A week and a half ago, the Lepanto Institute published an article illustrating the rampant promotion of homosexuality and transgenderism by an organization called the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN). The US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ anti-poverty program, Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is providing a strategic grant of $750,000 to ISN over the next three years.
A supporter of the Lepanto Institute contacted the USCCB to ask why the CCHD is providing three-quarters of a million dollars to an organization so steeped in the promotion of grave sin and depravity. Alexandra Carroll, the USCCB’s Communications Manager for Social Mission, responded by claiming that ISN had not violated Catholic teaching, and in fact asserted that ISN’s pro-LGBT conferences to high school children and young adults conformed with the Catechism’s admonition that “every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” [Catechism 2358].
Carroll’s response, which is provided in full at the end of this article, begins with an attempt to provide credentials that would indicate the merits of the organization itself. For instance, Carroll says:
“ISN has been working … in partnership with the Society of Jesus as well as the larger Church—including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops through their core membership with the Justice for Immigrants Campaign, as well as Church leaders like Bishop Gorge Murry, SJ.”
At the outset, this would seem like more of an indictment of the organization than an acquittal. But it is interesting to note that in mentioning Bp. Murry, Carroll fails to mention that another prominent Jesuit has worked very closely with ISN, and that is the notorious Fr. James Martin, SJ. The agenda in this grant is already quite evident.
But in the second paragraph of Carroll’s response, she explains very clearly how the $750,000 grant will help expand ISN’s push for homosexual and transsexual inclusion in the Church. She says:
“Through their Strategic National Grant, ISN will be enabled to significantly expand their advocacy capacity—forming leaders, networking and animating Jesuit institutions, and building on the success of existing ISN programs such as the Campaign for Hospitality and the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice.”
As we explained in our initial article on this grant, ISN’s Ignatian Family Teach-In is the program through which ISN has been promoting homosexuality and transgender ideologies to young people. For instance, in 2018, ISN’s Teach-In workshop titled, “Transgender Voices in the Church,” which was convened by the Vatican-condemned New Ways Ministry, specifically states its intention to send participants away with resources for conducting transgender activism. The description for this workshop says:
“Catholics increasingly face questions of transgender inclusion, intersecting with issues like race and sexual orientation that compound marginalization. This interactive session will examine how trans voices are both present and silent in our communities. Participants will leave with resources for building trans justice in their communities.”
So, as it stands, CCHD fully acknowledges and admits that the $750k collected from pew-sitting Catholics is going directly to conference workshops just like this one.
And appallingly, the CCHD claims that workshops such as this are NOT contrary to Catholic teaching. Carroll wrote:
“On June 20, 2019, the Lepanto Institute published an article citing several allegations regarding speakers, workshops, blog posts regarding homosexual activity. The Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) was not encouraging or promoting anything contrary to Catholic teaching. The topics and workshops were designed to inspire inclusion and safety for those who are physically or emotionally threatened for being LGBT, in line with the Catechism’s instruction that “every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (2358).”
Where does one even begin with this? To claim that providing workshops to impressionable high school and college students that indoctrinate them in transgender activism is NOT “contrary to Catholic teaching” is nothing short of a lie! While Carroll cites the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2358 that “every sign of unjust discrimination in their [meaning homosexual] regard should be avoided,” she completely ignores the preceding entry (2357) which states:
“Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”
At a conference where homosexuals are proclaiming their own homosexuality and encouraging others to “come out,” and where students are being trained in transgender activism, it is abundantly clear that this organization is directly violating the Catechism where it says, “Under no circumstances can they be approved.”
The situation here couldn’t be more clear … the CCHD is attempting to redefine Church teaching regarding homosexuality and it is attempting to advance the false notion that all discrimination against sexual deviants is to be avoided. The truth, however, is that the Catechism’s admonition against discrimination is qualified with the word “unjust,” which infers that there is a justified form of discrimination. For instance, as a parent, I would never allow my children to attend a transgender story-hour at a library, nor would I allow a homosexual couple to babysit. As a parent, my first obligation is to preserve and protect the purity and innocence of my children, which means I must discriminate against those whose pose a threat to these things, including those claiming to be homosexual or transgender.
This grant by the CCHD is not only in direct conflict with Catholic moral teaching, but it poses a clear and present danger to Catholic parents everywhere! The reasoning employed by the CCHD in support of these perverted workshops leads to the conclusion that justice somehow demands participatory inclusion and embrace of those who are living lives in accord with one of the four sins that cry to Heaven for vengeance.
Therefore, the Lepanto Institute is reiterating its call to bishops to demand that this grant be rescinded and those responsible for making it and utilizing false arguments in favor of it be fired immediately.
