Friday, January 15, 2010

Open Letter of Pro-Life Action by Young Catholic Mom....and warning to us/Loving Haitians and the Unborn

Dear Advocates for Life,

January is pro-life month and I was contacted yesterday by a young Catholic mother of four, under seven, who shared an experience we all can learn from. I applaud her as a standard for all young mom's, busy with children and protecting their eternal souls and challenges making a budget stretch and knew it was the right thing to step up and speak out for the unborn.

Here is the letter she has allowed me to share, sent to Bill Post, from KYKN 1430 am . He apparently is someone that she feels cares and respects.

=======================
Dear Bill,

I am a regular listener to your radio show and recently had an experience that bothered me. I'd like your opinion. Yesterday I picked up Salem Monthly to peruse and lo and behold, saw this advertisement.

Oregon Women Lead
invites women to honor the
37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Friday, January 22, 2010 from 5-7 PM
at our inaugural monthly Pro Choice Happy Hour
Speakers: Bonnie Heitsch, Lori Warner,
& Jacqueline Zimmer
The Founders of Planned Parenthood in Salem

enjoy your choice of Delish' no host nibbles
RSVP:
Britta 503-399-9099 or Cindy 503-588-8713

Marco Polo Restaurant 300 Liberty St. SE Salem
300 Liberty St. SE Salem
Lots of easy parking

Now, I am an Oregon woman and I see nothing to celebrate in the tragedy of Roe v. Wade. I think they should rename "Oregon Woman Lead" - "Oregon Lead Women"- because any woman who believes that she, or anyone else has a right to kill the life in the womb must have a heart made of lead.

I was sickened at the thought of these women munching on their "delish nibbles" at a Happy Hour celebrating such a tragedy.

So, I did what any "normal" prolifer would do. I first called the organization. One line was busy, the other seemed like a woman's personal voice mail. Then, I called Marco Polo restaurant and asked to talk to whoever was responsible for reservations. I believe I talked to the owner of the restaurant, and English was not his first language.

I talked very calmly and clearly, saying that I wanted to voice my objection to the pro-abortion group that was meeting there on the 22nd. He did not seem shaken, and seemed to understand what I was talking about. He said that they treat everyone equally, and asked for my name and phone number. I calmly explained that I believed that having this group celebrate at this business was equivalent to hosting Ku Klux clansmen, or a Nazi organization. These people were meeting to plot the destruction of more human life; and I wanted to be a voice for life. He could not have been threatened by my phone call unless he completely misunderstood what I was saying. We hung up cordially; or so I thought.

About 45 minutes later I got a phone call saying "Is This Faith?" (my first name) I said, "Yup!" and they hung up. An hour later a policeman called, saying some "goob" had called a restaurant- it was a possible prank. I told him that I did indeed call a restaurant to voice my complaint over an organization that was meeting there. He wanted to make sure that there wasn't going to be a protest. I told him that I should not be getting contacted by the police for making a simple phone call, and if there was a protest that would be an entirely different matter, and the police should deal with that if that happened. He then wanted my full name and date of birth. He treated me as if I was a threat and a problem, and would not let me finish a sentence without trying to interrupt me. You know, as if someone else was in the room and he wanted to act as if I was yelling or acting beligerant. He finally said "I'm hanging up now", and did.

I feel as if my rights are being stripped away; as if being pro-life suddenly nullifies my voice. My name is now under a case number- I am filed away- to be dealt with as they see fit.

After this happened I looked at my children and for the first time REALLY started worrying about what kind of world they will inherit. The fight has become personal now. If people don't see life as a gift and treasure in itself; anyone is expendable. The aged, the handicapped, any children over the one child limit, or anyone who doesn't agree with the government, the list can go on and on. The leap from a woman's right to kill the life within her to the government forcibly taking that life is very short.

God bless you in your fight for what is right and most respectful to human life- it is a comfort to have you on the air.

Sincerely,

Faith

(VOCAL held back last name and contact info but I'll forward any messages to her. )
=====================


The website also has a picture of Kate Brown, Secretary of State, the head of Planned Parenthood and Susan Castillo, Superintendent of Oregon Schools. Planned Parenthood is firmly entrenched into the schools leading more kids to their door to prey on them.

