Time To Turn In Your Rice Bowls!

Well, now that Lent is drawing to a close, it is time to take your CRS rice bowls into your parishes so that your hard-earned money can be forked over to various and sundry anti-God organizations - or at least, that is the hope of the USCCB.  Many of us Catholic "alternative media" have been sounding the alarm regarding this bunch for years now, advising you to direct your donations to charities that actually follow our Faith.

But that doesn't mean those ubiquitous little cardboard things have to go to waste!  The Lepanto Institute, a leader in telling the truth about Catholic Relief Services, has a selection of flyers to hand out.  One of these could be folded up and put into that box.  Let the parish staff get an education when they open yours.  Alternatively, you can consider putting into that box "McCarrick Money", courtesy of Complicit Clergy.

Of course you can write your own note and place that in the box.  In any event, let them know why you won't give them one red cent.  #sayno2crs

Annual Appeal Damage Control

Catholics of the Archdiocese of Washington just saw, or will see, the flyer to the right at this weekend's Masses.  It is a list of "frequently asked questions" and some very lame attempts at responses.  Look at the questions.  They are all citing valid reasons why Catholics with common sense and a sensus fideli should boycott the collection.  The responses are farcical attempts to stymie the thinking of these Catholics and cajole them to giving anyway.

Case in point!  Take a look at the second question.  I quote, "I feel like the only way my voice can be heard is if I withhold support."  By including this in its list of "frequently asked questions", the DC chancery is admitting that it has lost the trust of faithful Catholics.

To the Catholics who are withholding financial support, you are correct in surmising that your voice is now being heard.  By publishing this dribble, the chancery concedes the effectiveness of your boycott.  However, they don't want to change their ways one iota.  For example, my blogging colleague at An Archdiocese Of Washington Catholic points out that we still haven't heard one peep about the Msgr Rossi investigation.  There also exists that disgusting video of Archbishop Gregory at the Theology on Tap doing obeisance to gays and transgenders.  The swamp at the DC chancery continues to be deep and fetid.

Let's ponder the first question and its answer.  Basically the answer is "we know better than you how your charity dollars should be used."  You can be sure that some of these "critical services and ministries" include progressive causes such as "resettling" illegal aliens, etc.  Frankly I suspect these appeal funds are managed just as "well" as are the Peter's Pence funds in the Vatican.

Ladies and gentlemen, please keep starving this beast.  That yellow piece of paper might well be signifying some needed pain and even death throes.  Until the DC chancery realizes that the Catholic Church's FIRST business is the saving of souls, not one penny should go to them.

Boycott Of Peter's Pence

In my parish bulletin this morning was a flyer announcing the upcoming Peter's Pence collection.  The flyer states that funds from this collection will support the charitable works of Pope Francis and the Vatican.  Some faithful Catholics might therefore believe that this particular collection is fine and won't go towards the more destructive aspects of this papacy.  What we must bear in mind, though, is the concept of fungibility.  For the sake of brevity, I'll link to another post in which Michael Hichborn explains that concept in detail.  Suffice it to say that under this papacy any collection to the Vatican will fund the attacks on Tradition, albeit indirectly.

Last January I closed a post in which I questioned the wisdom of our participation in this collection.  This was a post in which it was made known that pro-abortionist Paul Ehrlich spoke at a Vatican conference.  There are many more egregious acts of this papacy:

• Similar invitations to Jeffrey Sachs, Naomi Klein, Jerry Brown
• The promulgation of documents and papers that contain population control language
• The savage demolition of traditionally-oriented orders such as Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
• An ever-growing list of insults hurled mostly at Catholics who love Our Lord and His immutable traditioinis.
• A commission that will soon meet with the express purpose of reinterpreting Humanae Vitae in the light of Amoris Laetitia

This list is by no means exhaustive.  Moreover, with the passing of time it will grow.  I for one do not want to finance that growth.  I will boycott the Peter's Pence collection and give that money to a local worthwhile charity that honors the Church's mission or at least does not work to undermine it or partner with Church enemies.  Please consider doing the same.

