Thursday, October 30, 2008

He Postions are Evil! (Yes, it is about about Obama)

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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Fr. Philip Neri Powell states:

Many of my friends from my days as a Marxist-feminist-postmodernist ideologue have been asking me lately how I can resist supporting an Obama presidency.

My answer--much to their horror--has been simple: "Because I used to be a Marxist-feminist-postmodernist ideologue, and I understand the party-line of the movement:

-- destroy the notion of objective truth with appeals to diversity, difference, and multi-cultism;
-- eliminate the possibility of rational discourse by elevating the affective above the rational;
-- convert all public political discourse into emotive appeals to race, gender, class, and sexuality;
-- define "freedom" as "freedom from constraint" and never as "freedom to do what is right;"
-- attack all secular opposition as "oppressive, self-centered, and fearful;"
-- attack all religious opposition as "superstitious, fundamentalist, and ignorant;"
-- use "white liberal guilt" to attack economic growth and prosperity;
-- feed over-educated narcissism with the prospect of ruling, finally, and ruling more than the meager resources of an English/women's studies department at a state university."

Go over here to read the rest of it. He has lots of "good stuff to ponder" on his site.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Footsteps of American Saints Activity Program - Boy Scouts of America

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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A friend of mine shared with me the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) Newsletter.

This issue announced a new patch activity for Cub and Boy Scouts entitled: Footsteps of American Saints." According to the article, it is a program which encourages your to learn about several individuals who have shaped the landscape of Catholicism in America. The are:

St. Issac Jogues
St. Peter Claver
St. John Newmann
St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton
Blessed Kateri Tekakwirtha

If you are a Scout leader or the parent of a Scout, this may be an activity you wish to particpate in.

For more information, go here: http://www.nccs-bsa.org/emblems-awards/footsteps.php

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Crisis in Faith Based Schools - A Report from the US Dept. of Education

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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The Catholic News Service (CNS) reported that the The White House Development Policy Council released a report entitled: Preserving a Critical National Asset: America's Disadvantaged Students and the Crisis in Faith-Based Urban Schools.

Here is the Introduction:

On April 24, 2008, President George W. Bush convened in Washington, D.C., a broad array of education and community stakeholders to address a deeply troubling but vastly under-reported phenomenon limiting the education options available to low-income urban families: the rapid disappearance of faith-based schools in America’s cities.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, between the 1999–2000 and 2005–06 school years, the K–12 faith-based education sector lost nearly 1,200 schools and nearly 425,000 students. This is a cause for national concern for a number of important reasons. First, for generations, these schools have played an invaluable role in America’s cities. They are part of our Nation’s proud story of religious freedom and tolerance, community development, immigration and assimilation, academic achievement, upward mobility, and more. To lose these schools is to lose a positive, central character in the narrative of urban America.

More importantly, the disappearance of these schools is having a tragic impact on many of our most disadvantaged families. For many urban parents, the moral grounding, community ethic, safe and structured environment, and academic rigor of faith-based schools are invaluable to their children. These qualities are especially prized because of the unfortunate alternatives many of these children and families face.

The struggles of urban public schools are well known and long-standing. The underserved children of America’s cities deserve access to high-performing educational options. The disappearance of urban faith-based schools— with their strong record of serving the disadvantaged—frustrates the crucial national effort to make educational excellence available to every child.

Experience indicates that the contributions of these schools extend far beyond the classroom. A strong education institution can stabilize a community. It can attract new families and jobs. It can provide safety and hope in areas where both are in short supply. Regrettably, the inverse is also true. In addition to hurting students, the loss of a strong school in an underserved community can destabilize fragile social networks, depress job creation and economic development, and exacerbate the collective sense of despair resulting from scarce community resources and opportunities.