Here is the USCCB’s response in full:
All Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) funded initiatives have gone through a thorough application process and are groups we believe reflect the social teaching of the Catholic Church. This organization, the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) has been working for over 15 years to network, educate, and form advocates for social justice animated by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the witness of the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador and their companions. This work happens in partnership with the Society of Jesus as well as the larger Church—including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops through their core membership with the Justice for Immigrants Campaign, as well as Church leaders like Bishop Gorge Murry, SJ who recently spoke at one of ISN’s gatherings on racism.
The project that the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is funding strictly involves immigration and migration work and is granted on a go-forward basis. CCHD recognizes the dire circumstances associated with immigration and migration and has engaged a leader with a sizable network to help organize, and strengthen the churches work. Through their Strategic National Grant, ISN will be enabled to significantly expand their advocacy capacity—forming leaders, networking and animating Jesuit institutions, and building on the success of existing ISN programs such as the Campaign for Hospitality and the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. The ultimate goal of these grant-funded efforts is the development of a broader network of individuals, many of whom will be immigrants themselves, and institutions dedicated to standing with and supporting immigrant communities and passage of humane comprehensive immigration reform.
On June 20, 2019, the Lepanto Institute published an article citing several allegations regarding speakers, workshops, blog posts regarding homosexual activity. The Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) was not encouraging or promoting anything contrary to Catholic teaching. The topics and workshops were designed to inspire inclusion and safety for those who are physically or emotionally threatened for being LGBT, in line with the Catechism’s instruction that “every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (2358).
Catholics can be confident that the Catholic Campaign for Human Development does not fund groups that violate the moral teaching of the Church. In the rare case where a group subsequently violates the explicit conditions of its grant by engaging in such activity, funding is immediately terminated.
Attached is a document of commonly asked questions about the CCHD grant and review process that may help to answer any questions you may have.
The content on this webpage may also be able to provide some additional insight: //www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development/frequently-asked-questions.cfm
“The topics and workshops were designed to inspire inclusion and safety for those who are physically or emotionally threatened *for being LGBT*, in line with the Catechism’s instruction that “every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (2358).” – USCCB
The above excerpt from the USCCB statement is interesting, as it may indicate a problem of perception. Here’s why:
The reason it is so difficult for many Catholics — including clergy — to fight against the multi-headed dragon of LGBTranshumanism is that they have accepted the modernist lie that there is such a thing as “an LGBT person” or an “LGBT community”. But there is no such creature and no such sub-species of the human race. LGBT is NOT a state of being; rather, it is a fixation of the imagination that, if embraced, leads to sinful preoccupations and fantasies, as well as perverse behaviour. Even the word “homosexual” is an oxymoron, as homo-eroticism is the very antithesis of what human sexuality actually is; “homo” is anti-sexual. This must be clearly understood.
Catholics must remember that every human being is either a male or a female, as God created us in these two sexes (Genesis 1:27) and as scientific investigation makes inarguable. Even those who suffer from genetic anomalies whereby they exhibit both male and female anatomical features do not constitute a third sex; they are simply people suffering from a biological abnormality which, in many cases, can be treated so that they can subsequently go on to live an integrated human life.
LBGTranshumanism, by contrast, is a psychological fixation that bespeaks a problem of the soul: a contamination of the will and the intellect by the corrupting forces of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Every impulse that prompts a person toward homo-erotic fetishism or transsexual schizophrenia is an evil impulse and is an *attack* on their true identity, NOT an *expression* of that identity.
We Catholics — and, indeed, all people of good will who recognize reality and natural law — must understand the truths expressed above. Satan will sweep the deck with all of us if we start imputing to God the work of the devil by believing that even one single person is “a homosexual” or “a transsexual” per se, by nature. May we never succumb to such blasphemy! Hopefully, this is not what the Bishops were implying, but, in any event, we must be on our guard against such sinuous falsehood.
Lastly, be careful in reading the section of the 1990s Catechism that deals with sodomy or “homosexuality” (2357 to 2359) because some of the linguistic formulations contained therein are ambiguous at best. When the language of the world begins to infiltrate even statements in the Catholic Catechism, we are in great danger.
Holy Family, pray for us!
St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us!
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
Well said.
Clinton, I very much appreciate that you pointed out the current and insidious attribution error that homosexuality is an essential identity. As you allude to, it’s challenging (and wordy) to refer to persons as distinct from their chosen sexual practices and lifestyles, especially when said persons insist on the conflagration of their sexual practices with personal identity.
In this, the engineering underfoot has been successful.
