A Roman Catholic fund will no longer
fund a Colorado non-profit that serves immigrants because of its ties
to a gay rights group.
Companeros helps poor Hispanic
immigrants with basic needs such as access to health care. The group
was informed in February that the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops' arm devoted to ending poverty, the Catholic
Campaign for Human Development, was considering ending its financial
backing of the group.
At issue was the group's membership in
an immigrant rights coalition which has ties to gay rights advocate
One Colorado.
“I was shocked that our money was all
of a sudden in jeopardy, and confused about why,” Nicole Mosher,
executive director of Companeros, told The
New York Times. “We have no reason to believe that we are
in any way going against Catholic teachings. If they are willing to
defund our program based on an affiliation, it sends a clear message
of divisiveness.”
Ralph McCloud, who helms the Catholic
Campaign, said the fund “can't in any way have groups who are
collaborating with other groups whose main focus is objectionable or
contrary to Catholic teachings.”
One Colorado is the main group working
toward passage of legislation recognizing gay and lesbian couples
with civil unions in Colorado.
Despite the threat of losing about half
its annual budget, the board of Companeros recently voted to remain a
member of the immigrant coalition.