I am and have been researching 'Catholic Charities'...

Among other things its political activities & positions, its funding, its ties with secular organizations, its hiring practices and employee requirements, its leadership -specifically, the structure, the people & whether they answer to Rome, and its therapy & counseling 'services' -specifcally compared to Church teaching...

My belief is that Catholic Charities is Catholic in name only AND maybe the name needs to be taken away IF people are being led astray...

Here is a link to an article that addresses some of what I speak about: How Catholic Charities Lost Its Soul

I am interested in any insight one way or the other regarding this organization -good or bad experiences etc. -- Feel free to contact me via email if you do not want to post here.

Thank You.

Sincerely in Christ,

Daniel

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), September 20, 2003

Answers

This is a very interesting article, and unfortunately, I am not surprised by it. I am so tired of the "blame everyone/government" attitude if your life is not what you want.

As far as the lack of religion aspect, I can relate a similar experience. I was trying to find a good home for a baby play yard and infant swing, and thought our local crisis pregnancy organization (often mentioned in our parish bulletin as needing baby clothes for up to one year and maternity clothes) would be interested in them-- perfect condition, practically brand new--to use on a loan out and return basis with the mothers. Not only did they not want them, the woman I spoke with happened to mention that they don't even mention God to their "clients" for fear of alienating them, and that it was in their charter rules of incorporation not to do so. I was NOT happy. I wound up donating the items to a local non-denominational (fundamentalist-based) Christian thrift store--their mission is to help families adopt babies from Asia and other areas. A woman working there said that to adopt a baby from China costs like $30,000--even though China doesn't want these children, they still want as much money as they can get for each one....

I also feel that there is really no incentive to cure poverty and other problems (or at least bring them down to truly minimal numbers) because so many people are employed by the government or these "charities" to deal with them. If the problems were solved, these social workers and so forth would have to get real jobs (in other words, jobs where they can actually get fired for non or poor performance) and they probably couldn't handle it. And you can also throw in those awful school fundraising companies, since it is that time of year as well.

I wouldn't mind giving to charity so much except that there is no emphasis on solving the problem for those you are helping (I realize that there will always be someone needing help at any given moment, but it shouldn't be the same people always getting help in perpetuity). I would like to see most charities set up as "we help you, you can put in some time helping us", but no, people just want to hand out the resources without regard to seeing if that is giving the person true help or just enabling them to continue to sponge, and in effect depriving someone else of the help.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), September 20, 2003.

I think that the author is distorting the purpose of Catholic Charities. He is probably a republican that thinks that the problems that someone has are because of that person. Also governments in other countries don't seem to have a problem with these government institutions that the US has. Most other developed countries don't need many of the institutions that we have because they have free healthcare and free higher education. Catholic Charities needs to help the poor but also to lobby congress to pass universal healthcare and universal education. If that happened you might see huge changes in the needyness of the american people.

I thought that it was interesting that the author brought up the 1996 reform of the welfare system. In a way what Catholic Charities did was good and bad. It was good because many of the people that got off welfare got off because they had too, not because they climbed the economic ladder. But they were also wrong because the new welfare system puts more emphasis on the family.

It was also interesting that he brought up how Catholic Charities is hiring and reaching out to non-Catholics. How stupid is that!? Heaven forbid the Catholic Church helps people that aren't catholic. Non-Catholics can be poor too.

I just think this country would be better if we stopped being so conservative and looked at Western Europe and Canada. They might find that in many ways their society is better because the state tries to solve problems.

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), September 20, 2003.

"I just think this country would be better if we stopped being so conservative and looked at Western Europe and Canada. They might find that in many ways their society is better because the state tries to solve problems."

Scott,

My questioning/investigation has nothing to do with being conservative -or for that matter liberal... Conservative & Liberal in the context you present are relativistic terms to each other and relative to both society & culture... What I am concerned with is Catholic -Catholic teaching, Church & God... -- Specifically, Catholic Charities compared to our Church -the rest of society and the opinions or relative arguments good or bad are really nothing to accept unless and until compared to Church teaching...

The commentary you posted is just so much more moral relativism -do you have any insight that is on point?

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), September 21, 2003.

Following is a link to an article that seems evident on its surface to verify my cocern: Cou nselor at Catholic Charities Volunteers at Abortion Clinic

"Neither the Archdiocese of Boston nor Catholic Charities of Greater Boston expressed concern over Brown’s abortion activities when contacted by MassNews. But ordinary people in the street say the situation is unacceptable and Brown should be fired."

hmmm...

then:

Abortion Worker No Longer Employed by Catholic Charities

Was his termination a result of publicity -the truth seeing the light of day? Are there other situations like this -hidden...

