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3 street roots July 18, 2014 Day laborer group loses church funding over marriage equality BY JOANNE ZUHL and its CCHD grant, which runs out this September. Merced said they probably wouldn’t apply for another. “To go through these moral hoops with them (it’s not worth it),” Merced said. “While we have a pretty good relationship with the Catholic Church here, we will go. elsewhere to find the money.” STAFF W R ITE R oz Workers’ Rights Education Project, Portland’s day laborer organization, was recently faced with a difficult decision: Either pursue a promising $75,000 grant through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, or forfeit the money and stay in solidarity with equal rights, It chose equal rights. It was an easy decision for the group, but a tough conclusion to a long relationship. n recent years, CCHD has been under The Catholic Campaign for Human pressure from right-leaning groups saying Development, or CCHD, is the national the CCHD is awarding grants to funding arm of the Catholic Church for organizations whose agenda is in conflict grassroots, member-led organizations such with Catholic teachings, a violation of the as Voz. It has supported Voz for years and terms of its grants. In 2010, Street Roots helpéd fund Voz’s worker center on Martin reported on the trend by CCHD nationally Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The $75,000 to defund or refuse grants to organizations grant proposal would hâve helped Voz fund that affiliate or partnered with groups that leadership development, organizing and supported gay rights or abortion. That P H O TO COURTESY OF V O Z education to combat wage theft, a common included Street Roots, which was told it Members ofVoz Workers' Rights Education Project march in a recent M artin Luther K ing Jr. problem among day laborers. could not receive funding for listing Planned parade in Portland. The group was declined fu nding from the Catholic Campaign for H um an El Hispanic News broke the story earlier Parenthood in a resource guide of local Development because o f its membership with a national organization that supports marriage this month that Voz had withdrawn its services for the poor. Likewise, left-leaning equality. application after CCHD urged it to drop its groups see CCHD’s approach as extreme in affiliation with the National Council of La denying funding on a “guilt by association” Raza because NCLR supports marriage platform that interferes with community Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human The day laborers themselves also equality. NCLR is the nation’s largest Latino organizing. Development are clearly stated in the pre convened to talk about what was at stake civil rights organization and is currently In 2013, in a case recorded in the Chicago application, application, and on the CCHD and come to a consensus before making a advocating on behalf of the récent wave of Tribune, CCHD cut off funding to eight . website. A local CCHD grant contains the decision. undocumented children crossing the border Chicago-area groups who continued their same criteria.” That includes a statement “No one knew what that conversation affiliation with the Illinois Coalition for from Mexico. that “CCHD cannot fund groups that are Immigrant and Refugee Rights, or ICRR, “Basically we said we stand for NCLR and would look like going in, but I think it was a powerful moment just to see everyone come part of coalitions or other organizations with after the ICRR voted to support same-sex we stand for values, and we hope that purposes or agendas together and unite and agree that what marriage on its - CCHD will one day stand with us,” Ranfis that conflict with CCHD was asking us to do was wrong,” political agenda. Villatoro, development director with Voz fundamental Catholic "This was over a coni ereace Last summer, John Villatoro said. told Street Roots. Villatoro said the request Gehring, a former social and moral call. They told ns, if yon by CCHD came as a complete shock, staffer at the U.S. teaching.” g u y s w a n t th e g r a n t , y o u 'l l considering they were already working to Gonferenee of C ato a lso s a id t h a t h a v e to d i s a f f i l i a t e w i t h C a th o lic B is h o p s , alleviate concerns about the affiliation. t h e A rc h d io c e s e /T 'h e relationship between immigratfon authored an extensive “This was over a conference call. They told NCXfL I f not, yon can stick JL rights and LGBT rights* is not cotmected ? continues to support us> if you guys want the grant, you’ll have to report that detailed Voz. w ith ffgB B i bat yon won't by circumstance. Immigration rights ; the history of CCHD’s ¿^affiliate with NCLR. If not, you can stick | | .“Voz’s withdrawal advocates are calling on the reunification work and documented from consideration for receive a n y fu n d in g /' with NCLR, but you won’t receive any jand support of Latino families across R A N F IS V IL L A T O R O , V O Z pressure campaigns a grant with CCHD funding.” borders, and that includes those in the from Catholic groups will not diminish the In a letter to CCHD, Voz’s Board of LGBT community. The National Council of like the American Life public-and active Directors - which had previously never La Raza formally voted two years ago to League, which have led to an increase in support of the Office of Life, Justice and taken a stand on marriage ¿quality - said it support marriage equality as a matter of de-funding of CCHD grantees with any Peace on the core efforts of Voz.” remained committed to NCLR. civil