With the Catholic Campaign for Human Development’s big collection coming up this weekend, the Intertubes have been abuzz.

Critics on the right, such as the Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, seem to think the campaign is some kind of communist front that funds causes and programs totally out of whack with Catholic teaching. The fact that Obama has ties to ACORN (which got about $7 million from CCHD in the last decade) and was hit by embezzlement and voter fraud scandals, has made them all the more apoplectic.

“If there is a collection at your parish this month, I suggest that you can return the envelope empty-and perhaps with a note of explanation-without the slightest moral hesitation,” Neuhaus writes.

The USCCB voted to cut off funding for ACORN at their meeting earlier this month, and emphasized that each local bishop has control over CCHD funds in his diocese. If he sees a program he don’t like, he can cut off the money spigot.

Catholic journalist David Gibson takes on some of CCHD’s critics here, noting that JPII loved the programs.

As our own intrepid Kevin Eckstrom reported way back in 2003, these debates over CCHD are nearly perennial, but the campaign’s rules are clear.

“CCHD will not consider projects or organizations which promote or support abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty or any other affront to human life and dignity,” its rules say. “CCHD funds will be used to support projects that conform to Catholic teaching.”

As for why people would object to programs that help the poor, maybe this article provides an answer.