Let us remember those in Haiti, suffering and dying. We pray for them and cry for them. They are far away and we can't see them, but we love them. Just as we pray and cry and love the unborn. Let us pray for those Oregon women who have hardened their hearts into "lead".

There are opportunities to rally for life this Sunday at Pioneer Courthouse Square from 2 until 3 sponsored by Oregon Right to Life http://www.portlandproliferally.com


and remember the march with Precious Children of Portland before the rally...go to http://sites.google.com/site/preciouschildrenofportland/home/walkandrallyonjanuary172010


Thank you Faith for being faithful to your name and your Lord and your children.

The Most Important Person
on earth is a mother. She
cannot claim the honor of
having built Notre Dame
Cathedral. She need not. She
has built something more
magnificent than any
cathedral–a dwelling for an
immortal soul, the tiny
perfection of her baby’s
body ... The angels have not
been blessed wtih such a
grace. They cannot share in
God’s creative miracle to bring
new saints to Heaven. Only a
human mother can. Mothers
are closer to God the Creator
than any other creature; God
joins forces with mothers in
performing this act of
creation ... What on God’s
good earth is more glorious
than this: to be a mother?
– Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty
God Bless you and yours,
Carolyn

"FIAT"

www.vocalnews.org
VOCAL
Voice of Catholics Advocating Life
PO Box 458
Sublimity, OR 97385
503-769-4767

Member of the Catholic Media Coalition "In line with the Church, on-line with the World". www.catholicmediacoalition.org and www.reformcchdnow.com

Monday, December 14, 2009

Archdpdx CCHD $$ Given W/O Oversight Gone Forever/More Money Please.

Speaking up for Truth makes a difference. We thank Jim Welsh for speaking up for us and bringing this to light. But first a little background.

As we approach the Nativity of Our Lord, Catholics in Western Oregon have to keep on discernment caps. The "Catholic" Campaign for Human Development funds have been collected and now we await the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) for funds to be used in large part to meet payroll, and Pastoral Center staff's general budget.

Attached is last year's Archdiocesan "accounting". Not too long ago things were spelled out for us, now we only receive a general sense (or not) of where the Catholic collection plate money goes. It seems to me that if we give money, we should know how it's used. Discernment is really important because we become complicit with evil when our money is used improperly. We just can't pass the buck, or responsibility on, even to clergy who should know better.

In Western Oregon huge sums are paid for promoting CCHD and the upcoming Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA $345,000) Archbishop Vlazny is the Director of Collections for the USCCB.
 http://www.usccb.org/committees.shtml

This committee collects hundreds of millions of dollars from US Catholics through various campaigns. Sometimes those in charge count on their staff and trust in their judgement as to whether a group, as in the CCHD grantees, is worthy to receive the hard earned money from Catholics in the pews. Objectively, lack of judgement has been rampant for decades.

"Progressive" groups that support abortion, pro-homosexual activity and even anti-American sentiment are given hundreds of thousands of dollars over these years, like ACORN. These groups, Saul Alinsky in style, are alive and well-(funded) by Catholics in Oregon. Different names, but same modus operandi. Evil clothed in "moral garments".

For example, was there a conflict of interest between the almost constant grantee VOZ and an ex-employee of Catholic Charities, Francisco Lopez, who was still involved with CAUSA and VOZ affiliated with LA Raza (the race) at the time? VOZ has been given tens of thousands AGAIN this year in Oregon.

We're not privy to conflict of interest, but told only to pay up and don't ask questions. Here's the conversation I got the okay to distribute from Jim Welsh to Matt Cato, Sandy Mattingly-Paulsen and members of Reform CCHD Now. Let's pray that more light will be shed on where our money goes that's destined for things to help the Body of Christ and not line to pockets of those that work against HIM.

**************************************************

FYI ...Life News has the Breaking story in this link . http://www.lifenews.com/state4637.html However, in reading the conversations, you'll get a feel of how things work in the Archdpdx. To All, at (www.reformcchdnow.com ) .

A couple of weeks ago I emailed your organizations about the Archdiocese of Portland's 2009 CCHD grant to Children First for Oregon (CFFO). I questioned the propriety of granting funds to an organization that opposed parental notification to parents of minors seeking an abortion. The Archdiocese has finally responded.