A Plumber To Be Boycotted

Why?  Because he is cooperating formally and materially with the mortal sin of murder.  By installing the plumbing for the Two Rivers Planned Parenthood Abortion Mill in northeast DC, he is no different than those who constructed the Nazi death camps of 85 years ago.  Moreover, he's quite cavalier and callous about the matter.  He admits he's doing it only for the money and that he would do so for the Ku Klux Klan.  Well, I suppose he's at least honest and consistent regarding his moral depravity.  But would you want him in your  home doing your plumbing?

Here's the DC permit with his contact information so that you can make an informed decision.  Below that is the video in which he struts his immorality.

Boycott The Upcoming Collection For Catholic Relief Services - Say #no2crs

In my parish it was announced that the annual in-pew collection for CRS will occur during the weekend of May 14-15.  I've blogged copiously about the many scandals in which CRS participates and in some cases initiates.  A few of these include:

• Funding pro-abortion organizations in Mexico
• Employing as a vice president a flagrant sodomite marriage-mangler
• Distributing abortifacients in Madagascar - not merely funding but distributing themselves
• Accepting funding from notorious progressive George Soros
• Joining forces with CARE, MEDICAM, and CORE to foist eugenics on developing third-world countries
• Accepting massive amounts in federal grants - notably from USAID - with all strings attached

Both Lepanto Institute and Church Militant.com have more info regarding CRS.  Search those sites for additional information.

Catholic Relief Services is merely the international version of Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Whereas the latter is used to funnel Catholic donations to organizations that undermine the Faith in the United States, the former funds international "culture of death" organizations.  Both are run by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

If any of you (particularly in the Archdiocese of Washington) received a yellow sheet in your bulletins that sounded the praises of CRS, please be advised that it is full of ... bovine manure!  As the links above demonstrate, the "humanitarian aid" comes at the price of submission to sterilizations and chemical abortions.

As I did for the "operation rice bowl" shakedown during Lent, I suggest that not one penny be given to the CRS during the collection.  Instead, please place in the envelope the clip-out statement that is found at the bottom of this Lepanto page.  CRS is an ungodly monster that needs to be starved, not fed.  Say #no2crs.

Boycott Pepsi, Others For Using Aborted Babies In Product Development

Children of God for Life discovered Pepsi's partnership with Senomyx in developing flavor enhancers for its products.  The latter uses cells from the line HEK - which stands for "human embryonic kidney".  This line was derived from an aborted baby.

As you read the COG site for information, you'll notice that Pepsi's responses have been dismissive and perhaps even flippant.  This is unacceptable.  I heard of this about a month ago.  Until then I had been drinking Pepsi almost exclusively.  No more.

CCHD - Boycott This In November - ALL Localities!

With all the rightly-placed focus on the elections that will occur in two days, I can understand that the upcoming annual CCHD collection this November has slipped the minds of many.  Alas, it is a reality that now cries for our attention.

In previous posts, I had suggested that we all boycott the CCHD collection in all localities with the exception of the Chicago Archdiocese.  At the time, their local CCHD director had taken significant steps to improve the grant-making process, defunding various progressive organizations and redirecting those monies to pro-life organizations and those actively engaged in the Works of Mercy.  Sadly, but not too surprisingly, that director was released from his position.  There was an internal drive to have him fired. 

This latest development in Chicago, plus the unusual delay in CCHD's release of the names of current grantees, leaves me with the regretable but necessary task of calling for the boycott of the CCHD in all locations, no exceptions.

Problems Still Abound At CCHD

Deal Hudson released an excellent article detailing some current problems with the CCHD.  He mentions a progressive gab-fest where a number of former and current CCHD participated in forums.  He also pointed out that in previous years, the CCHD released the names of the grantees by late August, but this year they are waiting another month.  He looks askance upon such delay.  So do I.