As serious and worrisome as this problem is, there is no villain in the story. No one purposely set about to cause an education crisis. The root causes are several and diffuse—including barriers to government aid, demographic shifts, and staffing changes—and they only begin to corrode urban faith-based schools when combined. However, these factors have, in the end, chipped away at a pillar of American K–12 education. To leave this grave and mounting challenge unaddressed would be irresponsible. The futures of too many young lives and distressed communities are at stake.

Fortunately, this problem is solvable. America’s institutions—from the Federal, State, and local governments to businesses and non-profits to universities and community-based organizations—have it in their power to turn the tide. This Administration has taken the lead, raising the public awareness of this crisis through the White House Summit on Inner-City Children and Faith-Based Schools and developing and supporting promising initiatives, including Promise Scholarships, Opportunity Scholarships, Pell Grants for Kids, and the Washington, D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.

However, if we are to succeed in protecting these valuable education options, more must be done. A sustained collaborative effort by educators, elected officials, philanthropists, neighborhood leaders, and many others will be required. America’s faith-based urban schools—so prized by so many families—are well worth this effort. Their preservation will greatly benefit countless disadvantaged students, numerous underserved communities, and as a result, our Nation at large.


For the complete report, click here.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Archbishop Chaput Booksigning - Wed., Oct. 29th

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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Wednesday, Oct. 29th at 6pm

The Catholic Information Center
1501 K St., NW
Washington DC

Archbishop Chaput, the Archbishop of Denver, is one of America’s most publicly engaged religious leaders, urges Catholics to live their faith more honestly and vigorously in public life in his new book, Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life.

If you can go, go. If you do, please let me know about the event. I am hoping to be there but I may have another appointment that night.

Friday, October 24, 2008

St. Rose of Lima & the former Rent-a-Priest Board Member

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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As some of you may remember, I have written a couple of times about St. Rose of Lima and the issue of dissidents in that parish. There is an active VOTF group that regulary meets there and one of the Board Members of Rent-a-Priest, was active at there too.

A few weeks ago, I went over to the Rent-a-Priest Bard of Director page and lo-and-behold, the name of Sally Dowling (who had been there for ages) was gone. However, the date of the Board has not change. It still shows as if it is from 2002. (This was before I started to keep images of websites.)

Recently, I went on the St. Rose of Lima site and what did you think I saw: Sally Dowling. She is giving a talk at the parish, as part of their Women's Spirituality Series, and is identified as a Pastoral Counselor and Spiritual Director.

Now, I find it very co-incidental that her name was suddenly removed from the Rent-a-Priest Board and she is now giving a talk on spirituality? Is she still a member of Rent-a-Priest? Does she continue to espouse the views of Rent-a-Priest?

I don't know the answer to those questions but to me, given he past history of St. Rose of Lima, it makes me really wonder what is going on over there.

Is there anyone in Hyattsville paying attention?


Thursday, October 23, 2008

Well, it seems that the theme of boycotting the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has been picked up by a number of Catholic bloggers.

Our friends over at Restore DC Catholicism and the Catholic Media Coalition, have really taken this on. It is especially interesting to read the four articles on how the CCHD is funding groups that are in some ways (if not many) opposed to Church teaching (some of which I have already pointed out):

Dissing the Organizer: Obama, ACORN, and Catholic Action

The Chickens Have Come Home to Roost:Obama, ACORN, and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development

How to Shoot Yourself: One of the Most Potent Weapons Serving the Culture of Death

Credible Signs of Christ Alive: Case Studies from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development

As I have said before, do not give on Nov. 23, 2008.


However, I do want you to take the money that you would have given to CCHD and give it to a good local Catholic charity, one that upholds the teaching of the Church and does not fund abortions, gay marriage, etc.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Bishop Herman: "I thought you should know." or "Save the Children."

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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When I first read this, tears began to well up in my eyes thinking about what many of my fellow Catholics will do on Nov. 4th.

HT to the Curt Jester on this.


Save our children! More than anything else, this election is about saving our children or killing our children. This life issue is the overriding issue facing each of us in this coming election. All other issues, including the economy, have to take second place to the issue of life.