This is a small victory but a victory at least. I tried for several weeks to get a response from the Portland Chancellery offices regarding CFFO. What turned this around I believe was a call yesterday to the area E (Western states) coordinator for CCHD, Sandy Mattingly-Paulen, expressing my frustration with the Portland Archdiocese CCHD office's lack of response to my questions.

I informed Ms. Mattingly that, lacking any response to my questions, I would have no recourse but to detail my findings to BellarmineVeritas for review and distribute those findings to the public. I have no doubt that the satisfactory resolution of this issue was due to previous embarrassing discoveries, by that group, of CCHD funding for organizations which openly support and promote positions opposed to Catholic doctrine and beliefs.

The last sentence of Mr. Cato's email says much about the screening process. It took me about 2 minutes on the internet (Google: Children First for Oregon Measure 43) to discover CFFO's opposition to parental notification. Sincerely, Jim Welsh

*********** Wednesday, December 09, 2009 7:40 AM CCHD: Children First For Oregon

Dear Mister Welsh, Re: the issue of the propriety of awarding CCHD grants to Children First For Oregon: please understand that the resolution took longer than one may have preferred because of both the Thanksgiving holiday and the need to investigate the facts. The investigation was necessary to reach a just conclusion.

This office concluded that CCHD cannot consider CFFO for future grants: "I regret to inform you that because of CFFO’s opposition to the Parental Notification Act, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development cannot consider you for future grants. The Catholic Church...is adamantly opposed to abortion and does not grant exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. "

Thank you for making me aware of this issue. None of the local CCHD committee were aware of CFFO's opposition.

Thank you Mister Welsh. Peace, Matt Cato Office of Justice and Peace/Respect Life Campaign for Human Development Archdiocese of Portland 2838 E. Burnside St. Portland, OR 97214

503.233.8361 mcato@archdpdx.org justiceandpeace@archdpdx.org www.archdpdx.org/jprespect ***************
Wed, December 09, 2009 From Jim Welsh to Matt Cato and Sandy Mattingly-Paulen (SMattingly-Paulen@usccb.org)

  Matt, I understand that CCHD policy is to pursue (CCHD website funding FAQ) the reimbursement of such funds. Will the Archdiocese request these funds be reimbursed? Jim Welsh


***************
From Matt Cato to Jim Welsh and Sandy Mattingly-Paulen (SMattingly-Paulen@usccb.org)

Wednesday, December 09, 2009 4:10 PM RE: Children First For Oregon

Mister Welsh, You are correct that the National CCHD policy is to pursue reimbursement of such funds. The local CCHD committee, however, will not pursue reimbursement for the following reasons: 1. CFFO did not deceive the local CCHD committee in its application. The answers on the application were honest. The local application, however, was flawed in that it did not specifically ask for, for example, a list of all ballot measures that an applicant organization or its Executive Director publicly opposed or supported (which the local committee would then cross reference against positions publicly advocated by the Archdiocese).

As the new Diocesan Director for CCHD, I will change the application to better capture the public positions of an applicant organization. (To be determined: how many years back do we ask for such information? United Way, for example, has existed for 122 years. If United Way applied for a grant would we ask for a list of all public positions over 122 years)? 2. The grant year is almost complete and, like most nonprofits, CFFO has spent the funds that we have awarded them. 3. We have, however, removed CFFO from further consideration for grants. This is a significant penalty.

Thank you for checking on this matter. Peace, Matt Cato Office of Justice and Peace/Respect Life Campaign for Human Development Archdiocese of Portland

******************** From Jim Welsh, to Sandy Mattingly-Paulen (SMattingly-Paulen@usccb.org) and Matt Cato. Sunday, December 13, 2009 4:29 PM Re: Children First For Oregon Ms. Mattingly,

Regarding Matt Cato's response that the Archdiocese of Portland's will not seek reimbursement of funds granted to CFFO: Is there some reason why local CCHD grantees are not required to adhere to the same standards (affirmations that an organization is not opposed to Church teaching) and forms required of National CCHD grantees?

Matt Cato's response seems to indicate that is the case It seems the process should start with an affirmation by the prospective grantee that it does not hold positions (such as whether they support a woman's "right" to an abortion) that are opposed to Church teaching.

