A Matter of Gospel, Not Government Influence

To the Editor:

Readers of The Chronicle should not be too dismayed by the September 9 letter of Terrence Scanlon of the Capital Research Center decrying the influence of government money on religiously affiliated charities (“Beware the Effects of Government Funds on Charities”). They should note Mr. Scanlon’s real purposes.

For years the Capital Research Center carried on discredited attacks on the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Why? Because the bishops have funded community organizing and economic development which is designed to empower the poor and create a more just society.

Now Mr. Scanlon purports to be concerned about government partnerships with religiously affiliated charities, and he attacks Catholic Charities USA. What’s his real reason? It is because we consider advocacy for social justice to be an integral part of our mission.

Charity and justice are central to Catholic social teaching and have been for centuries. As the Synod of Bishops explained in 1971, action for justice is a constitutive element of the preaching of the Gospel.

Mr. Scanlon’s problem is not with Catholic Charities USA. His problem is with the Gospel.

Rev. Fred Kammer
President
Catholic Charities USA
Alexandria, Va.