Each year the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) holds a Spring Plenary Assembly to spend time in prayer and dialogue, as well as to vote on any relevant action items—which typically includes voting on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) grants. This year’s assembly, slated for June 12-14 in Louisville, KY, will take a decidedly different turn: the Bishops will not only consider the approval of CCHD grants, they will also be considering the future existence of CCHD.
For more than 50 years, CCHD—the U.S. Bishops’ national anti-poverty program whose mandate can be found in the Christian Scriptures (Luke 14:8)—has provided millions of dollars of funding to organizations who work with those who are directly affected by unjust systems and structures to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. In the USCCB’s own words, “CCHD offers a hand up, not a hand out.”
Many Gamaliel affiliates, as well the Gamaliel National Office, have received and effectively used funding from CCHD through the years for that very purpose. This year, however, those same affiliates (along with other groups across the U.S.) are being alerted by their local dioceses to expect drastically reduced grants . . . if they receive anything at all.
CCHD has been under attack for many of those 50-plus years by a vocal and extremist right-wing group in the Catholic Church that clearly does not support the Scriptural and moral mandate to address the problems of the poor and marginalized in society. Recently, they engaged in a public “hit job” on CCHD (see article from National Catholic Reporter) claiming falsely that CCHD funds have been mismanaged.
