Too close for comfort: CCHD, sex and abortion

Human Events, Nov 20, 1998 by Reilly, Patrick

LGCJ seeks "awareness, understanding and respect" for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and "transgenderal persons." It fights for laws denying employers right to refuse to hire homosexuals and supports political candidates who advocate such laws. Two months ago CRC requested a meeting with the Rev. Robert Vitillo, CCHD's executive director, but his reply was astonishing: "My superiors have considered your organization's request to interview me, but, in view of the long-term misrepresentation of the campaign's mission and activities by your organization, they have declined permission for such an interview." Here We Go Again This year's review of CCHD's 1997 grants once again gives rise to serious concerns. Focusing on last year's grants under CCHD's "welfare reform initiative," CRC found grant recipients were more concerned with obstructing and even reversing welfare reform than finding private alternatives to government programs. Also, CRC found some support for groups engaged in activities that violate Catholic teachings on human dignity. Finally, the proposed new guidelines portend no change in CCHD's penchant for leftist, "grassroots" advocacy groups. CCHD continues to support the model of social justice promoted by 1960s radical Saul Alinsky. But it is important to clarify the scope of CRC's review. As we have done in past years, we looked only at CCHD grants made by the national office in Washington, D.C. This disregards a smaller portion of CCHD grants determined by each Catholic diocese.

A cursory review of grants made by some dioceses suggests the diocesan CCHD grants are much better than the national grants. CRC's report should be understood to concern only the majority of funds distributed by the national office.

Each year Catholics support CCHD through diocesan collections. (This year's collection is November 21-22.) CCHD recommends that dioceses withhold 25% of the donations for their own grants and send the remainder to the national office (although bishops may choose to keep more). CCHD estimates the total for the 1997 collection was $14 million (up from $13.6 million in 1996). Last year the national office made 256 grants totalling $8 million. Will Questionable Funding Be Ended? While CCHD's proposed guidelines should prevent direct grants to organizations that violate Catholic teachings, there is a loophole. Such groups can benefit from indirect CCHD support when they are actively involved in a CCHD-funded project, but the grant is passed through a less controversial group. This can occur when CCH funds coalitions that include controversial member organizations.

In 1997 CCHD awarded grants to the following coalitions and indirectly assisted their members: * $7,500 to Greater Birmingham Ministries in Alabama, which in 1997 sponsored a broader coalition, Alabama Arise. Members of Alabama Arise include state and local chapters of the AFL-CIO, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and League of Women Voters. * $30,000 to Catholic Social Services of Little Rock, Arkansas and the Arkansas Kids Count Coalition, which includes state chapters of the March of Dimes, American Association of University Women and League of Women Voters. * $20,000 to Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), an alliance between Los Angeles-area churches and unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO. * $55,000 to the Florida Catholic Conference to work with state organizations, including the state chapter of the League of Women Voters.