The board of the Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston has voted to accept a donation (with strings attached) from the dissenters of VOTF. Bp. Lennon, the apostolic administrator, is exercising some forbearance and not sacking them.
Board leaders declined to give the exact tally, but it was nearly unanimous, according to chairman Neal F. Finnegan.
The decision followed a private meeting Friday at which Finnegan and vice chairman Peter Meade said they told Lennon they were caught between obeying him or taking money to help the poor.
These men seem to have forgotten that Catholic Charities isn’t supposed to operate as a secular humanitarian agency, but as part of the Church’s mission, and according to the Church’s values. If the board helps VOTF play its political game, it’s harming peace and communion in the Church.
I guess it’s time for me to drop CC a note and ask them to refund whatever donations I made to them in the past. There are plenty of organizations fulfilling the Gospel’s calling to help the poor.