Bishops Must Immediately Suspend All Grants From Catholic Campaign for Human Development Program

Catholic Advocate Leadership Calls for Review of Grant Award Process

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- The leadership of Catholic Advocate today called upon the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to immediately suspend distributing any additional grants from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) program until a complete review of the award process occurs.

"CCHD can no longer pretend its problems have been solved with the defunding of two organizations last November after initial reports," said Catholic Advocate President Deal Hudson. "The CCHD should be completely overhauled or eliminated."

Information surfaced in November about CCHD money being granted to 31 pro-abortion groups aligned with the Center for Community Change (CCC). Additional information, uncovered by American Life League (ALL) and Bellarmine Veritas Ministry and released yesterday, points to potential conflicts of interest between staff of the Bishops' conference and their leadership on the board of CCC.

Catholic Advocate recommends CCHD Chair Bishop Roger Morin of Biloxi, Mississippi conduct an independent review of both grant applications over the past ten years and the minutes of CCC board meetings during the period when USCCB staff were members. Bishop Morin can help clear the air by presenting a thorough public report to the full leadership of the USCCB.

"Why has the USCCB promoted CCC on their website? How can the Bishops' conference effectively advocate for policies in line with the teachings of the Church while at the same time providing money to groups working against those same teachings?" asked Catholic Advocate Vice President Matt Smith. "Part of the game in Washington is joining coalitions to pass legislation. But joining and funding groups that contradict the basic priorities of the church on the sanctity of life and marriage is not advocacy, it is euthanasia of our values."

To read the full investigation of the American Life League (ALL) and Bellarmine Veritas Ministry visit http://www.reformcchdnow.com/.

Catholic Advocate is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization, including 75,000 members, addressing current ongoing debates about Catholic political participation, and calls upon Catholic voters to support candidates and policies faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Columns by Hudson and Smith on various topics are available at http://www.catholicadvocate.com/ and http://twitter.com/CathAdv.

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