I am recommending that we once again boycot the CCHD collection plate when it's passed down the pew this coming November.  I do not recommend a boycott, however, for the Archdiocese of Chicago, owing to some very significant improvements in their grantee awards (about which I wrote earlier).

Blasphemous Hyundai Advertisement

Watch the clip below of a Hyundai ad that mocks the Eucharist and Holy Mass.



I just emailed Hyundai to advise them that I would not buy their vehicles and that I'd advise all whom I could reach that they may wish to do likewise.  Click here to send your message.  Here is what I wrote to them:

"As a Roman Catholic who takes my God and my Church seriously, I am disgusted by your advertisement that blasphemed our Holy Mass and Holy Communion. Please be advised that I will never consider a Hyundai in any future vehicle purchase decisions. No organization that mocks Jesus Christ is worthy of my money. I will utilize my own blog to advise others to likewise boycott your products."

Baltimore Catholics! You Must Be Doing Something Right!

A source who must remain unnamed forwarded a snippet of communication received from the Archdiocese of Baltimore:  (begin snippet)

Office of the Neumann Vicar
1) Parishes that received envelopes from the CCHD collection without money in them, but with notes or “coupons” protesting the CCHD should send them directly to Bishop Madden’s office at the Catholic Center.

(end snippet)

Now what does that mean?  Will you be receiving "guilt trip" letters?  If so, I'd suggest that you point out your support of authentically Catholic charities: those that actually perform the Works of Mercy (both corporal and spiritual).  You might also point out these most serious gaffes of the Baltimore CCHD office: funding a prisoner-advocate group to have a child molester lobby against landlord rights (our November 9th posting) or, the funding of the Baltmore ACORN from local funds so that they can tell pimps how to engage in sex trafficking of underage girls (our September 23rd posting).

Or just put it in the trash.  If any other fallout occurs, please advise via the comment box.  Thank you, and again - congratulations!  You have made your concerns known to the Archdiocese CCHD, and they have taken note!

As the CCHD Collection Draws Near, It's Time to Take Off the Gloves

For the record, I agree 1000% percent with this video (no, that number was NOT a typo)!

More Scandal at Baltimore CCHD

In the September 23rd posting, we saw that the Baltimore CCHD granted $10k in 2008 to the local ACORN - one of the first ACORN branches to be caught acting as a whorehouse advisory services, giving counsel as to how to exploit underage girls without getting caught.  We now learn from Accuracy in Media and a post in Freerepublic.com. that the same Baltimore CCHD funded an outfit called "Out for Justice / Alternative Directions."  On the staff of Alternative Directions is one Jay Sherr - a convicted child pornographer.  Follow the links on the Freerepublic page.  Both Out for Justice and Alternative Directions advocate for released prisoners.  One of the goals for "Out for Justice" is the removal of the right of a landlord to inquire about the criminal record of someone applying to rent a unit.  Translation - they want to remove legal protections of landlords and neighbors from potentially dangerous neighbors and tenants.  Baltimore CCHD, therefore, is funding efforts to expose innocent people in their own neighborhoods to perverts and felons.

The reasons to boycott the CCHD collection this weekend are crawling out from under the rocks at an astonishing pace.

What Do the Letters "CCHD" Truly Represent?

The official answer to that is (of course) "Catholic Campaign for Human Development". However, what are more accurate meanings? Might one be "Clueless Catholics Headed for Disaster"? Or maybe "Complicit Crooks Helping the Devil"? This question may be somewhat more than merely rhetorical, as you'll see below.

This past Friday, EWTN's Raymond Arroyo hosted ALL's Michael Hichborn and Rob Gaspar, founder of Bellarmine Veritas Ministry. In this interview, Hichborn pointed out that many Catholics have been learning the truth about these dubious recipients of CCHD grants just by surfing their websites. I know that's true, for I have done precisely that, and have posted information here. Hichborn asks, "if we can just go to their own websites ... and we can find this information, why can't their (CCHD) screeners?" He concludes "either they're incompetent or they're complicit."