Save our children! Many people in Germany supported Hitler for economic reasons even though, as his programs advanced, he put to death millions of Jewish people. He ended up wrecking the economy together with the country of Germany.

How are we different if we vote for proabortion candidates for office? How can we help change our political and legal situation to protect innocent children and support a culture of life?

Save our children! When I speak to some socalled good Catholics, I am shocked that they are quite ready to vote for a pro-abortion candidate under almost any circumstance. I find this hard to understand. We have heard the word "abortion" so often that perhaps we no longer associate procured abortion with the killing of children, yet that is what it is. The term itself can be misleading. The dictionary tells us that it comes from a Latin word that means "to disappear or to miscarry." Sometimes abortions simply happen because of natural causes. That is why this word abortion, for many people, apparently does not really connote the destruction of children. When a human agent induces an abortion, that human agent is taking the life of one of our children.

Save our children! How can a so-called good Catholic vote for a candidate that supports laws that take the life of innocent children, when there is an alternative? If there were two candidates who supported abortion, but not equally, we would have the obligation to mitigate the evil by voting for the less-permissive candidate.

Save our children! How can a so-called good Catholic vote for a candidate that supports laws that justify the killing of a child that survived a botched abortion? How can such a so-called good Catholic receive the Holy Eucharist?

In Chapter 10 of St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he states: "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? ... You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons."

Save our children! Have some of our so-called good Catholics become so hardened against the Gospel of Life that they believe that other issues outweigh the Gospel of Life? Have some of our so-called good Catholics put politics ahead of the Fifth Commandment, in which God states: "Thou shalt not kill"? Do some of our so-called good Catholics, who may go to Mass every Sunday and receive the Holy Eucharist, really believe that voting for a pro-abortion candidate, when there is a clear alternative and therefore no justifiable reason for so doing, is really not voting to have children killed? This election is all about saving our children!

Save our children! I have no doubt that there may be some so-called good Catholics who are reading this column and who may be really angry about now. I ask the question "Why would such a person be angry?" If we do good deeds, then our conscience is at peace. If we do evil deeds, then our conscience bothers us. It is my hope that this column will lead some of our so-called good Catholics to study the Catholic Catechism.

Save our children! Some of our so-called good Catholics may have hardened their hearts against the real understanding of induced abortions, that they can no longer see that this involves the destruction of our children. "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts!"

Save our children! Supporting induced abortions is not the greatest sin in the world. A greater sin is the refusal to repent of such a serious crime or the denial that this involves the killing of innocent children.

Save our children! I have used this terminology again and again penetrate the defenses of anyone who in the past may have put personal, economic or political interests above the issue of saving our children. The right to life is our most fundamental right, and to defend this right on behalf of the most vulnerable is a great privilege and is worth giving one’s life for. Policemen and firemen always risk their lives to save human life. Why should we not risk our own reputation to save our children?

Save our children! You can see by now that I do not believe that this column by itself will change hearts. The issue of abortion involves serious sin, and to overcome serious patterns of sin requires grace. If you are still with me, may I suggest that you join me and many others in praying the daily Rosary from now until election day for the sake of life. Why not pray the family Rosary every night between now and the general election. The Rosary brought down the Iron Curtain. It can also help us turn around the culture of death to a culture of life.

Save our so-called good Catholics who ignore Catholic moral principles when applied to our political life. Pray the family Rosary daily. Pray the family Rosary for our so-called good Catholics who could use your love and your charity. Pray for our so-called good Catholics who ignore serious Catholic moral teachings and still receive Holy Communion. Love them by praying the family Rosary for them. Don’t debate with them. Intercede for them. Praying for them is more fun than fighting with them.

