NOTE: To download a PDF version of this report, please click here.
Latino Economic Development Center
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has given the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) two grants of $55,000 each. The CCHD proffered the first grant to LEDC in 2019 and the second in 2020.
According to the LEDC website, the organization was founded to equip “Latinos and other underserved communities with the skills and financial tools to create a better future for their families and communities.” Unfortunately, LEDC openly supports and promotes LGBTQ ideologies, birth control, Planned Parenthood, is a member of Unidos US, a pro-abortion and pro-LGBTQ organization.
LEDC Direct and Indirect Support of LGBTQ Ideologies:
In October 2018, the LEDC Facebook page published a post supporting safe housing for “LGBTQIA people.” Consequently, LEDC directly promotes the cohabitation of gay and lesbian couples by aiming to provide housing for these individuals.
Then, in June 2022, LEDC published a post in support of LGBTQ pride month saying, “LEDC and its Small Biz program, EWI, take PRIDE in supporting LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs who every day help to uplift, empower, and diversify our communities through dedication and hard work.” This post indirectly promulgates LGBTQ ideology and calls for support of this belief.
Furthermore, LEDC evidently promotes LGBTQ-owned businesses per the business directory provided on the LEDC website. This directory is provided for the purposes of leading users towards “minority- or women-owned businesses” which are categorized by a variety of identifications such as “LGBTQ-owned” and “Latino/a/x-owned.” By supporting these businesses, LEDC indirectly supports the LGBTQ ideologies they represent. Below is just one example of several such profiled organizations:
In March of 2021, LEDC’s Director of Small Business Development Omar Velasco presented in an LGBT Chamber of Commerce event. This event discussed federal resources for small businesses such as the LEDC.
LEDC Direct and Indirect Support of Contraception:
In 2014, LEDC directly and publicly advocated for contraception to be covered in the Affordable Care Act. In a press release given by the pro-abortion organization National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice (NLIRJ), LEDC was named as one of the organizations in support of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA). In the same press release Elena Rios, M.D., president of the National Hispanic Medical Association is quoted claiming,
“The ACA’s contraceptive coverage benefit is preventive and essential healthcare because it gives women the ability to plan and space their pregnancies, which results in better health outcomes for mothers and babies.”
Furthermore, LEDC not only directly supports contraception (including abortifacients), but is an affiliate of the pro-abortion and pro-LGBTQ organization Unidos US, formerly known as National Council of La Raza (NCLR), which is the nation’s “largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization.”
The CCHD absolutely forbids organizations from membership in organizations acting against Catholic teaching. In an FAQ on the USCCB website, the CCHD directly answers the question about whether grantees may be members of coalitions that oppose Catholic teachings. In answer, the CCHD firmly stated, “CCHD will not fund groups that are knowingly members of coalitions that have as part of their organizational purpose or coalition agenda, positions or actions that contradict fundamental Catholic moral and social teaching.”
On Unidos US’s list of Affiliates, under District of Columbia, is Latino Economic Development Corporation.
Unidos US is pro-abortion:
The pro-abortion agenda of Unidos US was evident during the 2018 Unidos US Annual Conference where the former President of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards presented on her career, previous struggles, and shared “insights into the future.”
In a Facebook post, Unidos US calls the former abortion clinic president a “civil rights activist.”
On July 18, 2017 Unidos US “stood with Planned Parenthood.”
On June 3, 2018, Unidos US applauded new candidates running for public office to defend “reproductive rights” and “trans folk.”
In October 2012, Unidos US urged Hispanics to vote with abortion and same-sex marriage in mind.
Unidos US has published multiple Facebook posts in support of pro-abortion legislation such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), advocating for pro-abortion and pro-LGBTQ candidates, and in protest of the Domestic Gag Rule under Title X cutting federal funding for abortions. In a Facebook post protesting the ACA, Unidos US reposted a Huffington Post article claiming, “An Attack on the ACA and Planned Parenthood is an Attack on the Latino Community.”
In the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the president and CEO of Unidos US, Janet Murguía, released a statement stating, “We are deeply dismayed to see this Court overturn longstanding and fundamental precedent in an extreme decision that runs counter to the views of most Americans, including most Hispanics.” In a tweet announcing the statement, Unidos US complained about the ruling creating “extreme barriers for women attempting to access reproductive health care.”
Unidos US is pro-LGBTQ:
Unidos US created a youth education program called The Advocates, Líderes, and Allies Series (ALAS) to “assess and address the needs of particular communities of youth who may face common challenges.” The first segment of this educational program is entitled ALAS 1: Welcoming LGBTQ Youth and is described to contain “information and hands-on tools to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth are fully welcomed and supported.”
Furthermore, Unidos US has actively promoted transgenderism and other LGBTQ movements in multiple Facebook posts. In 2014, Unidos US posted in honor of Dolores Huerta, a civil rights leader who worked “towards equality for all” by “standing up for LGBT Latinos.”
In October 2020, Unidos US hosted an event celebrating LGBTQ Latina entitled “De Colores: An LGBTQ Latinx Celebration.”
Unidos US tweeted in honor of “Pride Month” and the 50th anniversary of legislation which banned sex discrimination in education.
LEDC is a very active affiliate of pro-abortion and pro-LGBTQ organization Unidos US.
In July 2022, the CEO Emi Reyes and the Chief of Housing Programs Walda Yon attended a conference hosted by pro-abortion organization Unidos US. In a Facebook post covering the event, LEDC states, “we believe that working alongside other organizations and companies that want a more inclusive society by addressing many issues…will undoubtedly benefit the fast-growing Latino population and create more economic equality for everyone in the nation.” While it is difficult to see in the image, the badges worn by both women identifies them as “affiliates” of Unidos US.”
The LEDC Facebook page has reposted many publications from Unidos US including topics such as job growth, Latino underrepresentation in clinical trials, DACA and immigration, and registration of young voters.
Conclusion:
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), membership in pro-abortion organizations or other groups acting against Catholic values on other issues is a deal-breaker for CCHD grantees. Given the blatant promotion of abortion and homosexual and transgender ideologies from Unidos US, its membership in Unidos is in direct violation of this guideline. Furthermore, LEDC’s active promotion of homosexual and transgender ideologies also disqualifies it from eligibility from Catholic funding.
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