A second collection will be taken up at Masses, Nov. 21-22, in parishes throughout the United States for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Below is an explanation of the campaign’s history and purpose, provided by the CCHD staff in Washington, D.C.

Parish leader cites OCO results with funding help from CCHD By Voice staff OCO (Oakland Community Organizations), one of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s national awardees for 2009, received $35,000 in CCHD assistance to help continue its efforts in Oakland to train parishioners to become active citizens in speaking about policies and actions needed to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Debbie Snow, religious education coordinator at St. Columba Parish in Oakland and active in ministry at the Alameda County youth detention facility in San Leandro, was glad to ally herself with OCO when her parish became a member several years ago. Her involvement came out of admiration for the work OCO does in the community. OCO considers every one of its members a leader, she said. And when you get all of these leaders together in solidarity with a common cause, “there’s power in numbers.” Snow cited a September 2009 OCO meeting at St. Elizabeth School, where 2,000 people rallied in support of health care and immigration reform, and demanded that city officials partner with them. Through OCO’s methods of having people talk to one another about violence in the streets, unemployment, immigration, and health care, a groundswell of public support for concrete action is built and strengthened, said Snow.

What is CCHD?

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development was founded in 1970 by the Catholic bishops of the United States as the Catholic Church’s domestic anti-poverty program. For nearly 40 years, CCHD has helped make long-term changes in the economic condition of communities across the United States.

What differentiates CCHD from other programs?

CCHD is a complement to the direct-assistance mission of Catholic Charities agencies and other Church emergency relief programs. It helps make long-term changes in the economic condition of communities by supporting projects that address the root causes of poverty, such as racism, unemployment, lack of education and lack of economic opportunities.

What kind of initiatives are funded?

CCHD funds programs where poor and marginalized people are empowered to make decisions, seek solutions to local problems and find ways to improve their lives and neighborhoods.

Economic development initiatives help poor and low-income people develop new businesses, create new jobs and develop assets that are owned by families and communities.

Does CCHD fund exclusively Catholic initiatives?

No, but CCHD guidelines explicitly state that in order to apply for CCHD funding the mission and actions of agencies seeking funding cannot be at odds with Catholic social teaching.

Why doesn’t CCHD fund exclusively Catholic programs or initiatives?

CCHD is deeply integrated into the life of the Catholic community. For example, in 2008, CCHD funded initiatives involved 683 Catholic priests, 776 Catholic parishes, 18 Catholic Charities agencies and 51 religious communities. Some of the programs funded include partnerships with other communities of faith and secular groups.

What about recent allegations that CCHD funds groups openly in conflict with positions held by the Church?

CCHD is always examining ways to strengthen and improve monitoring efforts to ensure that all grantees comply with CCHD criteria. This is an ongoing process, involving both local dioceses and national CCHD staff.

We also hear from others who may bring to our attention concerns about groups or initiatives that CCHD is either considering for funding or currently funding.

The CCHD subcommittee and staff take seriously any allegation that groups are not in compliance with Catholic teaching or are participating in partisan political activity.
CCHD immediately investigates each allegation in consultation with the local diocese and, if the allegations are confirmed, discontinues funding immediately.

Out of the 250 grantees for 2009, how many groups have been found non-compliant?

Out of 250 grantees in 2009, there were three credible allegations.
In one case, a group was found to be in support of abortion and had already been de-funded when an allegation brought their name to our attention.

In the other two cases, the groups had taken actions in conflict with CCHD’s guidelines after they were funded. Without the knowledge of the local diocese or CCHD, they produced voter guides that took positions on referenda opposed to Catholic teaching on same-sex marriage and, in one case, on parental notification and abortion.

As soon as these facts were confirmed, and after consultation with the local diocese, the groups were de-funded.

Charges against two other groups named were investigated and, in consultation with the local dioceses, the charges were found to be inaccurate or based on a misunderstanding.

In all five cases, prompt and decisive action was taken consistent with CCHD’s policies and practices. In the past, funding also has been withdrawn promptly when allegations of political partisanship or mismanagement of funds were substantiated.

Who is being funded by CCHD?

A list of recent grantees and other information about CCHD is at www.usccb.org/cchd/grants. Persons seeking further information may call the Catholic Campaign for Human Development at (202) 541-3210 or Herman Barahona, CCHD director in the Oakland Diocese, at (510) 768-3100 or hbarahona@cceb.org.

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