Save our children and save our so-called good Catholics who have abandoned Church teachings in favor of personal gain. Pray the Rosary. Pray it every day. Get the whole family to pray the Rosary daily. Prayer is more powerful than contentious arguments. Spread the word to other families. In praying the Rosary, children’s votes count as much as adult votes. Sometimes they pray with purer hearts than we do. If you are disgusted with the TV news, then turn it off and turn on the prayer Internet. What we hear in prayer leaves us in peace. When we pray for our country and for our fellow citizens, we are filled with peace. St. Paul tells us that our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers and the spirits of darkness.

Prayer is our protection. Let it also be a protection for our country. If you want to make Satan angry, pray the Rosary for the sake of Life. Pray that as a nation we will choose leaders that will say ‘no’ to the culture of death and say ‘yes’ to the culture of life. Save our children! Pray the Rosary!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Daughters of St. Paul

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD. Read more here.


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The Catholic Standard has a nice article (print only) about St. Luisa Yvonne Ielonimo, a Daughter of St. Paul. Sr. Luisa staffs their bookstore in Alexandria, VA. If you have not been there, you should go. They have a nice selection of materials.

However, when I think of the Daughters of St. Paul, I think back to when I was a child (yes, I was one once). I must have been about three or four when there was a knock at the door. My mother opened it and there were two sisters (not the ones I remember seeing in my Church), each carrying a large black case, similar to the one lawyers carry when they go to court. They talked to my mom and opened the bags to show her some books. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much more of the visit.

However, it seems that my mother did buy two books, one of which I still have to this day. I won’t throw it out.

Here are a couple of scanned pages. Enjoy.






Monday, October 20, 2008

Just what we need, another ACORN style group...

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD. Read more here.

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Periodically, I get a couple of emails from my vast readership on various things. (I keep telling Mom and Dad that they can call.)

However, this time a reader reminded me that we seem to have another Alinskey style group in Northern VA made up of Catholic and Protestant groups. Just what we need!

From the Catholic Herald:


This Sunday, Oct. 5, 1,800 leaders from 40 religious institutions in Northern Virginia will gather to launch the new ecumenical initiative V.O.I.C.E. (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries at 5 p.m.

Composed of lay and clergy leaders from Christian, Jewish, Unitarian and Muslim religious institutions in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William County, V.O.I.C.E. seeks to make changes in affordable housing, immigration, health care and other issues. On Sunday, these leaders will present an “action agenda” regarding the above issues to local public officials.

“The current economic crisis makes this unified action all the more imperative,” said Father Tuck Grinnell, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church and one of the initiative’s founders. “Now is the time for our faith communities to stand together and speak for all whose voice is not heard. Our faith values call us to raise our voice in solidarity with them.”

Friday, October 17, 2008

CCHD Stops Funding of ACORN! Maybe...

As I was surfing the web, I came across this.

I just wonder why now...maybe we (Catholic bloggers) have put CCHD in a very embarrassing situation, showing the link between CCHD and ACORN and considering the fact that a number of us have called for a boycott of the CCHD.

According to the Catholic News Service (CNS):

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Catholic Campaign for Human Development suspended funding a nationwide community organizing group after it was disclosed June 2 that nearly $1 million had been embezzled. (My understanding is that it did not come out until July 9, 2008 in the NYTimes. So, what other things have they been made aware of but have not acted on?)

Funding was suspended for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, popularly known as ACORN, because of the financial irregularities, said Ralph McCloud, executive director of CCHD, the U.S. bishops' domestic anti-poverty and social justice program.

"We're not funding them at any level," McCloud told Catholic News Service Oct. 15.

The suspension covers all 40 ACORN affiliates nationwide that had been approved for $1.13 million in grants for the funding cycle that started July 1, 2008. (So, money had been approved, and then stopped.)

McCloud said the suspension came soon after his office learned that ACORN disclosed that Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke, had embezzled nearly $1 million from the organization and its affiliates in 1999 and 2000. Dale Rathke stepped down from his position with the organization in June when the matter became public; no charges were filed against him. Wade Rathke stepped down as the group's lead organizer at the same time but remains chief organizer for ACORN International LLC.