 The grant seeker should then be informed that full reimbursement will be required if the grantee is found to have falsified any information. There needs to be, for local CCHD grants, the same contractual relationship between grantor and grantee as exists with national level grantees. Inasmuch as the funds to be distributed are collected under the auspices of the National CCHD campaign I do not think it unreasonable that national guidelines be applied to local CCHD grantees.

 I think this is the crux of the problem with the Portland Archdiocese's local grant process. I think this will certainly help reduce the possibilities of monies being granted to organizations such as CFFO. I do not think that only the public positions of a grantee are the issue.

The main issue is whether or not a grantee holds positions, publicly or privately, contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. A question such as "Does your organization publicly support a woman's right to have an abortion?" is not sufficient. The question must be "Does your organization support a woman's right to have an abortion?". No wiggle room here. In effect there needs to be a "litmus test".

The National guidelines seem to be sufficient when verified. A few minutes on Google will probably take care of the rest of the background investigative needs. In CFFO''s case it only took about 15 minutes to gather the necessary information regarding CFFO's positions. I think that is a relatively small amount of time to ensure that grants totaling thousands of dollars are properly disbursed. There is no need to go back 122 years or ask for all public positions.

We should only be interested in positions vis-a-vis Catholic teaching. I am still concerned about the grant to the Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO). The RESIST grant is definitely problematic. And Kayse Jama's "overrun by white(s)" comment suggests some questions need to be asked about whether there are racist attitudes in CIO.

I cannot believe CCHD would ever fund an organization whose founder and director said that it needed to "reorganize" its membership because it was being overrun by too many (Choose one or more: Hispanics, Asians, Africans, Muslims, etc.) joining it ranks. Apparently "marginalization" is only permitted if it is practiced against Caucasians. Respectfully,

"Mister" Welsh aka Jim Welsh ************************************************************************************************************************ There needs to be transparency and a respect for the Catholics in the pews.

ur defense of the unborn is a first priority because lack of this can cause wars, as Mother Teresa said. We pray that the Office of Justice and Peace see this Truth.

If you send me a list of your favorite good charities that follow Catholic Church teachings as an alternative to these campaigns and to keep building up the body of Christ, please send them to me..I'll send them out anonymously.

God Bless you and yours, Carolyn

"No grant is made in any diocese without the approval of the local bishop." Archbishop Vlanzy, Catholic Sentinel, 11/19/09

"Hi Carolyn, I discussed the issue with Mary Jo (Tully) and came to the conclusion that we could not release the names of committee members without prior approval from them. We need to respect their privacy in the same way we would want ours respected." Thanks, David

6/29/06 (Office of Justice and Peace 2005-2007) David Carrier Office of Justice and Peace Campaign for Human Development * One life * One world * One human family

Friday, November 13, 2009

CCHD LET'S GIVE MORE TO THE UNDESERVING

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is almost upon us, Nov. 21-22. Our Catholic Collection Plate has been become a great pot of gold for anti-Catholic, pro-abortion/pro-homosexual and anti-American groups that benefit from the  USCCB CCHD grantees

Cat Willett, ex-director said this year that the CCHD funds organizations to buy land to developers to build houses for low income people. Are we doing what the government does and who is benefiting. We need to look into these things.

Here is a great read on CCHD and it's money laundering techniques, now forty years old.
11-12-09: “Money laundering and the CCHD”
By Stephanie Block
Money Laundering and the CCHD


Reform CCHD Now..com is a new alliance of Catholic pro-life groups such as Human Life International and American Life League (ALL) that are educating Catholics and the U.S. Bishops to rethink CCHD.

Tonight on EWTN on the World Over Live with Raymond Arroyo is the newly formed watchdog group Bellarmine Veritas Ministry spokesman and one from ALL. Remember you can see it on your computer at EWTN look for television and click.

There is a novena that starts tomorrow, November 14th leading that will keep us praying for the Bishops as they meet from November 16th-19th in Baltimore, MD and ending on November 22nd, last day of the collection. Here is the Novena

We must be good stewards of our money. The CCHD as is the Archbishops Annual Appeal NOT MANDATORY collections. The Archdiocese already gets 10% of every collection plate in Oregon at the least. Transparencies on whose in charge of choosing CCHD grantees why would make it easier to give those in charge their salaries and perks.

