Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-396-6974; Ryan Rogge, 703-396-6971; after 6 PM Eastern & on weekends, Bob Sturm, 703-307-8176; Ryan Rogge, 703-674-6948

MANASSAS, Va., Nov. 16, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Richard A. Viguerie, a Catholic layman in a parish in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, has urged Catholics to boycott the annual collection of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).

In a letter e-mailed to Catholics and an article posted on his website, ConservativeHQ.com at tinyurl.com/72lhenc, Viguerie said that CCHD funds organizations that flaunt Catholic principles. He wrote:

"For the past several years, I have become increasingly outraged, as are many other devout Catholics, by the horrible abuses of our trust and faith by organizations funded by the CCHD. The simple fact of the matter is that significant portions of the grants made by the CCHD have been given to left-wing organizations working in direct contradiction of Church teaching. This must stop, and the only way it will stop is if Catholics across America stop giving to CCHD...

"When the November 19-20 offering comes around, do not give to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, because almost none of the grantees provide any direct help to people in need of food, shelter, clothing, or medicine. Rather, they are all about power, grassroots organizing, and left-wing political influence."

Viguerie cited a new report from the American Life League, online at tinyurl.com/cd7ng4l, which found that 14 of the 218 organizations funded by CCHD are directly involved in activities contrary to Catholic teaching by promoting abortion, birth control, homosexuality, or Marxism and an additional 40 organizations are actively involved in coalitions that promote such activities.

Viguerie said this problem was not new and there was an internal effort to revamp the CCHD grant process, but the situation has worsened.

"I'm sorry to report that, rather than reduce the number of grantees involved in left-wing politics and activities contrary to Church teachings, the number has actually increased," he said.

Viguerie urged Catholics to review the complete list of CCHD grantees.

"When you do, I'm confident you will join me in refusing to give a single cent to the bishops' Novemeber 19-20 appeal," he said in an e-mail, which urged recipients to forward the message to Catholic friends, family members, and coworkers.