Catholic campaign for human development: Still entranced by leftist activism, despite growing unrest

Human Events, Nov 10, 2000 by Lopez, Kathryn Jean

Silence Strategy

It's too bad CCHD's current director doesn't follow the Rev. Mottet's example and simply explain why the organization repeatedly denies that it promotes leftist activism.

In an e-mail message denying a request for an interview, CCHD Director the Rev. Robert Vitillo wrote, "I will keep you in thought and prayer as you prepare this article and will continue to pray for those who will make the decision on what information will be included in this report. May truth and justice prevail."

Truth and justice, however, face quite a struggle when CCHD's national leaders won't defend its current activities or even provide factual information.

Vitillo's response suggests that his refusal to be interviewed by the Capital Research Center was not his-decision alone. It appears a strategy of silence is dictated by the senior officers of the United States Catholic Conference, which the nation's bishops oversee.

"I am responding to your request for an interview," Vitillo wrote. "I referred your request to the United States Catholic Conference Department of Communications in accord with the procedures established by my superiors at the Bishops' Conference. You subsequently received a telephone contact by a representative of the USCC Communications Department. In view of the latter discussion with you and in view of a review of interview questions which you posed to various persons engaged in implementing the mandate of the Campaign as it was established by the U.S. Catholic bishops 30 years ago, I was advised against scheduling an interview with you."

The silence strategy goes far beyond the national office. While CCHD officials in Catholic dioceses throughout the country vehemently deny any "ultraliberal rhetoric"as Suzanne Belongia, CCHD director in Winona, Minn., put it-few will say much more than that.

When asked to comment, Belongia refused to talk about CCHD grants except to note Pope John Paul II's endorsement of CCHD when he visited Washington, D.C., early in his pontificate.

"The efforts. aimed at establishing selfhelp projects deserve praise and encouragement, for in this way an effective contribution is made to removing the causes and not merely the evil effects of injustice," Belongia said.

."The projects assisted by the campaign have helped to create a more human and just social order, and they enable many people to indicated frustration with CCHD's national office and its staid loyalty to failed solutions.

"They're basically funding Democratic Party politics." one diocesan director says of the national staff. But he and other critics spoke only on condition of anonymity, perhaps fearful of retribution from CCHD's national office.

Other CCHD directors like the program, but they seem to have found at least a middle road. Dan Ebener is both CCHD and pro-life director for the diocese of Davenport, Iowa, and says the two roles have taught him to work with people on "both sides of the political aisle."

The diocese has awarded CCHD grants for pro-life workshops on post-abortion counseling for every year of his 14-year tenure, Ebener says. CCHD has earned a bad reputation for funding at least a few prochoice groups in the past.