Here's a follow-up to my previous post about John Carr, the U.S. Catholic bishops' director for justice, peace and human development, who responded here to "unfair allegations" today by the American Life League regarding his involvement with a group that has been linked to abortion advocacy and gay rights issues, the Center for Community Change (CCC).
In response to my questions, Mercy Sister Mary Ann Walsh, director of the U.S. bishops' media relations office has:
1. CONFIRMED the American Life League's assertion that the bishop's Catholic Campaign for Human Development gave $150,000 to CCC in 2001. But it CLARIFIED that during the time he served on the CCC board, his office at the bishops' conference did not then have jurisdiction over CCHD (countrary to American Life League's claim about conflict of interest). And it says CCC has not received any funding since.
2. CLARIFIED that Carr left the CCC board in 2005 (American Life League said 2006). It said his previous work for CCC was "a few months" after leaving the Carter administration, which ended in 1981. He was part of a group trying to work with block grants. "He then went to work for the Archdiocese of Washington as Cardinal Hickey's secretary for social concerns."
3. NOTED that the pro-abortion and pro-gay-rights "activities highlighted in ALL e-mail campaign took place long after" Carr left the CCC board.
I'll keep on this and will be sure to add updates here.
DISQUS for OSV Daily Take
