The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) provides funding to groups whose activities reflect Catholic moral and social teaching on human life and dignity. CCHD-funded groups work to change social structures and policies which undermine life and dignity, especially for the poor and powerless.
LETTER FROM CARDINAL CUPICH
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In his message for the Fifth World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis observes that the COVID-19 crisis, “continues to affect millions of people and, even when it does not bring suffering and death, it is nonetheless a portent of poverty.” Yet, he continues, “poverty is not the result of fate; it is the result of selfishness. It is critical, therefore, to generate development processes in which the abilities of all are valued, so that complementarity of skills and diversity of roles can lead to a common resource of mutual participation.”
For the past 50 years since the inception of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), organizations funded by CCHD lead the call for all of us to stand in solidarity with those who have been marginalized in their communities and to act against injustice. For example, the main purpose of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), whose membership includes parishes, institutions and communities, is to address injustice in the vision of the Gospel. In its promotion of economic justice, CSPL builds and incubates worker-owned cooperatives. One such co-op involves the worker-owners of Living La Fiesta, who shifted during the Coronavirus pandemic from preparing food to making masks for the public.
The Archdiocese of Chicago is proud that CCHD has its roots in the efforts of a Chicago priest (and later Bishop) Michael Dempsey, during the years he served as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on the West Side. By emphasizing self-help, participation and solidarity, CCHD continues the initiatives of Bishop Dempsey as it works to support resilient communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. To learn more about CCHD’s impact or to donate online, please visit www.CCHDChicago.org.
Please consider contributing generously to CCHD through the second collection on November 20 and 21, and thereby continue to sow the seeds of hope amongst those who find themselves on the margins in Chicagoland.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Cardinal Blase Cupich - Archbishop of Chicago
