Washington, D.C. (25 March 2010) – The Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, has defunded an organizing group for the homeless after the group was exposed promoting same-sex marriage – a violation of Preble Street’s contract with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
Preble Street was slated to receive over $50,000 from the CCHD.
Michael Hichborn, lead researcher into the CCHD for American Life League and a member of the lay Catholic watchdog coalition Reform CCHD Now said:
“Portland Bishop Richard J. Malone’s fidelity and fortitude is an example for all to follow, illustrating that Catholic funding cannot go to groups acting in contradiction with the Church’s doctrines.”
Problems with Preble Street were first announced last November by Reform CCHD Now coalition partner Bellarmine Veritas Ministry.
Randy Keesler, a grants specialist for the CCHD, told the Portland Press Herald he and his staff learned about Preble’s promotion of same-sex marriage when the reform CCHD groups reported that it and other groups receiving funding were contradicting the church’s moral teachings.
“Two things are evident here,” Hichborn said. “The grants writing and monitoring process needs to be completely overhauled and the CCHD needs to avoid ‘progressive’ organizations.”
Twenty-four hours after the news of Preble Street’s defunding was released, at least 36 progressive and homosexual media outlets engaged a smear campaign against the bishop and the Catholic Church.
The Reform CCHD Now coalition is asking Catholics to sign its petition to “ensure no more Catholic dollars are spent to support organizations advocating abortion or same-sex marriage.”
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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- Reform CCHD Now: http://reformcchdnow.com/
- Preble Street: Preble Letter to the CCHD (12 February 2010) http://media.kjonline.com/documents/CCHDNationalResp2-10.pdf
- Portland Press Herald: Diocese Penalizes Homeless Aid Group (23 March 2010) http://www.pressherald.com/news/diocese-penalizes-homeless-aid-group_2010-03-23.html
- MPBN: Catholic Church Rescinds Grant for Homeless Charity (24 March 2010) http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNewsArchive/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3475/ItemId/11520/Default.aspx
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