CCHD has hired specialists in forensic accounting to investigate whether any of its grant funding has been misappropriated, McCloud added.

Since revealing its financial troubles, the organization has come under intense scrutiny because of its voter registration practices. (Gee, many of us knew this in the 2004 election...was CCHD asleep at the switch or did they just ignore it.) In several states voter registration forms have been found to include nonexistent or dead people. Some registrants have told elections officials they completed multiple cards at the urging of ACORN canvassers who claimed they would be fired if they did not meet a daily quota for signing up new voters.

McCloud released information showing that CCHD funded more than 320 ACORN projects with grants totaling more than $7.3 million during the last 10 years. He said the community organization also had received funds since early in CCHD's history.

CCHD's Web site reveals the campaign gave about $1.11 million to 40 ACORN affiliates in 2007 and $1.17 million to 45 affiliates in 2006. (I was wrong on the numbers. At least someone corrected me on it.)

Over the years, some of the funds undoubtedly were used for voter registration drives, McCloud said. "It probably was," he told CNS.

"But by the same token, we didn't find any voter registration irregularities, the allegations we are finding now." (As I said, were these guys asleep at the switch?)


First, I congratulate my fellow Catholic bloggers on this. I believe that we put the CCHD in a very embarrassing position.

Second, you notice that this is a suspension. It doesn't mean that the CCHD will not resume it in the future.

Does Mr. McCloud think we are idiots not to realize this? He probably does. Mr. McCloud should be fired ASAP. It is another indication that the CCHD needs to be reformed.

In fact, they should ask for their money back for the last ten years and stop any and all future grants to ACORN.

So, I will continue to call for a boycott of the CCHD until they stop giving to ACORN and secular groups that work against the Church.

I urge you to take up this message too.

Running the Catholic Church - Freddie Mac Style...

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD. Read more here.

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There seems to be a movement in some parishes in this Archdiocese regarding this. Read on...

There was a brief controversy in the summer of 2003, when a group of liberal and progressive Catholic figures held a closed-door meeting to discuss Church matters with several high-level prelates, including Archbishop Wilton Gregory and Theodore Cardinal McCarrick. Deal W. Hudson and others at the time observed that the group had a number of well-known dissenters and yet no conservative Catholic voices, and was also unusually Boston-centric. A second and similar meeting was arranged between the same prelates and the conservative critics, and the matter was closed.

But that's not to say the matter was ended.

Geoffrey Boisi -- the leader of the original group -- eventually relaunched his organization with a press conference on March 14, 2005, under the mellifluous name the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management (NLRCM). The group meets yearly at the Wharton School of Business, issues annual reports, produces DVDs and instructional materials, gives out awards, develops Church management degrees for Catholic universities, and so on.

Read more in an article from Inside Catholic by T. Joseph Marier.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Punished with A Baby

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD. Read more here.

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She says it all about Senator Obama, an empty suit who considers the question of abortion above his paygrade.



Spread the word.

Hat tip to
+Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam+

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Montgomery County Voters Disenfranchised - A New Follow-Up

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD. Read more here.

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As many of you know, the Montogmery County Council (MD) rammed thru a bill dealing with those with gender identity issues. A number of signatures were obtained and the measure was put on the ballot to be decided in November. A number of gay and lesbian groups (who claim that they are the most open minded and liberal thinking people) fought to have it thrown off the ballot on technicalities and were successful. Thereby, they disinfranchied almost a million voters.

Note that these same "liberal, open-minded" groups seems to tell us that the majority of residents were on their side. If so, then they should have let it remain to prove themselves correct. Maybe they knew, like the County Council, that they did not have the support of the majority of residents and had to force it on the citizens. I think they were very scared they were going to lose!

Well, it seems that the matter is back in court. (HOORAY!) According to the slightly incorrect article in the Montgomery County Gazette, the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group based in Scottsdale, Ariz., also is asking the Montgomery County Circuit Court to grant a temporary restraining order voiding the law,

Who knows, maybe the voters will get their say.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Why does Doug Kmiec do what he does?

