CCHD proposes reforms in answer to critics
October 26, 2010
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has announced “stronger policies and clearer mechanisms” to ensure that grants from the bishops’ anti-poverty agency do not support causes inimical to Church teachings.
The new policies include 10 commitments, beginning with a promise to “emphasize the principles of Catholic social and moral teaching in all CCHD materials and communications.” The reforms also include a requirement that applicants state their goals in terms of Catholic social teaching, and the creation of a review board to hear complaints about improper grants.
"These 10 commitments are neither an abandonment of CCHD's foundations nor are they an effort to repackage 'business as usual,'" the organization says. That statement underlines the difficult position that the CCHD now occupies.
The CCHD has been torn by criticism from conservative Catholics who have objected to the agency’s regular collaboration with left-wing activist groups, and especially its funding for groups that promote causes such as legal abortion and homosexual marriage. On the other hand, promises of reform have raised the hackles of liberal Catholics, who fear that the CCHD may forsake its historic commitment to community organizing.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: LCRich -
Oct. 27, 2010 7:16 PM ET USA
Two big problems exist with the way CCHD has been operated. Firsvalid concern is all the organizations they fund they promote behaviors or actions against Catholic Morality. Second is their decision to work through community organizing groups. The purpose of those organizations is to create unrest in the community and then someone else may (twice removed) address the needs of the poor. Such socialism is not supported by Church teachings either. My money will never return to CCHD.
-
Posted by: impossible -
Oct. 27, 2010 11:25 AM ET USA
Unfortunately, they have lost their integrity. Them saying they are reforming CCHD is like Obama pledging to reduce the number of abortions. Go to: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/printerfriendly.html?articleid=10102607
-
Posted by: sparch -
Oct. 27, 2010 10:21 AM ET USA
It is not the words that matter but the actions. If the same people are running the joint, how will it ever change. Dissolve the organizaton and build a new one with people who have proven their value through works and not words.
-
Posted by: -
Oct. 26, 2010 10:03 PM ET USA
Ken, you speak for me. Their hearts are in the wrong place. St. Francis they are not.
-
Posted by: -
Oct. 26, 2010 7:48 PM ET USA
Last year it was "outrageous" that someone would complain about CCHD. The presence of this report indicates it wasn't so outrageous after all. The report recommends tying grants to Catholic social teaching. Isn't that what they were supposed to do all along? I'll need to watch their grant for a couple of years before I believe that anything's changed.
-
Posted by: unum -
Oct. 26, 2010 5:55 PM ET USA
After reading the Executive Summary and Report from the bishops who are responsible for CCHD, I'm not sure they heard the same criticisms that I did. The report is full of "try harder" goals, but no concrete personnel changes or reorganization to correct the mismanagement that occurred with CCHD. The use of "churchspeak" in a report about a management problem is unsettling. Based on the report, I am not persuaded to contribute to CCHD with the bishops managing the funds.
-
Posted by: Ken -
Oct. 26, 2010 5:44 PM ET USA
Too late. Disband the CCHD. For that matter disband the USCCB - it is controlled by a bunch of liberal "Catholics" who do not follow Catholic teaching. I will never again donate to the CCHD.