Being a Director of Counseling Services at Catholic Charities in Dorchester, a facility that counsels pregnant women and volunteering on Saturdays escorting women into Planned Parenthood's abortion clinic in Boston seemed a conflict - his termination rather than repentance and forgiveness seems to say something else -like this was no honest mistake -he had an agenda and he was operating within our Church...

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), September 21, 2003.

P.S.

"Phone calls by Mass News to several departments of the Archdiocese of Boston resulted in hostility or bureaucratic indifference and referrals back to Catholic Charities. Maureen March, a spokesperson for Catholic Charities, told MassNews that they are aware of Brown’s activities, but she said, “Catholic Charities’ hiring policies are more like a company’s hiring policies than, say, of the Archdiocese, but we don’t discriminate based on religion, race, sexual orientation, or any of those types of things. Because we take federal money and that sort of thing, we have to adhere to separate hiring and firing regulations.”

"March said Brown is extremely qualified for the job and Catholic Charities “does not grill people” about things they do on their own time."

hmmm... So how could they get away with firing him -on what grounds? -Maybe he just left...

-anyone else have any more infornation?

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), September 21, 2003.

United We Fall — The Unholy Alliance Between Catholic Charities and United Way

"Though some may be tempted to take comfort in this option, one must realize that part of the community served by United Way is the abortion rights and services community, and that the administrative fees provided by Catholic Charities enable certain Planned Parenthood chapters to keep their doors open. The fact that we need to carefully separate Catholic dollars from the "dirty money" in the United Way coffers is a strong indication that Catholic Charities is on the wrong track in associating with United Way. Abortion is too clear-cut an issue for there to be any confusion among Catholic donors."

-just adding more info for discussion -- seems to be alot of smoke here, any fire?

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), September 21, 2003.

This is why private charities (religious) should not be accepting government money. As long as they do, they cannot apply their own standards for hiring/firing people.

The only thing the United Way pamphlet is good for is as a list of charities as a a starting point for where you may want to give. And after the hassles with the Boy Scouts, it is better to research the charities you want to give to and give to them directly instead of through UW.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), September 21, 2003.

Jmj
Hello, folks.

It would not be proper to condemn "Catholic Charities" [CC] across the board, because it is not a monolithic, national or international "organization" of some kind. Rather, it is an office of each bishop that varies from diocese to diocese. The programs supported are not the same from place to place. Where I live, I don't believe that CC supports anything sinful, so I am not afraid to contribute to it. It helps people who are really in need -- for example, unwed expectant mothers, the frail elderly, the homeless, etc..

But if you are really looking for something to be wary of, let it be the "Campaign for Human Development." I believe that this is national in scope, and it has repeatedly been shown by investigative journalists to be supportive of projects that are unworthy of Catholic support. Yearly, there is a collection for CHD, and I recommend that we give $0.00 to it, because it would be wrong for our money to go to organizations that support abortion or other sinful things.

Scott, you wrote: "I think that the author is distorting the purpose of Catholic Charities. He is probably a republican that thinks that the problems that someone has are because of that person."

This shows me that you don't understand what the Republican Party stands for, but instead you are just parroting the Democrat Party propaganda. You are brainwashed by the media, which (polls have proved) is at least 85% Democrat. I am not a Republican, but I know better than to think that the party says "that the problems that someone has are because of that person." That is simplistic rubbish. But what worries me more than your wrong belief about this specific subject is that you voice such disdain for the party [not even having enough respect to capitalize the name] that one would have to believe that you would not ever vote for a Republican. I don't ask you to admit it publicly, but I hope that you aren't just blindly voting for Democrats [for example, because your ancestors have always been Democrats] -- even when they are pro-death while their Republican opponents are pro-life. To do such a horrible thing could endanger your soul.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 23, 2003.

Could someone explain to me how "...and that the administrative fees provided by Catholic Charities enable certain Planned Parenthood chapters to keep their doors open. " this is possible?

How or why does the United Way get a percentage of the fees donated to Catholic Charities? Is this only when you donate to the United Way and specify Catholic Charities as your preferred recipient?

If money is donated directly to Catholic Charities, I assume no fees are paid to the United Way. Is that correct?

My company has a huge United Way campaign every year. And each year I turn my pledge card in with $0 and write on it to quit supporting abortion providers and I will change my contribution. Not likely to happen though.

God Bless.

-- Glenn (glenn@nospam.com), September 23, 2003.

