Street Paper Loses Catholic Funding for Saying Planned Parenthood Exists

Update 9/23/10: The full story is now online.

A complaint I read a lot from homeless people is about service providers who try to force a way of life, oftentimes a particular faith, on the people they help. Not willing to sit through church services? No food for you.

Now comes the story of the nation's largest self-help, social justice funding organization, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, cutting off a street paper, Street Roots, because the paper ran a one-inch listing for Planned Parenthood in a resource guide for the homeless.

As reported by Street Roots, which conducted its own investigation to be released in today's edition, the Catholic fund had provided the paper with operating funds for the past five years. But when the paper issued a pamphlet listing Planned Parenthood as a resource for homeless people — along with 300 other organizations, including the Salvation Army and the St. Francis Dining Hall — the Archdiocese of Portland pulled the plug on the $5,000-$10,000 it had been contributing annually. That's the reasoning, even though the guide has been published in some form or another for the past decade and has always included Planned Parenthood. All of a sudden, thanks to right-wing pressure, Street Roots became ineligible for more assistance. (But you can still contribute to the bustling street paper right here.)

Contraception and reproductive health are critically important for no-income/low-income women. Pregnancy is hard enough. Then there's the questions of whether one's children will be taken by social workers and placed in foster care due to neglect (read: poverty). Young single mothers and their children are one of the fastest growing groups of the homeless. Watch and read their stories and you'll understand their pain — and the need for non-judgmental services.

It's not exactly news that Catholic tradition is at odds with some of what happens at Planned Parenthood, though. What's disappointing is that the Church imposes a litmus test on homelessness funding. It would essentially shut down a service that informs homeless individuals about 299 valuable resources if it found the 300th offensive. Worse, Street Roots isn't the only victim; several other social justice organizations have seen their funding cut and 50 more are being investigated by right-wing groups. It's time to look at how to do the most good.

Street Roots executive director and occasional Change.org contributor Israel Bayer said this: "Every group that currently receives funds from CCHD is being asked to not take part in activities, or align themselves with the very groups it will take to dismantle poverty in this country. In our case ... the guide gives people experiencing homelessness and poverty a chance to become their own advocates through education, and now it's being used against us."

Tell the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Archdiocese of Portland not to cut off funding to social justice groups providing comprehensive care. To end poverty and homelessness, it's going to take all of them.

Photo credit: shannon kringen