The Catholic Campaign for Human Development was founded in 1970 by the U.S. Catholic bishops as the Catholic Church's domestic anti-poverty program. Cardinal John Dearden, then the archbishop of Detroit and the president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, was instrumental in beginning the CCHD. In the nearly 40 years since, the CCHD has helped make long-term changes in the economic condition of communities across the United States. It helps communities by supporting projects that address the root causes of poverty, such as racism, unemployment, lack of education and lack of economic opportunities. A second collection for the CCHD will be taken up at parishes the weekend of Nov. 21-22.
