The time is coming for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) collection. For me it has always been a favorite collection, because it helps people help themselves.
I was so glad to see the bishops getting out ahead of criticism that is bound to come by showing their support for the work of CCHD. (See Catholic Messenger, 10/13/11).
Every year about this time an organization seeks to discredit CCHD by giving flimsy associations of its work with works we do not support as Catholics. It’s like telling a good Catholic he or she needs to avoid McDonald’s because Madelein Murray O’Hair, the famous atheist who disappeared, once ate there. I hope our Catholics know that CCHD carefully scrutinizes the groups it helps fund to make sure they are not funding anything contrary to Catholic teaching. If CCHD finds some problem, it cuts funds.
Giving to CCHD is giving to help people in poverty help themselves out of it. I hope all will give generously.
Father Ed O’Melia
St. Mary Parish, Davenport