So, on that hand, I understand your critique that the relevant passages of CCC are ambiguous ‘at best.’ On the other hand, it’s worth noting that many people living/ promoting LGBT find the clarity of those passages galling.
This why I joined and Eastern rite Maronite catholic church. I also stopped gicing to usccb annual appeals plus Crs. ,Cchd ,Maryknoll and Salesians fundraising.. I.alsonwrote Bergoglio twice and told him to Remove my name and address from his fundraising ptr. Pence solicitation lists…
What the hell is wrong with the hierarchy in this country? Why are homosexual ideologies allowed to not just exist but flourish in Catholic colleges, social outreaches and now, supposedly, an organization dedicated to promoting Catholic justice? Catholic justice? Promoting homosexual/tranny ideology to children? More and more of the laity have had it with this BS. Maybe it is true, that homosexuals have infiltrated into the very hierarchy of the church in this country. If so, tear it down and start again.
I refuse to support Bishops Appeals, USCCB, Peters Pence etc….. I refuse to be complicit to this corruption.
Richmond Diocese…where is your voice in this?!?
You’ll be hearing from me soon. I’ll send you another email…I am sure you will not respond to it though…just as you have not responded to any of my emails.
Many “Catholics in the pews ” have succumbed to the constant bombardment of the homosexual lies. Instead of using common sense–for example, every human being is either an XX or an XY; no other exists–people would rather toss out the “inclusion” or “don’t judge” or “be merciful”, etc. B.S.
I believe that many individuals in our world are simply schizophrenics waiting for a diagnosis.
Christ promised that His Church would stand the test of time. He didn’t claim it would be large in numbers.
The Church is reaching out to marginalized members of society, those that do not conform to Church moral teaching but in doing in so they are excluding others. Where is the outreach to serial adulterers or fornicators? Why is that element of society at large that engages in behavior that is condemned by the Church and by society not included in this outreach? Is this purposeful bias and exclusion by a group that professes to be inclusive indicative of their goal of stamping out cross sexual relationships?. Let us reach out to all the adulterers and fornicators, we too are members of the Church.
Yes, this may sarcasm but it is no less the truth to illustrate how blatant and hypocritical, not to mention contrary to 2000 years of Church teaching, how some in the Church now advocate and proselytize for same sex relationships among its members. I guess if it good enough for the hierarchy they rationalize it is good enough for those in the pews.
I was thinking the same thing with the “fill in the blank ” on all abhorant sins comminted by the unrepentent. Catholic teaching is to help those in these sins to repent and be saved for eternal salvation not to say that they are accepted by living in these sins. Don’t forget to have the inclusion of murders, drunkards and idolitors. This profanity is actually trying to ensure the damnation of these poor lost souls instead of showing them the light of truth.
Because I live where I have few options, I remain a member of the Catholic Church in my community. Fortunately it is small and makes few insane demands of its members. However every time special collections are taken up for specialized programs I choose not to contribute, not because I don’t believe in specialized programming but rather I have no idea what those specialized programs entail. I just don’t know where our money is going, and to what cause. I refuse to support money entering the hands of any immoral’s like LGBTQ+ and only support the local church for it’s care and maintenance and the salary and benefits of our priest. If a time comes when this immoral advocacy is pushed down my/our throats, I will leave the Church in search of one that is more to my philosophical and religious leanings. I refuse to be bullied by religious hierarchy.
I have just finished reading Aa-1025: The Memoirs of a Communist’s infiltration in to the Church by Marie Carre . This “normalization of acceptance” of perversity is only one of many, many ideas put forth by infiltrators and their accomplices to undermine Holy Mother Church. Little by little, we are being influenced by the zeitgeist, the larger culture which has seeped into the Church. Only those who know and truly believe the core teachings will be able to recognize this, and there are too few, sadly, who will speak up. Thank you, Lepanto Institute, for your doggedness and willingness to speak up and inform!
Agreed.
I am most grateful to those organizations of faithful Catholics that dig for the truth and then send it to our computers/phones to alert us to the corruption in the Church…….such as Church Militant, 1stPeter5, Lepanto Institute, Life Site. They are providing an essential service to the millions of pew sitting, faithful, and unaware Catholics too of the depravity which wounds Christ and His Mother daily. May God purify His Church and restore the Papacy and the hierarchies world wide with holy, fearless, honest clergy and the leadership necessary to make them Shepherds worthy to be called priests and may God sustain the many holy, good priests that continue to serve us with such interior pain that they are joining to Christ’s pain on the Cross.
Amen to everything above.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, enlighten, protect and strengthen us.