rights. association with other organizations that Voz isn’t the only group whose affiliation “After much deliberation within our “There are hundreds of families in our with NCLR has been called into question, support marriage equality. board, we have decided not to terminate our community who need our help. It has been a according to Navarette, and that includes at “Conservative attacks on the bishops’ affiliation with National Council of La Raza,” fundamental issue when you have same-sex anti-poverty campaign have intensified from least one other Latino organization in the the letter states. “We understand that partners that you don’t have the same rights Willamette Valley that declined to talk on well-organized opponents who think the g maintaining affiliation with NCLR, a to petition for your spouse,” says Lisa church should stick to charity and ignore the record. champion of Latino rights, will terminate Navarette with NCLR. “That’s the reality of the fact that Catholic social teaching also “Right now, there have been a couple of any possibility of receiving the CCHD it and the civil rights aspect of i t ... We isolated incidents to threaten the network or requires a response to the structures that National Grant we submitted requesting cannot be an organization that condones perpetuate injustice,” said Gehring, now the the organization. We’ll be mindful of that $75,000.” J- Catholic program director "at Faith in Public exclusion.” because we treasure these, partnerships. The grant would have been a significant Navarette said her organization even Life, an advocacy group in Washington, D.C. We’re so much stronger united and working infusion to Voz’s $310,000 annual budget wrote a letter to CCHD saying that not all “Bishops are in a tricky situation as the together than as individual organizations. “The need for funding is great,” letter members are aligned with every NCLR culture shifts beneath their feet and It’s paramount for us.” states. “However, we are a worker-led agenda item. But it was not enough. acceptance of same-sex civil marriage grows organization that empowers immigrants and I “Of course we’re not going to align rapidly,” Gehring said. “The challenge is day laborers to gain control over their completely on our agendas,” Navarette said. how can CCHD protect its Catholic identity ationally, CCHD is a major player in the working conditions. At the root of that “We’ve worked with Grover Norquist and without pulling away from the kind of mission is the pursuit of justice and equahty anti-poverty world. Founded in 1970 by evangelical groups. The mish-mash of effective coalitions that are needed to the United States Conference of Catholic for all immigrants and day laborers. organization ranges from far right and far empower low-income communities and that To accomplish that, the letter states, Bishops, it is the anti-poverty, 'social justice left. Allies are allies.” ■_ put Catholic teaching into action. Navigating arm of the Catholic Church, with a mission requires all allies standing together m unity, In fact, the governing body for CCHD, the this can be complicated, but it’s a major - to address the causes of poverty through and likened breaking up partnerships as United States Conference of Catholic blow for community organizing and a real community-controlled, self-help ' another kind of border against progress. . Bishops, has worked with La Raza on loss for vulnerable families if more dioceses organizations and education. It is funded “The philosophy behind building borders immigration issues, according to Navarette, make the decision that they can only through a specific annual collection in between friends and allies has long been a who called the bishops “stalwart” in their associate with individuals or organizations parishes across the country, and this year debilitating instrument to slow the support of immigration reform. “The that agree with Catholic theology on every granted more than $14 million to anti . advancement of social justice and equity, decision with Voz over marriage equality is issue. Pope Francis keeps reminding us that poverty organizations in the United States. Voz’s Board of Directors said. “Alone we disappointing,” Navarette said. the church should be out in the streets, The national CCHD offices, based ih cannot achieve anything.” Matt Cato is the director of the Office of getting bruised and dirty, not withdrawing Washington, D.C., did not return Street And they are not alone. The Life, Justice and Peace, which administers from the messiness of the world. Catholic Roots request for comment by press time. announcement by Voz has drawn the the Campaign for Human Development identity is not only about church teaching on Hacienda CDC was in its second year- of a support of not only the NCLR, but also through the Archdiocese of Portland. He sexuality and marriage. The essence of < two-year grant with CCHD when it received Basic Rights Oregon, the Latino Network being a disciple, the pope tells ns with his said the Catholic Campaign for Human a call from the grantor asking about its and Hacienda in Portland. Basic Rights Development is disappointed that Voz words and actions, is living out Jesus’ Oregon and Freedom to Marry made a withdrew its consideration for a national and affiliation with NCLR as well. The grant commandment to stand on the side of the funding the start of its Latino Mercado. financial contribution of approximately poor and marginalized.” local grant. Hacienda retained its membership in NCLR $12,500 to the organization to offset the “The criteria for a grant from the U.o. B I R
