Catholic Campaign for Human Development

THE CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN for Human Development (CCHD), a program administered by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, attempts to address the root causes of poverty among Americans. It is among the largest privately funded, self-help initiatives aiding the poor in the United States. Founded in 1970, the Campaign for Human Development has attempted to move beyond traditional forms of charity by promoting and supporting community organizations that [Page 130]offer opportunities for men, women, and families to break free from poverty. In the wake of a heightened interest in humanitarianism brought on by President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society initiatives, the U.S. Catholic bishops began their own social justice program to aid minority groups and the poor in gaining economic strength and political power while educating Catholics about the need to be in solidarity with the poor.

The campaign is funded primarily from the contributions of Catholics in the United States, obtained through a special collection at churches throughout the United States each November before Thanksgiving. In the 30-plus years of the campaign, American Catholics have donated hundreds of millions of dollars. Of the money collected, 25 percent is retained by individual dioceses to be used at the local level. The remaining funds are allocated for individual projects in communities throughout the country. A committee of 15 that includes eight Catholic bishops and seven other members determines the policies and funding decisions of the campaign.

Though the funds allocated by the initiative are derived from private sources, the campaign's work has been scrutinized. Some detractors have argued that the charity practiced by the campaign is politically motivated. The CCHD has been criticized for siding with the aims of the Democratic Party in the U.S., while others charge that organizations supported by the campaign are frequently apathetic, if not hostile, to the Catholic Church, advancing contrary positions on abortion and euthanasia. In 1998, at the request of the United States bishops, the word Catholic was added to the organiza-tion's name and guidelines for funding were enacted to more closely adhere to the Catholic Church's teaching on social issues.

Some 4,000 local projects have received financial support from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development during its history. While direct aid to the poor is not provided from CCHD funds, local initiatives include job creation and vocational training, neighborhood improvement, and programs for students and young children.

To be eligible for funding from the campaign, initiatives must aim to attack the root causes of poverty; the beneficiaries of the initiative must be from low-income communities; and those who plan and implement the initiative must be poor themselves. A secondary aim of the campaign is to offer initiatives that educate Americans about poverty and its causes. A recent educational initiative, Poverty USA, raises awareness of the extent of poverty in the United States and what citizens can do to curb its impact.