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD. Read more here.

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Why does Doug Kmiec do what what he does? I wondered about that for a long time.

Matt Abbott believes he has the answer.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

SHUT DOWN THE CCHD!

For the next month, in addition to my regular postings, I will be advocating the shutting down of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). Unfortunately, the current structure of the CCHD has allowed it to assist in the financial crisis the US currently faces, as well as, possible voter fraud in this election on a scale that would make Boss Tweed jealous.

Therefore, I am calling on the US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) to do the following:

  1. No grants are to be issued for 2008.
  2. All monies collected will be placed in interest bearing accounts, such as CDs, Federal T-Bills, etc. These accounts must be safe and secure.
  3. A complete revision of the grantee application process to ensure that only Catholic groups, in good standing w/ the Church, receive funds. Those in good standing are those that are pro-life, pro-family, pro-true marriage. No part of the organization must be pro-gay, pro-married priests, pro-abortion, etc.
  4. Any Catholic group which has received funds and advocates a pro-abortion, anti-family, anti-true marriage, etc. position will be banned from receiving funds for a period of five (5) years.
  5. All secular groups are banned from receiving funds.
  6. ACORN and all her associates and subsidiaries will be banned forever from receiving funding from CCHD.

Once these basic changes have been implemented, then let's open it up again.

If your Diocese has not held their collection, encourage others not to give to the collection. However, give the money directly to a good Catholic charity.

Spread the word. Make an impact.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Time to shut down the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)!

Over the last two weeks, the Catholic blogs have been lighting up the net with the stories about how the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has funded ACORN to the tune of over $1,100,000.00 in 2007 and almost as much in 2006.

ACORN, as we all know by now, has been deeply invloved in voter fraud and supporting candidates and positions who are opposed the to Catholic Church. In fact, they even gave money to the darling of the Catholic left, Barack "The Messiah" Obama.

Yet, the CCHD has made no statement on this as of this writing.

Therefore, I am calling on all Catholic bloggers and those who are faithful to the Church, to begin a campaign to shut down the CCHD immediately.

Once it is shut down, CCHD needs to be completely reviewed and overhauled. Funds should be directed to CATHOLIC groups -- not groups with strong ties to pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, anti-Catholic schools.

Personally, I am tired of my Church donations being given to secular groups. If I wanted to give money to secular groups, then I would do so directly.

Will you join me?

Catholic Education: Statement from the Bishops of Maryland

Having now had a chance to read the letter, published on the Archdiocesan website and in the Catholic Standard, it seems that the Bishop’s have decided to target one proposal this year for passage in the Maryland Legislature: BOAST (Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers). This program has been pushed by the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) for at least five or six years but has been unsuccessful in passage. (Gee, what else is new with the MCC.) Whether it will pass this year will have to be seen.

However, as I have said before, we need to identify and target those who legislators who vote against these proposals, such as Sen. Richard Magdeleno and Rep. Jeffrey D. Waldstriecher. We need identify them and then urge our fellow Catholics not to support them. The only way to pass legislation we want.


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On a side note, during the Democratic primary, I would see a number of bumper stickers in my parish parking lot on a Sunday pushing for Hillary or Obama. This past Sunday, I did not see one. I don’t know if this is a sign but I will take it as one.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

CCHD Funded Obama!

Well, as the Catholic blogs have pointed out, and rightly so, the fact that the Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has been supporting a number of left wing groups and not really the poor.

The Catholic News Service has an excellent article on how CCHD continues to funnel millions of dollars to leftist groups, including (in the past) the darling of the Catholic left, Barack Obama.

Take a look at this story! As the saying goes..."Ain't that a kick in the head!"

In the Archdiocese of Washington DC, our CCHD collection will take place on Nov. 23rd.

You know I won't be giving to it and I urge you to do the same!

Maybe it is time to abolish the CCHD?

