UPDATED: How to Help in Haiti

Click on the CRS, Fast for Haiti or Caritas images below and you will be directed to the appropriate donation page.  All donations made on this page will go directly and immediately to assist with the effort in Haiti.

! Catholic Campaign for Human Development! - Reform Needed Now!

Last year, many Catholics put a cut-out picture of an acorn in the basket; this year some are clipping coupons and dropping them in. The collection will take place on November 22 this year and I ask that you prayerfully discern whether or not you wish to participate this year. Previous +Ponderings+ on the topic of the CCHD may be found HERE.

To be fair, it appears that Bishop Roger Morin, Chairman of the CCHD is working to reform the campaign. Read the memo he issued to all US Bishops HERE. In it, he assures the Bishops that the organizations which promoted programs contrary to Church teaching have been defunded. That is an excellent first step, yet a deep trust has been broken and cannot be healed this easily. First millions to ACORN, then the three organizations supporting intrinsic evil. What will it be this year? What surprises may be in store for Americans who are facing an above 10% unemployment rate and must be extremely careful with every penny they can afford to donate?

According to the USCCB, "The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops." As of late, the term 'social justice' has been painted much differently than when the CCHD was founded in 1970. The CCHD says that 'it is time to end poverty in America once and for all. How does the CCHD end poverty? I really would like to know and do not intend it as a trick question.

As for me and my family, we will once again give all money we would have given to the CCHD to Catholic Charities of Western New York. We know where the money will be used and have seen the direct impact they have upon families first-hand. From their website:

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is the most comprehensive human service provider in Western New York, reaching all eight counties with professionally staffed locations. Each year, Catholic Charities serves more than 160,000 Western New Yorkers without regard to age, race or religious affiliation. Today’s Catholic Charities leads the way for an integrated human service delivery system.

In 2007, the agency voluntarily sought and received its first four-year accreditation from the Council on Accreditation, attesting to its adherence to the highest national professional standards and delivery of the best quality services.

Catholic Charities offers programs that strive to empower individuals, children and families. Among them are comprehensive counseling services for all ages, basic emergency assistance and referrals, child and adult mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, educational and vocational services, services to the aging, parish outreach and advocacy, marriage counseling, foster care and adoption services, child and adult day care, and a variety of programs that address prevention and treatment of a number of family issues.

Consider donating to Catholic Charities in Buffalo or your local Catholic Charities office.

Divine Alliance or Dealing with the Devil??

According to the Catholic Charities USA website, they are now in a partnership with the United States government. A federal contract will reportedly provide Catholic Charities USA with up to 100 million dollars to provide disaster relief.

Alexandria, VA—Following its well-documented provision of disaster services in the aftermath of Katrina and last year’s Gustav and Ike, Catholic Charities USA has been selected by the government to provide disaster case management nationwide. It is the first-ever Federal contract for the 100 year old human service organization.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Administration for Children and Families(ACF) section has awarded Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract to prepare for and provide disaster case management operations throughout the United States and all its Territories. The contract, which spans a 5-year timeframe, was effective July 20. While it covers all types of disasters, the agreement is just in time to help ensure that the federal government and FEMA are prepared with case management resources for the ‘09 Hurricane season. Under the contract HHS can issue task orders to CCUSA for aid in connection with a specific disaster.
“We all hope and pray for zero disasters, but reality forces us to be prepared,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. “Our people, our agencies, and our partners have exceptional first-hand experience—not only from Katrina, Gustav and Ike—but from our every day work in serving those most devastated and most in need across the country. People know they can turn to Catholic Charities to get the job done. We thank the Department of Health and Human Services for their confidence in us.”
The expansive contract calls for CCUSA to organize national, regional and local teams and to work in partnership with these teams to help ensure disaster case management preparedness and delivery. Acting as General Contractor, CCUSA will pre-identify local/regional volunteers and sub-contractors, enter into agreement with them, provide training and experience in disaster case management, and be ready to deploy and implement anywhere in the country within 72 hours of a FEMA designated disaster.
The first task order issued under the contract will fund case management work relating to the aftermath of Gustav and Ike. Fr. Snyder, who became president of the organization in 2005 and almost immediately became involved in Katrina response as part of his start-up leadership, will take an active oversight role for the contract.
“It’s a very strong endorsement of who we are and what we do, and powerful recognition of the donors who support us and who we will now need to count on more than ever.” Fr. Snyder continued. “The contract funding is specifically for disaster case management operations, which handle individual and family needs long after the initial impact. It does not cover disaster response direct assistance, so we must continue to maintain and grow our donations to support that critical front.”
“It really is a tremendous opportunity for CCUSA,” added Fr. Snyder. “We are up to the task, and have the commitment and compassion to make sure we live up to the trust placed in us.” He further noted that Catholic Charities, which at approximately $4 billion is among the top five largest non-profit charities in the country, will reach out to its counterpart major organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army and others to communicate the contract and establish any mutual engagement opportunities.

Certainly it is a great statement about the effective, healing and far-reaching hand of Catholic Charities for them to be given such a contract. I am also very concerned whenever the government has a finger on a Catholic anything. Do keep in mind that the HHS is headed by the very same Kathleen Sibelius (Dr. Tiller's biggest fan) discussed here at +Ponderings+ several times in the past.

As Tim Drake at the National Catholic Register notes:

There are those who say that Catholic college and universities’ decisions to accept federal monies and federal student aid grants have resulted, in some cases, in faculties where the majority of educators are not Catholic, thus weakening the Catholic identity of the school and the ability of students to receive an authentically Catholic education.

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