Response from Matt Cato, Director of the Office of Life, Justice & Peace, Campaign for Human Development, Archdiocese of Portland and Abortion and LGBT funding.
As the Diocesan Director for the U.S. Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development, let me respond to concerns about CCHD funding within the Archdiocese of Portland:
The event in question occurred in the spring 2017. This would have been in Community Alliance of Tenants’ final year of receiving CCHD funding. It did not receive funding in 2018 and has not applied for a 2019 grant.
While there is no possibility that we would recommend funding for any organization engaging in activities that violated Catholic teaching, I take these allegations seriously and I am investigating them. As an initiative of the Catholic Church in the United States, CCHD cannot fund organizations that engage in activities that contradict fundamental Catholic moral or social teaching.
In fact, I count six instances when I have recommended that an organization not be funded, or no longer receive funding, because it had violated the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church and/or the stipulations of the grant.
Please be assured that we investigate thoroughly and decide in accordance with the Church’s moral teachings.
Thank you,
Matt Cato
Director of the Office of Life, Justice & Peace
Campaign for Human Development
Archdiocese of Portland
503.233.8361
http://pdxlifejusticepeace.org/
Faith without Works is dead (James 2:14-26)