ACORN And The Catholic Church: Hang Onto Your Wallets

How would you like to save some cash? I thought so. Sunday, November 23 is scheduled to be a day set aside at Catholic Churches across the US to collect donations for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. In essence, the cause is good. Money is collected to provide help for the needy. However, the CCHD is an arm of ACORN. Unless you haven't yet fallen from the Christmas tree, ACORN was significantly involved in voter fraud in the past election. Also, the brother of the founder of ACORN, Dale Rathke, has been accused of embezzling nearly $1 million from the organization. The CCHD has donated $7.3 million to ACORN in the last decade. Because of this controversy discussion took place at a meeting of Catholic bishops in Baltimore last week according to CNN news. A news release was issued by the auxilliary bishop of New Orleans, Roger Marin stating: "the Catholic Church is cutting all ties to the CCHD and ACORN".
Now is when it gets interesting. Last week I confirmed this edict with a representative of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio and, yes, according to a spokesman from the Diocese all donations were to cease immediately. At today's Mass in Dublin, Ohio there was a blurb in the Church bulletin encouraging parishioners to give to the CCHD next Sunday. I e-mailed the monsignor about this and his response was that he had not received any directives from the Diocese but would call tomorrow(11/17) to confirm. This does not surprise me that there is a lack of communication between the Parish and the Bishop. Sometimes the locals absolutely ignore what comes from the top. I'm not saying this is the case here but clarification would make life for parishioners a lot easier. I have a number of priest friends. Believe me, politics runs deep within the Church. Priests are men of God but they are also men, period. Please, let me state again: the collection for CCHD is to take place across the nation on the 23rd of November. I'm betting a lot of folks are going to be duped ----AGAIN.