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ALL Praises Bishop of Green Bay for Supporting Authentic Catholic Charitable Efforts

Washington, D.C. (02 March 2010) – American Life League applauds Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, for prudently withholding contributions to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development pending a review of grantees at the local and national level.

“Bishop Ricken and the six other bishops who cut funding for the CCHD provide faithful examples of what it means to be a shepherd,” said Michael Hichborn, American Life League’s lead researcher into CCHD grants.  “Acknowledging that no Catholic can, in good conscience, give money to an organization with a record of funding groups advocating abortion and same-sex marriage, these bishop have made a prudential and courageous decision.”

Since September of last year, American Life League has reported on 18 CCHD grantees actively promoting abortion and same-sex marriage, and another 31 that are partners with the pro-abortion Center for Community Change. 

“We also applaud Bishop Ricken’s acknowledgement that the dangerous philosophy of the Gamaliel Foundation makes it unworthy of Catholic funds,” said Hichborn.

Shortly after announcing that the diocese of Green Bay will not be collecting money for the CCHD, Bishop Ricken released a public letter to two local groups funded by the diocese.  ESTHER and JOSHUA, both affiliates of the Gamaliel Network, were told by Bishop Ricken that, if they do not sever their relationship with Gamaliel, they will lose the diocese’s support. 

In the letter, Bishop Ricken said that the “principles of the Gamaliel Foundation are inconsistent with the tenets of our Catholic Social Teaching,” and “It is not fitting for a Catholic entity to enter into a formal association with another organization when there is such a conflict of principles.

American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death.  For more information or press inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.

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