Catholic Charities

I Catholic Charities is closing one of the state's largest foster care programs, leaving the state and other agencies to absorb its Chicago area caseload of more than 900 children. The federal and state money that went to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago will be redistributed. The decision came after a $12-million lawsuit payment prompted Catholic Charities' insurer to review the liability of foster care, spokeswoman April Specht said.

— Catholic Charities announced Monday that it was ending its legal battle over Illinois' civil unions law and no longer was providing state-funded services. The move ends the group's long history in Illinois of providing foster care and adoptions. Catholic Charities held foster care contracts with the state for about four decades. The group had wished to continue its state contracts, while also referring unmarried couples who want to be adoptive or foster parents to other agencies, citing principles of religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

Catholic Charities has opened a new office at 211 3rd Ave., Venice. Called St. Robert's Center, the facility will provide counseling, emergency assistance and a program for runaway youths. Father Gregory Cox, regional director of Catholic Charities, said the center's services eventually will be expanded to include immigration assistance and help for seniors. The center replaces an office that was located in Culver City.

The number of people seeking help from Los Angeles and Orange county food pantries continues to grow even as the economy begins to stabilize, according to figures released Thursday, and local charities are struggling to keep up with demand. A record 330,000 residents are being served each month at the 600 pantries supplied by the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank , a 73% increase from when the recession hit in 2008. Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County , which supplies about 480 charitable groups, is reaching nearly 250,000 people a month, a 70% increase.

Catholic Charities of Orange County is seeking volunteers to sponsor families for its annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas program. The staff will provide each volunteer with the name of a family that needs help with groceries, clothing, living expenses or employment. Volunteers are expected to buy Christmas gifts for a needy family and provide a holiday dinner. Catholic Charities will also hold a Christmas party at which 500 children will receive donated toys and gifts.

Catholic Charities USA will distribute more than $20 million to 16 local agencies responding to needs of families affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The grants--drawn from more than $27 million donated to the charity for assistance after the attacks--will help local Catholic Charities agencies meet emotional and economic needs of affected families, officials said.

The Ventura branch of Catholic Charities will move early this winter from its storefront on Thompson Boulevard and Ash Street to a building nearly four times the size on Ventura Avenue. The nonprofit, social services agency has rented its facilities for years. But in January, St. Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo gave the organization an 8,100-square-foot building a few blocks north of Main Street, said Diane Martell, Catholic Charities' regional director.

The former director of Catholic Charities of Orange County has been charged with embezzling more than $40,000 from the diocesan organization, Assistant Dist. Atty. Maurice L. Evans said Thursday, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Allen Andrew Simmons, 38, of Orange, is being sought for embezzling the money from Catholic Charities--a nonprofit corporation which is partially funded by United Way of Orange County--between January and July of 1986, Evans said.

The former director of the Catholic Charities of Orange County, who resigned a year ago when church officials accused him of embezzling $43,000 from the organization, was sentenced to jail Friday by a Superior Court judge. Adair Allen Simmons, 38, who called himself "Brother Andrew," was also ordered to pay restitution--in an amount to be determined later--and to perform 100 hours of community service. Judge Kathleen E.

Gerardine Clancy Frawley, 77, co-publisher with her late husband, Patrick J. Frawley Jr., of the National Catholic Register and Twin Circle Catholic newspapers from 1975 until 1995, died Thursday at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. A native of Vancouver, Canada, Frawley spent most of her life in Los Angeles, where she reared nine children and devoted herself to Catholic charities. She was honored for her efforts by being inducted as a Dame of Malta and Dame of the Order of St. Gregory.

Norman McFarland, a deft financial administrator who was the second bishop to lead Orange County's Roman Catholic diocese, has died. He was 88. McFarland died Friday at his home in Orange of cardiac arrest after a brief illness, the diocese said. A towering, 6-foot-5 figure with a shock of silver hair, McFarland arrived in Orange County in 1987 from Nevada, where he had been bishop of the Reno-Las Vegas Diocese. McFarland established himself as a direct leader who helped the Diocese of Orange begin dealing with demographic changes from the large influx of Latino Catholics.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is warning the District of Columbia Council that the church will stop contracting to provide social services if the city approves same-sex marriage as planned. To which the only valid response is, "OK." The church hopes to change wording in the marriage legislation that could require its charitable arm, Catholic Charities, to facilitate adoptions to gay and lesbian couples and extend employee benefits to spouses in same-sex marriages. That, the church says, would require it to go against its religious teachings on homosexuality.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it would be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District of Columbia if the city refused to change a proposed same-sex marriage law. The threat could affect tens of thousands of people the church helps with adoption, homelessness and healthcare. Under the legislation, which the City Council is expected to pass next month, religious organizations would not be required to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings.

I Catholic Charities is closing one of the state's largest foster care programs, leaving the state and other agencies to absorb its Chicago area caseload of more than 900 children. The federal and state money that went to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago will be redistributed. The decision came after a $12-million lawsuit payment prompted Catholic Charities' insurer to review the liability of foster care, spokeswoman April Specht said.

Re "A free crypt from Cardinal Mahony?" column, Feb. 18 In his comments concerning Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony's role in directing Catholics to serve the neediest among us, Steve Lopez has offended the thousands of Catholic volunteers and staff who are providing services and programs to the area's homeless and other needy residents. Since 1919, Catholic Charities has been one of the largest social service providers in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. In more than 50 offices and community centers, the agency rendered more than 1.2 million services during the fiscal year 2005-06.

Under glorious skies in this Bavarian capital where he once lived, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday warned Roman Catholics against letting modern concerns drown out God's word, adding that technology alone could not solve the world's problems. An overreliance on science has made too many Catholics deaf to the teachings of the church, the pope said in a homily that scolded Western European societies for an increasingly secular focus. Faith is needed to combat diseases such as AIDS, he said.

A new Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice has been formed with the Rev. Connie Regener as its director. The organization's goal is to "educate and mobilize the Orange County religious community and people of faith to support issues and campaigns that will sustain a life of dignity for workers and their families."

The social services arm of the Archdiocese of San Francisco said Wednesday that it has found a way to help connect hard-to-place children with welcoming parents without violating the Catholic Church's views on homosexuality. By partnering with another adoption service, San Francisco's Catholic Charities will increase the number of children that find homes without directly placing kids with same-sex couples, said Brian Cahill, the agency's executive director.

In the latest sign that the Catholic Church is losing its once-powerful hold on this city, seven board members have abruptly resigned from Boston's leading Catholic philanthropy. The departure of the Catholic Charities board members -- all influential leaders in the city's business and media communities -- followed a policy disagreement with the church over adoptions by same-sex couples. In December, the full 42-member board had unanimously voted support for same-sex adoptions.