We cannot forget WHO the Church is really working for. He says don't worry about what you wear or eat, He will provide. If we really believe this, we'd help people Trust more in Christ to change their lives.

Matthew 6:24-34 "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25
16 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26
Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
27
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 17
28
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.
29
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.
30
18 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
31
So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'
32
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, 19 and all these things will be given you besides.
34
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

Friday, October 23, 2009

The CCHD in ARCHDPDX Keeps Rolling Along.....

Over the past six years you've been educated regarding ACORN/Saul Alinsky type groups that faithful Oregon Catholics have contributed to. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) November collection has sustained and built up anti-Catholic groups with Catholic collection plate money.

Friday, October 9, 2009

The Monsignor, the Martini and the Better Business Bureau

Our Mission from Christ: "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves." Matthew 10:16

Dear Advocates for Life,

Christ calls for a heightened sense of discernment. Especially these days, we cannot lose our ability to discern truth from error but also to discern wolves from sheep. The aging population needs our protection. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

The rush to get House Bill 3200 through the U.S. House and Senate before the August recess didn't happen. The fear of "death panels" for the elderly was partly the reason. The Associate Press interviewed Monsignor Charles Fahey, Chairman of the Board of the National Council on Aging, an "advocacy" group for the elderly that's been around for decades with him at the helm in some capacity since the '60's. Monsignor Fahey is apparently in favor of rationed health care for the elderly and his comment on the end of life issues, in my opinion, doesn't show proper advocacy for them or Catholic Church teachings.

"What I have said is that if I cannot say another prayer, if I cannot give another hug, and if I cannot have another martini - then let me go."
Monsignor Charles Fahey

Is Monsignor Fahey's seeming cavalier attitude on life and his mission as a priest of Christ a loss of discernment: "MARTINI" instead of THE MASS?

A "buddist" leaning blogger shows how he picked up on this loss of discernment. Monsignor Fahey's statements were damaging to the Roman Catholic Church's truth on life furthering error to Catholics and non-Catholics. (VOCAL's comments in RED.)


Pulling the Plug on Grandma

Joseph Hoffman Catholic Confusion
"Unfortunately his view (Fahey) is not the view of his Church (bingo). For all his touted gifts and charisma, John Paul II turned the Catholic Church into a single social doctrine: respect for life from conception to natural death (Church teaching for two thousand years). His legacy is an endless debate over what constitutes “natural” death in a culture that values physician assisted prolongation of suffering but finds physician assisted end-of-life care abhorrent ("End of life care?" It's legalize ASSISTED MURDER in Oregon). What we remember of that legacy is the image of Terri Schiavo, her cognitive faculties shattered (her devoted family would argue that), and a depleted John Paul himself , one not clinging to life but having life imposed by a machine (Terri was not on a machine but starved to death), the other clinging to power as a symbol of the martyrdom of suffering (unbelievable anti-Catholic judgemental ignorance regarding power...replace Martyrdom used here negatively, with joining the True Dignity of any suffering with Christ)
No one bothered to tell them that the Christian martyrs didn’t die that way (ignorance repeated, Christian martyrs of any era died obeying the Commandments of Christ, machines or not) and had no access to the extraordinary benefits of technology and life-prolonging medicines. There was nobility in neither death. Whatever lesson was being taught was being promoted by false analogy........Thank God for priests like Father Fahey" end

Sadly this blogger's understanding of Monsignor Fahey's "progressive" anti-Catholic view on death, in my opinion, is shared by many, and the Associated Press regarding the elderly, doesn't have Real Catholics interviewed but Veneer Catholics expressing life and death opinions).

The Church's understanding "suffering" will be discussed in the Catholic Medical Associations 78th Annual Educational Conference, Oct. 24- 28th in Springfield, Illinois - "The Theology of Suffering". Their overview of this concept is shows purity and dignity.
Which seems to be lost on our blogger and the monsignor.


