Thursday, March 25, 2010

CCHD, Show Some Gratitude

The CCHD ought to be thanking the Bellarmine Veritas Ministry (BVM), et al, for their work in exposing some of the groups that the CCHD was improperly funding with parishioners money.

The latest unworthy grantee to be defunded is Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ), an advocacy program run by Portland-based Preble Street. Preble Street has been funded by the CCHD for 13 years. LifeSiteNews reports:

"Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ), an advocacy program run by Portland-based Preble Street, had received funding from the CCHD for 13 years. But Preble Street joined a “No on 1” coalition in the fall, which fought to uphold the state's recognition of same-sex “marriage.” Maine voters overturned the law on November 3, but Preble Street's support for it prompted the Portland diocese and Bishop Richard Malone to revoke their $2,400 grant in December.

"We regret the collaboration must end at this time," wrote Sandra Thompson of Catholic Charities Maine, according to Portland Press Herald. "Accountability to the Catholic community requires this."

CCHD national director Ralph McCloud then wrote to the group on January 27th, advising them they had disqualified themselves from CCHD grants and would not receive the remaining half of this year's $30,000 grant. McCloud also asked them to return any unspent funds from the first $15,000, though he was later informed that there weren't any."


The BVM alerted the CCHD to potential problems with Preble Street back in November 2009. They informed the CCHD that Preble Street was offering "family planning services" through a shelter. Rob Gasper of the BVM requested that the CCHD investigate the group to determine if Preble Street met the CCHD's funding criteria. It turns out they did not.

It would be proper for the officials at the CCHD to thank the BVM for doing what is the CCHD's job, but I would be surprised.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

No comments: