Dear Advocates for Life,
Here is a great video from the American Life League, a leading member of Reform CCHD NOW www.reformcchdnow.com . It keeps the facts straight on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development's (CCHD) and sadly some in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). USCCB on CCHD: TRYING HARD to IGNORE FACTS Five minutes could save you lots of confusion.
There is a push from those who receive, in many cases ill gotten gains, to petition the USCCB when they meet in June. Please sign the Reform CCHD Now petition if you agree with it.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.
The USCCB is NOT the Holy See and does NOT have it's authority.
What is difference between the The Holy See (Sancta Sedes, Holy Chair, the seat of Peter the first pope and all future popes) and the Vatican? (taken from wikipedia in part)
Although it is often referred to by the ambiguous term "the Vatican", the Holy See is not the same as the Vatican City State, which came into existence only in 1929, while the Holy See dates back to early Christian times. Ambassadors are officially accredited not to the Vatican City State but to "the Holy See", and papal representatives to states and international organizations are recognized as representing the Holy See, not the Vatican City State.
The State of the Vatican City aka The Vatican, was created by the Lateran Treaty in 1929 to "ensure the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See" and "to guarantee to it an indisputable sovereignty in international affairs"
Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the Holy See's former Secretary for Relations with States, said that the Vatican City is a "minuscule support-state that guarantees the spiritual freedom of the Pope with the minimum territory".
Basically, the "government" aka The Holy See of the Catholic Church needed a physical place in the world and The Vatican State was created for this purpose and is the smallest country in the world at 0.2 square miles. (No problem with Church and State)
The Holy See, not the Vatican, maintains diplomatic relations with states and participates in international organizations. When necessary, the Holy See will enter a treaty on behalf of the Vatican City.
THE USCCB is a relatively young organization.
The turn towards truly "social justice" in a rabid sense began 1966. IMAGINE.
See attachment above and this link for more history. http://www.usccb.org/whoweare.shtml
"......This model continued until 1966 when the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and the United States Catholic Conference (USCC) were established. The NCCB attended to the Church's own affairs in this country, fulfilling the Vatican Council's mandate that bishops "jointly exercise their pastoral office" (Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office in the Church, #38). NCCB operated through committees made up exclusively of bishops, many of which had full-time staff organized in secretariats. In USCC the bishops collaborate with other Catholics to address issues that concern the Church as part of the larger society. Its committees included lay people, clergy and religious in addition to the bishops.
On July 1, 2001 the NCCB and the USCC were combined to form the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). USCCB continues all of the work formerly done by the NCCB and the USCC with the same staff. The bishops themselves form approximately 17 committees, each with its own particular responsibility.
The staff work is overseen by the General Secretariat which is led by Reverend Monsignor David J. Malloy, General Secretary.
VOCAL COMMENT: When it opened up to the laity note the red....it was the end of Vatican II and in that confusing time, the turmoil in the Church reflected itself in the liberal take of the now USCCB. They saw this as a chance to really take advantage of the situation and in my opinion they charted a new course and the ship is turning home, slowly but surely. Their are many people to pay and so many agendas at the USCCB, Christ seems to be lost in the shuffle.
REMEMBER!!!
The Holy See ALWAYS trumps the USCCB if there's ever a question with two answers.
The CCHD campaign is NOT a mandatory collection.
The Archdiocesan Annual Appeal is NOT a mandatory collection. Your priest has to ask for 100% compliance. The Archbishop is in charge of the USCCB National Collections so there's an extra push. Remember also that the Oregon Catholic Press does give almost a MILLION dollars to the Appeal, and they have lots more money, so don't feel too badly.
The Archdiocese of Portland needs a complete audit so we can be sure that our money is being used to build up the true Catholic Church that answers only to the Holy See and NOT the USCCB, which seems to be in a state of confusion at best.
VOCAL SUGGESTION:
Save oodles of money by disbanding the CCHD in it's current form: no administrative costs, no radio/tv/print ads, no postage, and NO CORRUPTION.
Have a webpage on the USCCB site with suggested non-profits they feel are worthwhile. Catholics are smart enough to discern whether a non-profit is worthy to receive our hard-earned money.
Saved money could easily be used at each parish for their purposes and make ALL the laity feel like they are not just being used for their money.
We pay enough money in taxes for most of these secular non-profits. Diversity is becoming a four-letter word.
God Bless you and yours,
Carolyn
Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
John Adams, 'Argument in Defense of the Soldiers in the Boston Massacre Trials,' December 1770
US diplomat & politician (1735 - 1826)