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

VOTF - Dissent is Still Going Strong at St. Rose of Lima

A number of months ago, I put forth a series of postings on VOTF in the Archdiocese of Washington DC. Well, VOTF seemed to disappear for a bit, except for the VOTF Chapter at Holy Trinity in DC.

Well, it seems that dissedent groups are once again rearing their heads. St. Rose of Lima, which has done this before, is at it once again:


It is amazing when the Archbishop continues to ask those of us who are faithful to the teachings of the Church, that we have to tolerate this sort of stuff happening.

Is there anyone in Hyattsville watching? Is there anyone who really cares?

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Question: What does Barack Obama and Osama bin-Laden have in common?

Answer: Both have friends who have bombed the Pentagon!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Montgomery County Voters Disenfranchised - A Follow-Up

As my readers know, a law was rammed through the Montgomery County Council regarding gender identity. One of the problems with this law, is that there was no provision for religious institutions. They would be required to hire those who “felt that they were a woman or a man.” They would have to put up with those who decided since they felt like a woman, to use the woman’s restrooms.

The opposition has disenfranchised over a million voters by not allowing this bill to be put to a vote. They keep telling us that they were confident that the people of Montgomery County would not strike down this law, and yet, they spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to fight it in court.

On Sunday, Sept. 28th, a Mr. Robert Nelson had a fantastic piece published in the Washington Post (can you believe it!). Here it is a part of the piece:

The Sept. 15 Metro article "Ruling Inspires
New Hope for Transgender People," about the Maryland Court of Appeals' rejection of a petition drive to hold a referendum on Montgomery County's poorly constructed transgender anti-discrimination law, unfortunately omitted some of the significant objections to the law that have been raised by residents.

First, the "transgender" discrimination law never actually uses the word "transgender." It includes a broad definition of "gender identity" that lacks qualification or exemptions and that has caused many residents, business owners and religious leaders to speak out about the bill's defects. The county did extensive research on similar but quite different gender identity and gender expression bills from communities across the country, but the County Council needed to look no further than the city of Baltimore, the only other jurisdiction in Maryland with such a "gender identity" law.

Baltimore's definition of discrimination includes five exemptions that would have protected Montgomery County residents, but the County Council chose not to include them in its bill. Thousands of people wrote to the council voicing concerns, but the council ignored them. Thus residents had no recourse but to mount a petition drive.

The process of collecting petition signatures was proper and should not have been invalidated. In November, the Board of Elections determined that signatures from 5 percent of the active registered voters would be required to place a referendum on the bill on the ballot. That was fair, because including inactive voters would not be appropriate. Most of them are inactive for a reason -- they're not available. The Board of Elections validated signatures that were collected from 5.36 percent of active voters. It is grossly unfair to now contend that the petitions needed to include signatures from 5 percent of all registered voters, active and inactive.

Regrettably, council member Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large) has taken this occasion to post inflammatory accusations on the county's Web site and to attempt to marginalize residents who take a different view from her own. Her Sept. 9 press release contained inaccuracies and distortions; it should be removed from the county's Web site immediately.

For example, in June I led a freedom-of-speech gathering outside an Equality Maryland gala. In her news release, Trachtenberg called my fellow demonstrators and me "anti-LGBT" and said we were holding signs "attacking all of us." I personally produced those signs, and they were not hateful. Two signs questioned why Equality Maryland was challenging the democratic process by suing the Board of Elections. Another sign thanked Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, who was attending the gala, for having his office file a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the Board of Elections in Equality Maryland's lawsuit.

And to make matters worse, the Archdiocese of Washington DC stood silently while this all happened.

Monday, October 6, 2008

CCHD - Helping to Bring About Our Financial Crisis

In the Oct. 2, 2008 Catholic Standard, Christian Wainwright (Director of CCHD for the Archdiocese of Washington DC) pens a Guest Opinion on the current financial situation. Unfortunately, this only appears in the print version (page 12).

