The Authentic Aim Of Catholic Charitable Institutions - Kick In The Pants For Catholic Charities

Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, reminded us all that Catholic charitable efforts must go beyond "social justice and proclaim the totality of the Gospel.

Now why might Catholic Charities need that reminder?  Might it be because Catholic Charities USA retained the Sheridan Group to "start a new national conversation on poverty and opportunity"?  Between April 2010 and April 2011, Catholic Charities paid Sheridan almost a half million dollars for lobbying and advocacy.

And what is wrong with that?  Well, the Sheridan Group is owned by Tom Sheridan, who is a gay rights activist and gay himself.  This we learn from the Washington Blade.  You won't see that in the Catholic Standard!  It's rather telling that the Blade is more forthcoming than the Standard, but I digress.  If Catholic Charities were truly interested in proclaiming the totality of the Gospel, they would not have in a prominent position one who openly defies Catholic moral teaching in such manner.

This situation is just the latest such mess of which I'm aware.  Recall that Sister Carol Keehan is on the board of directors of Catholic Charities.  And who can forget the fiasco with the Catholic Charities of Richmond, when one of their employees drove one of their clients to an abortion appointment - with prior knowledge of the bishop of Richmond?

Here we have yet another reason to scuttle Catholic Charities.