About CCHD

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic bishops. It was established in 1969 to address the root causes of poverty in the United States through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative social justice education.

The CCHD philosophy emphasizes empowerment and participation. By helping the poor to participate in the decisions and actions that affect their lives, CCHD empowers them to move beyond poverty. CCHD supports grassroots organizations as they create jobs, improve neighborhoods, train adults for employment at a living wage, keep schools safe and enriching for children, and raise leaders for the future.

Each year, during the month of November, all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis have a second collection to provide funding for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  Since its beginning, CCHD has provided more than 8,800 grants to self-help projects developed by grassroots groups of poor persons. Each year CCHD distributes national grants to more than 300 projects based in local communities. In addition, hundreds of smaller projects are funded through the portion of the CCHD collection retained by dioceses. The projects' successes and the relationships developed have significantly changed the lives of the poor in our country.

Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

• Life and Dignity of the Human Person. All human life is sacred, made in the image and likeness of God. Society and its structures should aim to lift up the human person.
• Call to Family, Community, and Participation. Humans are social and develop in community, starting with family. We should construct our society so all can flourish and participate in the decisions that affect them.
• Rights and Responsibilities. Every human person has basic rights inherent in his or her very nature. We have a responsibility to organize our society so the rights of all can be fulfilled.
• Option for the Poor and Vulnerable - those who are weak, vulnerable and most in need deserve preferential concern.
• The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. Through work, humans participate in God’s ongoing process of creation. Work has dignity and the basic rights of workers must be respected.
• Solidarity. We are one human family and are called to work for the common good—so that each individual can flourish materially, spiritually, and in all ways.
• Care for God’s Creation. The earth has been entrusted to us, its stewards. All of creation is interdependent and its gifts are for all to share.

 

Learn more

To learn more about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, visit the website at www.usccb.org/cchd/mission.shtml

You may reach our local archdiocesan director for CCHD, Theresa Chamblee at 317-473-0413 or tchamblee@archindy.org