CCHD Names to Remember: Where are the Catholic Values?

Day labor site feels lack of support

Catholic Sentinel photo by Ed Langlois Men at day labor center try to stay warm while waiting for work. Ed Langlois Of the Catholic Sentinel Organizers of a Portland center for day laborers say support from city officials has waned. That is complicating a capital campaign meant to fund a permanent building on the site. The center, on city-owned land amid industry at Northeast Martin Luther King and Everett, is run by Voz Workers' Rights Education Project. In part with funding from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Voz gives workers a dry and central place to wait for employers to find them. The center also prevents wage fraud and other shady deals, which were par for the course when laborers stood on various corners around the city. When the site opened, the city offered a five-year lease. After that agreement expired in March, the Portland Development Commission offered only a month-by-month arrangement and said Voz could be asked to leave with six months notice. Leaders of Voz say the precarious standing has made it difficult to secure funders for a plan to construct better buildings. Romeo Sosa, executive director of Voz, says he has asked PDC to list the property in the name of Voz so that funders will have confidence. He does not want to buy the land or have it donated — just listed with the Voz name. (VOCAL: It is very bold of Mr. Sosa) "We want a permanent building," says Sosa, comparing the shed-like enterprise to larger and sturdier centers in Seattle, Los Angeles and Baltimore. More professional offices would not only be more humane for workers, but would attract more employers, he explains. The Seattle day labor center received $2 million in public funding and includes rooms for English and computer classes, a waiting area and a kitchen. Baltimore's center is housed on a donated mansion.  "Voz has done a lot of good work down there," says Valerie Chapman, pastoral administrator of St. Francis Parish, where Voz has offices.  "The place provides dignity for workers. They don't get caught out in the rain." Chapman recalls that the initiative was favored by business owners and residents of the neighborhood, who saw it as a way to prevent various corners from springing up as crowded day labor sites. "Month-to-month makes it really complicated for planning," says Chapman, who has also worked with the city on St. Francis Dining Hall, which provides free meals to people in need. "Funders need to know they will be around." Chapman says PDC is giving a mixed message: send potential funders to us for assurance, but also, we can have you leave the site with only six months notice. Portland gave $200,000 to Voz to start the center and has given $25,000 annually since, charging only $1 per year in rent.  (WHY do they need Catholic money?) "We have made it abundantly clear that our support is in place," says Shawn Uhlman, PDC spokesman. Uhlman says the commission has no intention of asking Voz to leave the property. Patrick Quinton, PDC’s executive director, has invited Voz to send potential donors to him to be reassured. Uhlman says PDC will do what it can to help if Voz wants to purchase the property, but does not simply sign over city-owned parcels. The 2013 market value of the land tops $360,000 — well out of the reach of Voz. The value has tripled since 2000 as industry has picked up in inner Northeast. Selling the parcel could mean a boost to the PDC, which is trying to reduce its land holdings. The original agreement between the city and Voz said the non-profit would work toward building a more permanent center on city site or elsewhere. The center was created with backing of former Mayor Tom Potter. The office of current Mayor Charlie Hales had not offered comment as of press time. "Support is not as strong as it used to be," Sosa concludes. "We feel the city sees it as us against them instead of us together. They say they support us, but we don't feel that." Sosa says if the center closes, day laborers will head back to the corners. (VOCAL: There is no movement forward for this organization.  It is a political movement and for Catholics, which all of the players say they are, disregards the Mind and Heart of Christ with pro-Abortion and pro-homosexual factors involved in VOZ)

Guest Post “Partisan Political Activity” : CCHD California Style

“Partisan Political Activity”
HOW Strictly D0
We Define It?
by William Snear

While doing research for a ZOGS article on ACORN. l became aware of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development`s operational design. Most of the approximately $9 million it collects every 

year is dispensed to community organizations.

