Lepanto Institute exposes CCHD director’s oversight of affiliate grants to problematic organization for which he serves as board member
WASHINGTON, DC – The newly launched Lepanto Institute published a report today, which shows a conflict of interest for Ralph McCloud, the Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
McCloud, who approves grants distributed to community organizing groups on behalf of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, is a member of the board of directors of Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ). Two affiliates of Interfaith Worker Justice received CCHD grants for fiscal year 2014-2015.
The IWJ philosophy is another issue of scandal for an organization that is part of the Catholic Church.
“Ralph McCloud was provided with the facts in 2012, with our showing that the leadership of Interfaith Worker Justice is filled with self-professed pro-abortion, pro-homosexual Marxists,” said Michael Hichborn, president of the Lepanto Institute. “By joining the board of directors of IWJ, McCloud has created for himself the very definition of a conflict of interest, and accepted the role of overseeing distribution of funds to an organization in conflict with the Catholic Church’s teaching.”
A report on the leadership of Interfaith Worker Justice is available here.
“In 2012, my colleagues and I published a report on one of the two IWJ affiliates that are currently receiving grants from the CCHD which are in violation of CCHD guidelines,” Hichborn said.
For Fiscal Year 2014-2015, two affiliates of Interfaith Worker Justice received grants from the CCHD totaling $85,000: Northwest Arkansas Workers Justice Center and The Micah Center.
“How can an individual serve the Church while sitting on the board of IWJ, and in fact approve grants for affiliates of this organization? It seems impossible,” Hichborn concluded. “Our Blessed Lord said that man cannot serve two masters, but in the case of IWJ and the CCHD, that is precisely what McCloud is trying to do.”
Media contact: Michael Hichborn at 540.847.5501 or [email protected].
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