WASHINGTON, DC – A unified group of 24 concerned Catholic organizations is calling on a Washington DC community organizing group, Empower DC, to return its $50,000 grant to the Catholic Church. The coalition, Reform CCHD Now (RCN), claims that the DC Grassroots Empowerment Project (Empower DC) defrauded the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) by directly engaging in the promotion of abortion, prostitution, and homosexuality contrary to grant requirements.
“According to the CCHD’s grant guidelines, applicants must agree that they do not participate in or promote activities that contradict the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church,” said RCN spokesperson, Michael Hichborn. “Empower DC knowingly violated that agreement and lied about its activities. Empower DC owes $50,000 to the Catholic Church for this breach of contract.”
According to Reform CCHD Now’s report, in addition to promoting abortion and homosexuality, Empower DC also endorsed, promoted, and distributed a guide titled, “Hey Grrrl!” that instructs young girls on how to get away with prostitution, truancy, car sex and illegal drug possession.
RCN says that since the publication of the report, Empower DC scrubbed its website by removing the incriminating links. However, RCN says it cataloged screen captures and the Hey Grrl! instruction booklet proving that Empower DC took the grant money under false pretenses.
Media inquiries, please contact Margaret Ekam at 540.659.4171 or mekam@all.org
A lie is a lie, contract is a contract, the contract was contradicted… I want my money back
Why isn’t CCHD suing them?
Of all the things that can be done with $50K… instead of giving it to these con artists
The scandal related to CCHD funding has been around for twenty years. I stopped contributing to the annual collection years ago.
When I found out that the CCHD was giving money to abortion groups I had pastor of our church look into it and he confirmed it. Since then our church has not held a collection for CCHD.