 Not community organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs, but community organizations like ACORN. CCHD gave over $7 million to ACORN organizations before declaring it ìneligble for in 2008.

I have continued to be concerned that in the parishes I attend, there is no straightforward disclosure on Collection Sunday of CCHD`S modus operandi. So most of the congregation thinks that

CCHD is a conventional Catholic charity.

My concern recently spiked when I accidentally discovered the role that PICO California played in the campaign to pass California's Proposition 30 which raised the top state income tax rate on high earners to 12.3 percent. 

PICO California is a member of the PICO National Network, one of the largest networks of community organizations. The California unit comprises 19 faith-based affiliates.

ln the 2011-2012 grant year, CCHD gave 115,470,130 in grants to 12 of those 19 organizations. The affiliate in my diocese, San Bernardino's Inland Congregations United Change (ICUC) received $50.000.

I was surprised to learn that PICO California was teamed up with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE). the successor group to ACORN, in a massive effort

to pass Proposition 30. 

Even more surprising PICO Califomìa. which depends on offerings from good hearted worshipers. had contributed $259,000 to the campaign for Proposition 30.

Naturally. l wondered if any of that money was contributed to PICO California by lCUC. SO. I called Verne Schweiger. the staffer at the Diocese of San Bernardino's Office of Social Concerns

who manages CCHD matters and asked him to investigate. 

When we spoke again. he declined to disclose whether ICUC had contributed to the Proposition 30 campaign, but he did tell me that any such contributions would be a matter of public record.

l said that it would be unethical for the CCHD to collect funds under the guise of helping the poor if some of that money is going to political efforts. particularly something like Proposition 30.

He replied that there was no problem. because lCUC was not involved in partisan political activity. which would disqualify them from CCHD funding. Further his review of the ICUC audit had shown

that the $50.000 grant was spent tirely for the purpose described in its grant application` and ICUC does not support any initiative contrary to Catholic teaching.

After some intensive inquiry. I located the pertinent public records. PICO California established its own Proposition 30 campaign committee. ICUC did not contribute to the $259.90() that PICO California contributed. Worse`ICUC made an individual contribution of $54.000 to the PICO California Committee for Proposition 30 - $4,000 more than the grant it received from CCHD. The Orange County Congregation Community Organization contributed $90,000... $50,000 more than its CCHD grant.

Total 2012 contributions to the committee were $671,516. In addition to PICO Califomia's $259,000, 11 of the19 affiliated community organizations contributed $357,492 (which includes$206,992 from 5 of the 12 groups that received recent CCHD grants). The balance of $55,124 was contributed by others.

For many. the argument that campaigning for Proposition 30 did not constìtute partisan political activity is a hair-splìtting hedge. lt's true that it involved a ballot measure, not only sponsored

candidates, but Proposition 30 was Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown`s initiative. and support and opposition were more clearly divided along party lines than for most ballot measures.

The elephant in the grant office is why Catholics never should have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations that had hundreds of thousands of dollars available for Proposition 30: Catholic schools would have been better recipients.

It is the undeniable right of these groups and their supporters to contribute and campaign. though perhaps not at the same time they are receiving CCHD money. But it is certainly the right of people in the pews to know that their sacrificial giving supported an organization that spent almost $0.7 mil-

lion campaigning against the preference that many of the givers expressed on their own ballots. 

Honesty remains the best policy even in church.

Bill Snear is a dentist who lives in California. 

