarians and ASP and Republicans are involved.

When there is a tornado, our parish and our Knights of Columbus takes up a collection. We then send people in to provide relief. We give the same bottles of water and first aid and clothes and vouchers for hotels and we wash the laundry of people and never ask for whom they voted or what church they belong to.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

First of all, the Church is NOT a political arm of any party. Of course the Church can fund efforts where Democrats and Green Party and Libertarians and ASP and Republicans are involved.

Yes, that’s the whole point! CCHD seems to be all democratic-party related, or progressive-politics related. The USCCB should darn well disclose that when they are asking people in the pews for their dollars!
We’re not talking about CCHD money going to relief efforts, and emergency help. This is for political candidates!!

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

From the People’s Lobby, a current grantee of the CCHD campaign of the Archdiocese of Chicago:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
This organization is receiving funds from the CCHD. Don’t you think people in the pews should know that this is where their CCHD money might be going?!

 

[angel12]

This organization is receiving funds from the CCHD. Don’t you think people in the pews should know that this is where their CCHD money might be going?!

Maybe you should find out what the CCHD grant money is for, before making accusations.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Loud-living-dogma:

This organization is receiving funds from the CCHD. Don’t you think people in the pews should know that this is where their CCHD money might be going?!

Maybe you should find out what the CCHD grant money is for, before making accusations.

It’s funny, I can find the grants published in the diocesan newspaper in 2010, but not since then. Why doesn’t the diocese publish info about the grants?

 

[LeafByNiggle]

TheLittleLady:

The CCHD has not claimed, as far as I have read, that they only grant funds to religious organizations.

Well, they ought to disclose that before the bishops and priests ask for donations to this group from Catholics sitting in the pews in church!
“Oh, by the way, we’re taking up a collection for leftist political causes, many of which include democratic candidates and causes.”

I think most Catholics already know that their local parish supports organizations other than religious ones. For example, our parish is a big supporter of the ICA Food Shelf, a local charity distributing food and clothing to those in need in our community. We regularly take up a collection for them. But they are not a religious organization. I’m sure that if you look at your own parish you will find something like this. It does not call for a “warning label.”

We’re not talking about CCHD money going to relief efforts, and emergency help. This is for political candidates!!

You need to prove that.

It’s funny, I can find the grants published in the diocesan newspaper in 2010, but not since then. Why doesn’t the diocese publish info about the grants?

Maybe because you are not looking in the right place?

http://www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development/cchd-funded-groups.cfm

 

[LeafByNiggle]

It is well known among those who watch, that the USCCB has been taken over by activists.

That is a huge accusation. Such an extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proofs.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Loud-living-dogma:

TheLittleLady:

The CCHD has not claimed, as far as I have read, that they only grant funds to religious organizations.

Well, they ought to disclose that before the bishops and priests ask for donations to this group from Catholics sitting in the pews in church!
“Oh, by the way, we’re taking up a collection for leftist political causes, many of which include democratic candidates and causes.”

I think most Catholics already know that their local parish supports organizations other than religious ones. For example, our parish is a big supporter of the ICA Food Shelf, a local charity distributing food and clothing to those in need in our community. We regularly take up a collection for them. But they are not a religious organization. I’m sure that if you look at your own parish you will find something like this. It does not call for a “warning label.”

We’re not talking about CCHD money going to relief efforts, and emergency help. This is for political candidates!!

You need to prove that.

It’s funny, I can find the grants published in the diocesan newspaper in 2010, but not since then. Why doesn’t the diocese publish info about the grants?

Maybe because you are not looking in the right place?

http://www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development/cchd-funded-groups.cfm

I need to prove it? I already did, in post #85.
Thanks, I was more specifically looking for the 25% that stays local. That’s good to see the national grantees as well, with “Community action network” organizations and everything else oozing progressive politics. You proved it! Thanks Leaf!

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

10 character

 

[Ridgerunner]

A number of bishops stopped collecting for CCHD in their dioceses years ago due to the numerous anti-Catholic causes it was supporting

Our previous bishop discouraged the collection for CCHD, suggesting, instead that we contribute to the diocesan charitable organization, which really does give direct aid to the poor.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

Loud-living-dogma:

We’re not talking about CCHD money going to relief efforts, and emergency help. This is for political candidates!!

LeafByNiggle:

You need to prove that.

I need to prove it? I already did, in post #85.

Not really. You posted something from the People’s Lobby, which was directly working for specific political candidates. But the CCHD grant was to the People’s Lobby Education Institute, which operates under the banner of the People’s Lobby, but is a distinct organization with a distinct mission, which you can read about here. As you can see, the Education Institute is a community development program that does not work for specific candidates. So your proof is poof!

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Thanks Leaf, I stand corrected. Do you really think there is no co-mingling of funds, support, operations, staff, etc between the People’s Lobby and their education institute?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m sure your intentions were the best when you started this thread, but a person can get suspended or banned for criticizing the clergy. So it’s a one-sided argument unless those who have misgivings about CCHD want to take a risk.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

Thanks Leaf, I stand corrected. Do you really think there is no co-mingling of funds, support, operations, staff, etc between the People’s Lobby and their education institute?

If you mean things like paying the common phone bill or electric bill for the building they occupy, I suppose there may be some co-mingling of funds. But if you mean that the money from the CCHD grant ended up funding a political campaign, I don’t think so. The Chicago Diocese that issued the grant is right there. They ought to know better than us what the Education Institute does. If they decide it is doing good work, who am I to say otherwise?

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

By all means!
My point, or suggestion, would be for the bishops to say up front what the money in CCHD goes for. If the groups getting the funds are so wonderful and helpful for the poor, why aren’t the bishops shouting about these organizations from the rooftops?
For example:
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[Ridgerunner]

Seems to me that’s the big question. If people want to donate money to community organizing groups or worker-owned landscaping companies, they’re free to do it. But when people donate to CCHD in Massachusetts, do they think that’s where the money is going or do they think it’s going to buy food for poor families or pay for seminary training or pay to keep the lights on in poor parishes or something else that’s direct charity or specifically Catholic?

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

A worthwhile read: the poverty industrial complex:
https://www.nationalbcc.org/news/be...-the-peoples-enemy-poverty-industrial-complex

 

[Theo520]

You must not know too many people. At least not too many poor people. The poor people I know, for the most part, are that way due to lack of education and or ability. It is not due to poor choices

Wow, the contradictions.
We’ve had free and compulsory K-12 education in the US for a very long time. Personal decisions are a part of why people don’t finish school, or later obtain a GED through the many subsidized programs.

What do you mean by “lack of ability”? Are you suggesting most poor are the lowest quartile of IQ?

 

[JMMJ]

We’ve had free and compulsory K-12 education in the US for a very long time.

Yes we have. However there is a huge disparity between quality of public education with regards to geographical locations in this country. By lack of ability, I mean there are plenty of people with learning disabilities who do not have those disabilities addressed, as children. It sets them up for a lifetime of hardship because they are not able to succeed, often times. This is not to say that anybody with a learning disability can not succeed. Of course they can, and often do.