On October 20, the Catholic League accused two Catholic groups of involvement with and funding from George Soros, a multi-millionaire and political activist. According to the Catholic League, Catholics in Alliance receives funding from Soros’ Open Society Institute (OSI) and that it is integrally linked to Catholics United.
According the Catholic League, Chris Korzen – executive director of the politically-progressive Catholics United is saying that OSI also funds Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Catholic Legal Immigration Services (CLIS), thus making them morally equal.
In response, Catholic League president William Donohue, “Unlike the three Catholic organizations cited by Korzen, Catholics United and Catholics in Alliance are apologists for abortion rights. Their passion for abortion rights is so strong that they refuse to endorse the legal ban on partial-birth abortion. So scandalous is their work that they were singled out by Archbishop Charles Chaput last week for doing a ‘disservice’ to the Church. He said they have ‘confused the natural priorities of Catholic social teaching, undermined the progress prolifers have made, and provided an excuse for some Catholics to abandon the abortion issue….’ Chaput would never say that about the three legitimately Catholic social service groups.
“Catholic Charities, CRS and CLIS have been around for decades. All receive tens of millions of dollars from government, foundations and individuals, and it is a sure bet none has a clue who OSI is. The two discredited Catholic groups were founded after their pro-abortion hero, John Kerry, lost the election in 2004. More important, two years ago Catholics in Alliance received nearly 10 percent of its money from OSI. And it is a sure bet that its officials know exactly who is behind OSI.
“The bottom line is this: When it comes to social welfare causes, Soros gives money indiscriminately. But when it comes to abortion, he prefers to give to pro-abortion and anti-Catholic groups like Catholics for Choice. Now he likes to give to Catholic abortion apologists as well. Thus, Korzen’s moral equivalency argument fails miserably.”
According Donohue, in 2006, Soros’ Open Society Institute gave Catholics in Alliance $100,000 (double the amount of 2005). In the same year, Catholics in Alliance listed Catholics United on its 990 as an organization with which it has a formal relationship.
Donohue says John Podesta, who runs the Soros-funded organization, Center for American Progress, admits that he works closely with Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United.
“Why would any Catholic organization take money from a man like George Soros? Because legitimate sources of revenue aren't available?" and "And why would Soros have any interest in funding Catholic groups? He doesn't give the Catholic League any money, and if he offered, I would refuse it," Donohue says. “The reason Soros funds the Catholic Left is the same reason he lavishly funds Catholics for Choice, the pro-abortion group that has twice been condemned as a fraud by Catholic bishops: they all service his agenda." Donohue told LifeNews.com that Soros' agenda includes making "support for abortion rights a respectable Catholic position."
"He’s right. And now we know what really makes them tick," Donohue concludes.
Further, CRS received $8 million in a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund projects in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Gates foundation has in the past funded the International Planned Parenthood Federation, an abortion provider and advocate.
Info: Catholics United
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