Below are two videos: one of the EWTN interview and the other is Hichborn pointing out CCHD woes. Please watch these.






We also refer you to this list of new discoveries by the ALL. For these reasons, we urge a complete boycott of the CCHD collection this weekend.

USCCB Trolls for "Good Works of CCHD" - In Vain!

In a November 13th press release, the USCCB website braggs that "Diocesan Projects Highlight the Good Works of CCHD". Well, let's take a look!

We first hear about Federation of Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS). Right off the bat, we learn that they're a PICO affiliate. Looking at the PICO site under "latest news" we see them extolling the achievements of "Massachusetts faith leaders" in securing commitments from Barney Frank and the Fed Reserve to keep families in their homes. Now doesn't that just make your heart go pitter-patter? After all, Frank et al have done such a stellar job in keeping families in their homes over the past year - right? (Please stop snickering right now!) Of course they're all gung-ho for the Obama Death Bill that passed the House last week. One of their affiliates went so far as to lament the fact that good people with common sense are finding their voices and protesting this nonsense. And the USCCB calls this a "good work"? Let's proceed.

We now examine Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network. Its mission statement states, "Our initiatives help eliminate discrimination based on immigration status to ensure all new Americans can fully participate in building a more united and sustainable Minnesota economy." Let's translate the politically-correct gobblygoop into plain language. "We don't care if you break our laws! You can have a piece of the pie bought by law-abiding Americans simply because we're such nice suckers!" Again, I fail to see how this is a "good work".

Let's move onto Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless (two of them from Minnesota?). All they seem to do is foster the naive notion that government can and should take care of all human needs. Read their position paper to that effect. Look under "income security" and "health security". What we have here is a blatant violation of the Catholic principle of subsidiarity - a principle that the USCCB seems to hold in disdain.

As I said in previous posts, I believe that the CCHD is beyond reform simply because the purpose behind its very establishment was nefarious from the beginning. As I read such tripe on the USCCB webpage, I am all the more convinced that the USCCB itself should go into the dungheap of infamous history.

CCHD Boycott - Getting Down to the Wire

The CCHD second collection is less than two weeks away. We not only urge you to boycott this on Nov 22nd, but also to encourage your family, friends and other fellow Catholics to do the same. To this end, I've designed a flyer that briefly describes the current systemic problems of the CCHD and where to find more information. You may download it to email or print out for distribution.

Additionally, you may download and print this envelope stuffer to put in the Nov 22nd envelope in lieu of money. You might also visit the site http://www.reformcchdnow.com/ for alternate envelope stuffers and more information.

I'd also like to direct you to an interview done by Pro Life Unity Radio this past weekend. Please listen to the November 7th interview.

If you have questions or concerns, please note them in the comments box below. Let's move on this, as time is of the essense. Thanks.

CCHD Monies Going to DC-Area Alinskyan Groups

I had searched the website of the Archdiocese of Washington (DC) to examine grants given to local groups, both from the national fund and the local fund. None were to be found. I contacted Mary McGinnity who runs the social justice efforts of the Archdiocese to ask where I could find these.

Ms McGinnity was very cordial and replied that many of her staff, including the CCHD Director, were laid off this past year due to cutbacks (I do remember that happening). She knew off the top of her head four local groups that received national funding last year. They are:

Washington Interfaith Network
Project Action
Partnership for Renewal in Southern and Central Maryland
Empower DC

Let's look at two of these, one by one. As I describe each, please click on its hyperlink to note interesting and troubling points.

Let's look at the Washington Interfaith Network. Right away, you'll notice that it is an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation. This foundation was established by Saul Alinsky in 1940 "to restore the democratic way of life for modern society." Alinsky was an atheist and a socialist: qualities about which he was very frank in his book, "Rules for Radicals". In that book, he outlines what he considers to be principles for "community organizing": ostensibly to better the lot of marginalized people, but also to foster socialism. I would urge its close study, since that has become a key guidebook to all such "organizers", including Barack Hussein Obama himself. It is interesting to note that Alinsky dedicates his book to Lucifer, "the first community organizer..who at least won his own kingdom."

