Bishops’ Subcommittee On The Catholic Campaign For Human Development Approves Grants Totaling Over $9 Million

WASHINGTON—The Catholic Campaignfor Human Development (CCHD), the domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has approved grants totaling over $9million to empower poor and low-income persons to overcome poverty andinjustice. The bishops of CCHD subcommittee approved the grants during theirmeeting in San Diego on June 9.

"These grants represent the CatholicChurch and the bishops of the United States standing in solidarity with thosedetermined not to give in to the despair caused by pervasive poverty in ourcountry," said Ralph McCloud, director of CCHD. "CCHD is just as committed asever to standing by those who want to create a better life for themselves,their families and their communities."

This year's grant allocations alsoinclude a total of over $1.5 million in grants related to CCHD's new NationalStrategic Grant Program, which focuses on issues that are broader in scoperegionally and that require a more intensive community response, especiallyfrom the Catholic community. These grants will support efforts including the statewidelaunch of a clinic in California that provides alternatives to abortion as wellas programs intended to strengthen fatherhood and families; work by theCalifornia Catholic Conference to work with dioceses and other partners toreintegrate ex-offenders; and funding for parishes and other congregations inFlorida to address criminal justice reform.

"Catholics should be proud ofthis opportunity to get involved in making a real difference in the lives of thepeople in their communities. As always, CCHD continues to support grassrootsgroups making real change, advancing justice and human dignity, providinghopeful alternatives to young people, supporting the rights of immigrants, andempowering entrepreneurs," said McCloud.

More information on CCHD isavailable online: www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development/

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Keywords: Catholic Campaign for HumanDevelopment, USCCB, U.S. bishops, anti-poverty, national strategic grants,social justice, economic development, Catholic social teaching, Bishop JaimeSoto, immigrants, grassroots

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