Contact him at billsnaer@verizon.net,)

Hearing Update from Bill Diss

Dear Brothers and Sisters for Life, Purity and Healing, Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17, RSV, Courtesy of Harmony Media) Hearing Details: I wanted to thank everyone who came to the hearing on Thursday, November 14, 2013.  I wish I could say it better but thank you so much.  There were probably 150 people.  They configured the room with some very big chairs and extra tables.  The room had a capacity of over 90, but they only let 47 people into the room. I wanted to thank my son and daughter who were so helpful.  My son called every day last week and many times, "Dad how can I help you?"  My daughter made up the nice big posters that were in the hearing room. I suspect there will be more hearings both with the district and in the courts.  I do encourage all to keep praying and please bring cameras, video cameras and recorders if the event is public.  It would be nice to have a recording or pictures from last Thursday.  The district did make a recording and hopefully we will get a copy.  Most meetings and hearings at public schools are public and thus can be recorded. The district placed a policeman at the door and then the head lawyer from the district stood by the door to prevent more people from coming in the room or from standing by the room.  She was joined by another school attorney who spoke against me and yet another school attorney who sat by the hearing officer. The district also blocked the elevators so that more people could not stand by the room.  All of the people then went back to main floor and prayed.  I think the magnitude of people praying at the headquarters from the district was yet again God outdoing the devil.  I thought of the following incidents through history. Devil's Act God's Act Adam and Eve fall to sin. The world is sent a savior. Joseph thrown in well. Joseph saves his brothers. Woman caught up with sin. A pharisee gets a lesson in true love. If any of you who were stopped by the head lawyer, Jollee Patterson, you may want to email her at jpatters@pps.net.  It would be interesting to hear her response on why they picked that room and why it was configured so that so few people were allowed in the room. I want to thank all who were praying around the world.  It was very hard to sit through the statements by Stephanie Harper, an attorney for the district, and then the statements by Frank Scotto, regional director, Carol Campbell, the past principal of Benson, and Jeandre Carbone and Barry Phillips vice principals of Benson.  District contact information is found at on the front page of the website http://www.pps.k12.or.us/ and clicking on Directory on the top left by News | Directory. The Oregonian repeated some of Mr. Scotto's remarks that when he observed me he found that I was militaristic.  His observation notes certainly did not indicate this.  He mentioned how I thanked students for their work and his only negative comment was when I exclaimed, "Listen Up." A vice principal from Benson also came and testified against me for some warnings I gave to a student in 2009.  When this same administrator found himself unassigned in 2011, I wrote a letter of recommendation for him.  Such is life.  I have heard that many who were chanting "Hosanna in the Highest" when Jesus came to Jerusalem were also there a few days later to chant, "Crucify him!" Special thanks to Mr. Davis a fellow teacher and Ms. Koenig the union representative who testified on my behalf.  Ms. McKanna, the lawyer hired by the district, also did a fine job.  She questioned many of the district actions especially all of the times that they have stopped me from working with children on basic math facts.  She questioned me on the effectiveness of time tables and I read the following from a student. In fact when I started I didn't know much but with the extra help you provided me I can now say my multiplication tables as fast as my name and much more.  For once I'm proud of myself. The crowd clapped and was reprimanded from Sascha Perrins.  He works for the district and was the hearing officer. The next step is for Sascha Perrins to make a decision.  Next week I will also be working on the grievances that we filed. I did make a closing statement and that is at the end of the email. Again and again thank you all for your prayers and for all who came last week.  There were many friends, students, parents and many I did not know. Please continue to pray and especially for those working in the school district.  There is an old saying, "When you go to bed with the dogs, you wake up with the fleas."  When one goes to bed with Planned Parenthood, as the schools in Portland and Salem have done, I do not know what you wake up with. Donations I wanted to thank all at Christ the King Church in the Clackamas area for their nice donation to help our outreach.  I think many of you know that Therese and others give out baby supplies, funds and information to many people going into Planned Parenthood.  We have tried to put on the heart of Christ and now mothers are holding babies near their hearts and not uncontrollable anguish. Our Hispanic ministry is doing very well and we have spoken at six churches in the area.  We could sure use a laptop so that our group can display videos.  Maybe someone out there is thinking of buying a new laptop and now you have a good place to donate your old laptop.  I also got a request from one of our helpers who was recently in a car wreck.  Does anyone have an older car they would like to donate or a contact for us? Closing Remarks at the Hearing:  I wanted to thank you all for being here this evening.  I looked at the thousands of students at Benson as my own children.   I loved them, I prayed for them, I laughed with them, I cried with them, I sang with them, I danced with them, I cheered with them, I cheered for them and yes I pushed them to levels that they thought they were insurmountable and uncomfortable. I had some motivational signs in the classroom and one stated: Did you bring your A game today? Some had their A game every day and some struggled every day. In 2007 a proud young man wrote me: I'm not to sure if you'll remember me but I was in you algebra class your first year at Benson and well I'm finally going to continue my education with Math being the foundation of my career in Finance and economics at UCLA. You may know all ready but You are without a doubt the best teacher Many have come across. I sit and review my notes which always state your quote "write out the original problem" which I often laugh at thinking back to your class.  The reason I'm writing you is because I wanted to say thank you for leaving "call-la-rada" (your home state) to in the end teach many like myself.  I have more fun with math than ever and that I will always remember you as my favorite teacher and your class. Thank you Mr. Diss In 2003 that young man had trouble finding his A game, but we worked together. Four years later he found his A Game. That folks is what it is all about! Again thank you and God Bless all of you.   God Bless you, Bill Diss Precious Children of Portland 503-334-6183   .