"It would not be proper to condemn "Catholic Charities" [CC] across the board, because it is not a monolithic, national or international "organization" of some kind. Rather, it is an office of each bishop that varies from diocese to diocese. The programs supported are not the same from place to place. Where I live, I don't believe that CC supports anything sinful, so I am not afraid to contribute to it. It helps people who are really in need -- for example, unwed expectant mothers, the frail elderly, the homeless, etc..." John, I agree with your statement in general, Catholic Charities does many good things -good things that are fully inline with Catholic teaching... Condemnation is not the thrust of my inquiry, it is more a 'recognition' -recognition that ALL that Catholic Charities may 'do', 'support' or pursue is NOT as our Church teaches AND if this is the case... In my opinion, there is no middle ground regarding the name of an organization -- 'they' are either completely Catholic or 'they' are not... I think that there is a difference between an individual and an organization... e.g. to state that John Doe or Jane Doe are not Catholic because they 'do' X thing(s) would be impossible and judgmental when one can not know what comprises thier heart/soul/conscience... however, an organization is a different matter -when judged against our Church teachings/Truth it should be an easy and necessary judgement... Regarding the National Organization vs. local programs -the local programs tend to mirror a mix of bishop, parish and culture -ALL with support and 'materials' available from the national organization... The national organization has fundraing as one primary goal AND as such, the politically correct positions and causes are pursued at this level, the local parish groups tend to focus on pastoral care specific to thier area/concern... The functional relationship between local and national CC seems to be a direct connection -the local bishop is not in this loop so to speak...

Anyway, the main point of this thread and my question - Should CC still be called 'Catholic' Charities or 'Almost Catholic' Charities or 'Somewhat Catholic' Charities... or...

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), September 23, 2003.

I was told that UW was set up as a "blanket corporation" to kind of stop every individual charity from going door-to-door to each company to solicit donations, although I don't know how successful that aspect of it is. The larger the company (and I include here gov't jobs as well as the military) the more pressure there is for 100% participation, preferable through payroll deduction (so that you hopefully don't miss the money going out).

They take like 6% (may be more now) out of every donation, "designated" or not for admin costs. If you leaf through the pamphlet, they have many different charities, and we all know the big issue with the Boy Scouts--many UW chapters have dropped them completely as a listed charity. The "admin costs" indirectly support all the listing of other charities, which include Planned Parenthood, among others. Also, the salaries/ benefits of the senior UW people are very high.

If you want to donate, do so to the organization directly, or help a person in need directly.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), September 23, 2003.

-in my previous posting (cut and past transfer from wordpad to post) the paragraphs were not present so I repost for clarity:

"It would not be proper to condemn "Catholic Charities" [CC] across the board, because it is not a monolithic, national or international "organization" of some kind. Rather, it is an office of each bishop that varies from diocese to diocese. The programs supported are not the same from place to place. Where I live, I don't believe that CC supports anything sinful, so I am not afraid to contribute to it. It helps people who are really in need -- for example, unwed expectant mothers, the frail elderly, the homeless, etc..."

John,

I agree with your statement in general, Catholic Charities does many good things -good things that are fully inline with Catholic teaching... Condemnation is not the thrust of my inquiry, it is more a 'recognition' -recognition that ALL that Catholic Charities may 'do', 'support' or pursue is NOT as our Church teaches AND if this is the case...

In my opinion, there is no middle ground regarding the name of an organization -- 'they' are either completely Catholic or 'they' are not... I think that there is a difference between an individual and an organization... e.g. to state that John Doe or Jane Doe are not Catholic because they 'do' X thing(s) would be impossible and judgmental when one can not know what comprises thier heart/soul/conscience... however, an organization is a different matter -when judged against our Church teachings/Truth it should be an easy and necessary judgement...

Regarding the National Organization vs. local programs -the local programs tend to mirror a mix of bishop, parish and culture -ALL with support and 'materials' available from the national organization... The national organization has fundraing as one primary goal AND as such, the politically correct positions and causes are pursued at this level, the local parish groups tend to focus on pastoral care specific to thier area/concern... The functional relationship between local and national CC seems to be a direct connection -the local bishop is not in this loop so to speak...

Anyway, back to my question - Should CC still be called 'Catholic' Charities or 'Almost Catholic' Charities or 'Somewhat Catholic' Charities....

Regarding my statement that "The functional relationship between local and national CC seems to be a direct connection -the local bishop is not in this loop so to speak..." -There is much to this, and this is much the root cause of my concern; I will expound on this later -time permitting...

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), September 23, 2003.

-bump up top

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), May 28, 2004.