The pro-life group notes that while working for the bishops' conference, Carr also chaired the board of an umbrella group of grassroots organizations called the Center for Community Change. In general, CCC is involved in predictable progressive causes (including in ways that overlap with Catholic social teaching) like immigration reform, health care reform, affordable housing and workers' rights. But, as documented by Bellarmine Veritas Ministry, the CCC also corporately supports tax-payer funded abortions and same-sex marriage.
That's led the ALL to the serious charge of the bishops' conference engaging in “a systemic pattern of cooperation with evil."
I asked the bishops' conference for a response. John Carr writes:
Neither the American Life League nor the Bellarmine Institute contacted me, CCHD or the bishops' conference before making these accusations. If they had, they would have learned that I left the board of the Center for Community Change in February of 2005 and that I had no involvement in or knowledge of the actions alleged in the press release.I have more questions in to the conference about this and will update this post when I have answers. UPDATE IS HERE.
My experience with CCC was that it focused on poverty, housing and immigration and had no involvement in issues involving abortion and homosexuality.
When I served, the board never discussed or acted on any position involving these matters and if they had, I would have vigorously opposed any advocacy for access to abortion or gay marriage.
I have spent my personal and professional life defending human life and dignity and Catholic teaching, including current efforts to keep abortion funding out of health care reform. I regret that once again the failure to contact me or CCHD has led to unfair allegations in attempts to undermine the essential work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