Mike Wallace Interviews Margaret Sanger (1957)

 

Guest Post from Pro-Life Action of Oregon

Here is a guest post.  N.B. (note well) that the Archdiocese of Portland's Office of "Life", Justice and Peace needs to represent a true understanding that it is a lack of promoting Divine Justice to save unborn babies and not economic justice that is the answer. This office gives monies to pro-abortion groups and that works against the the ultimate justice to succeed: Divine. VOCAL
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OPINION

Dear Pro-Life Friends,

Pro-Life Action of Oregon is dedicated to ending all abortion, no exceptions, no compromises.  In this context, I'm calling your attention to two recent developments.



(1)  "THE PRESIDENT'S PITCH TO THE PEOPLE OF FAITH." -- Crisis Magazine

'This year his pitch to the religious is a little more tricky in light of the HHS mandate and other overtly secularist policies of his administration. Still, he could pull it off.  Recent polling suggests that he is on track to win the Catholic vote again.'

Search result for "Obama's Abortion Reduction Strategy".  This strategy is still in play. For those of you who are new to my alerts, back in 2008 I posted an analysis of Obama and the Catholic vote.  It may be a good time to read it again.
______________________________

(2)  Matt Cato's Liberal Views Exposed
Matt Cato - photo op.  (article link below)

Matt Cato, the Archdiocesan Director of Life, Justice and Peace, has some "abortion reduction" nuanced things to say:

• Matt Cato on the government ending abortion - "...the church has an obligation to advocate for government aid [to end abortion].  If society can remove financial pressures, that will end the reason cited for 7 in 10 abortions." (In other words, he is dedicated to Obama's "abortion reduction strategy.")
• In same article, Cato apologizes to liberal readers for being pro-life:   "I don't want anyone to think I want to limit legitimate rights, but where do we get to the point where we make individual choices for the good of a baby, for the good of the community?" Cato asks. (What is he saying, exactly??)
• "He envisions a strong Catholic-led pro-life movement, in which people are inspired to protect all life not because of politics, but because of faith."  (He is unsure of the motivation of pro-lifers!)
• FULL ARTICLE

Keep in mind that Matt Cato is in charge of your pocketbook (CCHD).

After reading the article, you can send an email to Matt Cato mcato@archdpdx.org .
Send a letter to the Sentinel sentinel@catholicsentinel.org .

Blessings,
Nina Rhea, Director
Prolife Action of Oregon

Dedicated to exposing the Culture of Death

P.S.  I've sent a message to Mr. Cato pointing out his lack of citations for his claims.  I also call him out as an Obama Catholic and ask for his correction if I'm wrong.