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.
Posts
13 comments:
So instead of actually refuting what ALL and Bellarmine Veritas had to say, John Carr actually confirmed the contents of the press release, then denied knowledge (even as he served as Chairman)?
Wow. Just wow.
Much thanks to OSV for sorting out truth from fiction.
I have heard tell that it was only a few misguided individuals who made those bone-headed decisions But, how could those "few misguided individuals" ever have gotten a hearing if most of the group hadn't thought they were good ideas?
Carr is refuting the claim. He's saying that in his work with CCC he never encountered these issues among the groups's advocacy. What the group may or may not have done since his departure is not under Carr's control. ALL seems to be playing guilt by association.
Mr. Carr is a blessed man. While he was on the Board of CCC, it was never involved in the aboriton issue but did tremendous work fighting poverty and economic injustice. Years after he left the board, it took a wrong turn.
I wish Mr. carr had stayed on the board and guided CCC in the right way. But I know he has many duties including having to waste time responding to dishonest and unfair attacks.
First Mr. Carr should resign from all posts. He clearly does not have the ability to see what goes on in the organizations in which he represents. His reaction to the situation is a clear sign of poor leadership. Secondly we need to realize the road to hell is the easier road to take. Power and prestige are the precisely what turn most human beings to sin. He needs to take responsibility for what he has done. If he believes in the teaching of the church repent. If not. Well that is between him and GOD.
As Sargeant Schultz always said, "I know nuthink."
This is why I no longer subscribe to OSV.
Tim Rohr, you obviously have every right to subscribe to whatever publications best suit your needs, but as editor of OSV I'm curious what it is this post exemplifies that is worthy of your antipathy. This is a blog post reporting accusations and the response of the accused. In the meantime, we're working on a fuller story. What is it you find objectionable?
Well, for one thing, Mr. Norton, you have heinously oversimplified Michael Hichborn's quote that they've uncovered “a systemic pattern of cooperation with evil." Hichborn's claim involves a spectrum of documented issues, including the fact that CCHD associate director of programs Tom Chabolla replaced Carr on the group's board, and is still there, though he left CCHD in 2008. I would direct you to the bottom half of this article for a fuller explanation of the quote:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10020208.html
Thanks Anonymous. Note that I did link to Hichborn's analysis. But it would be irresponsible for me to repeat the specific (undocumented) accusations without fact-checking them first -- that's a basic requirement of good journalism (not to mention Christian charity). I'm working on it.
The facts behind the allegations about John Carr are simple enough: He was once on the board of an anti-poverty organization that did good work for providing food and housing and promoting rights for immigrants; long after he left the board, the group got into advocacy for abortion and gay rights agendas(which he would have strongly oppposed if he had still been on the board). To turn this into a charge against John Carr is ridiculous.
But that is to understate the matter. I have worked with John on health care and abortion issues for two decades at the Catholic bishops' conference. He has stunchly defended and promoted the Church's teaching on the right to life of the unborn throughout this time -- and often in secular liberal forums where it makes him many enemies and loses him many friends. His dedicated work on the health care reform issue is a major reason why the bishops' advocacy for the pro-life amendment to the House health care bill was so successful.
Ironically, just a few days after ALL publicized its accusations against John's pro-life credentials, Ms. magazine published an attack on the bishops' role in ensuring passage of the Stupak amendment to keep abortion out of health care reform. John was a leader in this successful pro-life effort, which has caused so much outrage among anti-Catholics and others who object to any role for religious organizations in the public square. Maybe Ms. and ALL should compare notes.
I first heard about this from a Protestant radio host. How many Protestants are now scandalized because they don't realize that the USCCB isn't an official arm of the Catholic Church? And how many people think that Carr is guilty? Woe to detractors, but thanks to John Norton and OSV for seeking the truth.
Of course John Carr knew. He redacted references to his credentials with cchd on public resources.
Here's his latest response to the growing scandal:
"The polarization in public life is now coming over to Catholic life," Carr said. But while he would rather we "give each other the benefit of the doubt," what might be most telling about this story is how one audience member this morning responded."
I reject this intellectual dishonesty.
Nobody believes we can't be friends with people who are prochoice or for that matter work even with them on initiatives to help the poor.
We all work with people who are prochoice. What we don't do is join groups and sit on boards of directors, fund-raise for groups that make defeating the pro-life movement part of their mission, even if they give away free groceries and cars to the poor.
If slavery is part of the mission statement of people who give away groceries and cars, nobody would have any problem understanding why we can't sit on their boards of directors or funnel money into it from the USCCB.
Nobody would be in the public square implying pro-lifers are unfriendly or one-issue people who don't see the bigger picture of the good works of people promoting slavery legislation in addition to giving out groceries and cars.
Post a Comment