In it, he discusses the bailout and how it needs to take into consideration the poor and home foreclosures. He reminds us that “moral decisions must favorably consider the effect on the poorest members of society.” To bolster his arguments, he uses Matthew 25, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Pope John Paul II encyclical Centesimas Annus.

Fair enough.

But what Mr. Wainwright fails to mention is that the CCHD has helped us get into the mess in the first place.

We know that part of the “American Dream” is to own a house, with the white picket fence, 2.5 children, a dog, two cars, etc.

However, the mortgage rules were changed in the mid-1990s during the Clinton presidency to make it easier for those who really could not afford to purchase a house.


To see who is responsible for this mess, here it is. These are the same people whom the social justice crowd supports and tells us get over the fact that they are pro-abortion. Remember this when it is time to vote in November!



So how did the CCHD help with this crisis?


Take a look at whom they have been giving to over the last few years. ACORN is a good example because it has been one of the groups that pushed for a relaxation of the mortgage rules in the 1990s. In 2007, ACORN received over $800,000 in funding. In 2006, ACORN received over $900,000 in grant money.

It is time for CCHD to accept responsibility that they have helped to cause they current financial crisis by funding these groups. It is time for CCHD to stop funding these groups and really reflect upon on their mission to help the poor. There is nothing wrong with helping those who are poor. There is something wrong when we support groups that have assisted in creating this mess.

Therefore, I am urging you NOT TO GIVE to this year’s CCHD Campaign and to let them know this. However, take whatever you would give and donate directly to a good Catholic charitable organization.

If you are in the Archdiocese of Washington DC, contact Mr. Wainwright at
cwainwright@adw.org. State the facts and be nice. No threats, no foul language.

I am urging all bloggers to take up this cause!


Thursday, October 2, 2008

Catholic Education & The Catholic Standard

It seems that the Catholic Standard (or My Catholic Standard) has focused on Catholic Education for a third week in a row. The Diocese of Washington DC, Wilmington (DE) and Baltimore have issued a joint statement on Catholic Education entitled: An Outstanding Apostolate of Hope: Maryland's Catholic Schools

Boy, I haven't seen this much coverage on a topic since the Pope's visit.

Archbishop Wuerl must be prepping us for some serious closings.

More on this next week.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Catholic Campaign for Human Development and ACORN - Rotten to the Core

Each November, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) holds a collection across the US. However, one of the questions that I always had is: Where does the money go?

I was shocked to find that the CCHD makes a number of grants to ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Renewal Now).

Who is ACORN? Well according to them:

ACORN is the nation’s largest grassroots community organization of low- and moderate-income people with over 400,000 member families organized into more than 1,200 neighborhood chapters in 110 cities across the country. Since 1970, ACORN has been building community organizations that are committed to social and economic justice, and won victories on thousands of issues of concern to our members, through direct action, negotiation, legislative advocacy and voter participation. ACORN helps those who have historically been locked out become powerful players in our democratic system.

Community organizing: Each of the 1,200 local ACORN neighborhood chapters in 110 cities and 40 states brings neighbors together to work for stronger, safer and more just communities.

However, what we have found is that ACORN is one of the most corrupt organizations at the "community organizer" level. It has been involved in massive voter fraud in the last two elections, registering "Donald Duck" and "Mickey Mouse."

Now, where does the CCHD come in? Well, they give grants to ACORN? According to their 2007 Grantee List, they gave to apx. 35 ACORN Groups mostly for "Community Organizing: Economic Justice."

What the heck does that mean? Oh, you mean something like Barak Obama did?

Well, at an average of $25,000 to apx. 35 groups, that equals apx. $875,000 of nothing!

If you are going to help the poor, ACORN is not the way to do it!

This is one Second Sunday Collection that will not see my money!

More about ACORN and CCHD in the future.

PS: When you look at the 2007 Grantee List, they do not list the group as ACORN, but by its full name. Maybe they don't want you get the ACORN association.