The motto that flashes through the lead WIN page is "we organize for power to transform communities." Well, gee whiz, if that's true, why did I not see any sign of them at last Sunday's "The People's Rally", where hundreds of local DC residents gathered to insist that they be allowed to vote on the DC Council's same-sex-marriage recognition? (Note: see my post a few down this page to see what happened at that rally).

Partnership for Renewal in Southern and Central Maryland is an affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation. An examination of their website reveals their position on the Obama health care behemoth before Congress. They itch for the public option and they utter not one peep in protest about the multiple threats to the unborn and elderly that is inherent in this bill. At the bottome of the Partnership website is a link to the Gamaliel Foundation website. Click on that and scroll all the way to the bottom. You'll see extolled thereon the Messiah Most Miserable himself; they gush over Obama's former affiliation with them. But wait! Who else appears on that page? Why, it's Valerie Jarrett, long-time Chicago-political-hardball crony of the Messiah Most Miserable. Now an organization such as Gamaliel that ostensibly prides itself on championing the poor and downtrodden feature a woman who has had uh, some troubles managing residential real estate?

While it's true that CCHD might have disowned ACORN (after many years of pleas on the parts of alert, faithful Catholics), recipient organizations such as the two just described do indicate that the CCHD remains unacceptable as a recipient of donation dollars on November 22.

We urge a complete boycott of the CCHD collection on November 21-22. Please visit the CCHD-related and ACORN-related posts on this blog for more information and tools for the boycott. Also, please visit the blogs listed at the right. I also urge close study of the information posted on the website of the Catholic Media Coalition. Comments and questions welcome, given the already-stated rules for such.

2009 CCHD Collection Theme: "We Made a Friggin' Mess! Let's Make More!!"

That's what it might as well be. According to the USCCB, it's "Families are struggling. Faith is calling." Well, why are families struggling? Here's a hint as to part of the reason - CCHD!

So why are families struggling today? Well, it's the economy. But what led to that? We might be tempted to say it's the mortgage crisis and such. But what was at the basis of that? One key factor is that lending institutions were largely coerced into making mortgage loans to people who most likely would have trouble repaying. Such coercion came about largely through the malfeasance of liberal politicians such as Barney Frank, and often at the behest of "community organizing" cartels such as ACORN and others. Sure enough, folks defaulted on the loans. Credit dried up without payments coming in, so house prices plummeted. I won't go into a long economic tome here, but we know that ACORN received millions from the CCHD. Therefore, the CCHD was funding much of the mischief that ACORN wrought on the housing industry, and thus, the nations and - of course, the "struggling families".

So why, oh why, should any of us drop one red penny into that second collection basket on November 22nd? The answer? We shouldn't!!!

Please boycott this collection! For more information and some tools, go to the "boycott the CCHD collection" entry at the right of this entry.

Boycott the CCHD Collection on Nov 21-22

Despite the promises of the defunding of ACORN, it has been demonstrated that the Catholic Campaign for Human Development will continue to fund similar organizations. Given the very jaded origins of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, I believe that this whole corrupt pseudo-ministry of the USCCB should be dismantled and its remains thrown into the garbage. Our friends at Les Femmes (featured on "my blog list") have put together the following video.



Please study it. I also urge the studying of this by another colleague of the Catholic Media Coalition.



We simply cannot allow our donation dollars to be used to undermine the Church and to spread the Culture of Death. One of the videos suggest the dropping of an acorn in that collection basket. If acorns are not to be found in your area, write a note explaining why you're not contributing to this collection; place it in the CCHD envelope in lieu of money. You may use this template if you wish. Additionally, please make sure that you do contribute to a legitimate Catholic and/or prolife charity.

Speaking of Catholic Media Coalition, there is located on the website a repository of information regarding the CCHD. Please make use of it. Any questions/comments, please submit them.