"Suffering is an intrinsic part of the clinical encounter, and of our experience of illness, injury and our journey toward death. Suffering is also an inescapable dimension of the mystery of salvation. Though suffering confronts each one of us as a difficult challenge, we also know that it can, and should, call forth loving care, excellence in treatment and research, and human solidarity." www.cathmed.org

ATTACHED IS A LETTER VOCAL SENT TO MONSIGNOR FAHEY
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Monsignor Fahey,                                              October 7, 2009

With all due respect, your recent comments regarding supporting  a health care reform bill concerned me.   It brings to my mind a question of your true advocacy for the elderly and the Church.

There would be panels to determine what would be covered or not: rationed care.  We have this in Oregon with the Oregon Health Plan. This coupled with a proposed drop of half a trillion dollars in the care for the elderly should concern you.  Also, the elderly in Oregon WOULD be counseled regarding assisted suicide as a choice, since it is LEGAL in Oregon.

 As a priest you should be aware that your words carry weight.  The final bill isn't completed and so even abortion could be broadened.  With so many things up in the air it doesn't seem prudent for you to condone this ghost legislation.

It also concerns me you say as a priest, if you couldn't have a martini that would mean life wouldn't be worth living for you. 

"What I have said is that if I cannot say another prayer, if I cannot give another hug, and if I cannot have another martini - then let me go."

As a priest, it would be have been more comforting if you had said "celebrating mass" would be one the main reason in making life so uncomfortable you'd like to be "let go", although the Lord will take you when he wants.  Unless you've given up these tenets of the faith.

Also, I suggest your main focus on the National Council on Aging, is getting correct information on the impact to the elderly of this health care "reform", get the Councils finances in order (check the Better Business Bureau)  and revisit the “Theology of Suffering”.  There is a conference that would guide you back to Church teaching.
Catholic Medical Association
Better Buiness Bureau Charity Review

Maybe you should not use your Catholic titles when speaking for the Council on the Aging until these issues are addressed.

May God Bless you,


NOW ONTO THE MONSIGNOR'S NEXT PROBLEM: THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Better Business Bureau Charitable Network

BBB Wise Giving Report for National Council on Aging www.ncoa.org
BBB Wise Giving Report issued May 2009
BBB Wise Giving Report expires May 2011

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING (NCOA) DOES NOT MEET THE FOLLOWING
Five Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness - Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

· NCOA does not meet this Standard because although it has produced a written effectiveness assessment report, the report did not include recommendations for future actions and was not submitted for approval to the board of directors.

Standard 12: Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses - Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.
NCOA does not meet this Standard because the organization's 2008 financial statements do not include a breakdown of natural expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities.
Standard 14: Budget - Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
NCOA does not meet this Standard because the budget information provided by the organization does not clearly identify the projected amount to be spent on administrative activities.
Standard 16: Annual Report - Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

· NCOA does not meet provision (d)(iii) of this Standard because its annual report does not identify its total end of year net assets

Standard 18: Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy - Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.
NCOA does not meet provisions (b)(ii) and (iv) of this Standard since the privacy policy on its website, www.ncoa.org, does not include how to contact the charity to review personal information that the organization has collected about the individual and how to request corrections. The privacy policy also does not state what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information provided by visitors.
NCOA meets the remaining provisions of this Standard.

In addition, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s finances and solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following 2Standards for Charity Accountability: 13 and 15.

Governance




Chief Executive : James P. Firman, President and CEO
Compensation*:$292,471


Chair of the Board: Msgr. Charles Fahey
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Priest

Board Size: 14
Paid Staff Size: 66

* 2007 salary

www.ncoa.org Can you DISCERN where the TIP OF THE ICEBERG IS GOING?

NCOA aims to bring together non-profit organizations, businesses and government to develop solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with organizations across the country to help seniors live independently, find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities. The five impact areas in which NCOA focuses their efforts for all older adults, with special focus on those who are disadvantaged and/or vulnerable are: healthy aging, to improve health and reduce disability; workforce development to increase participation in meaningful and rewarding work; civic engagement, to increase community service that enriches participants and is productive for society.; access to benefits to increase access to public and private benefits and resources; and long-term services and supports to enhance capacity to live in communities with dignity, choice and financial security.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We are going to learn just HOW far our discernment has been out of whack. The National Council on Aging seems innocent enough...is it? What about it's associations? We'll look into this organizations and more. It is NOT too late. With the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we can serve Christ's mission.

God Bless you and yours,
Carolyn

'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'
Matthew 25-21