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WASHINGTON (November 16, 2007)– Ralph McCloud, head of the Diocese of Fort Worth's Department for Community and Pastoral Services since 1995, has been named head of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). CCHD is the bishops' anti-poverty program which funds community organizing and economic development projects that address root causes of poverty in the United States.
CCHD is part of the Human Development, Justice and Peace Department of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In his new position, McCloud will lead and coordinate on a national level CCHD's grant-making and the promotion and integration of CCHD's domestic anti-poverty work.
McCloud has coordinated the peace and justice ministry in the Fort Worth Diocese and directed CCHD in the diocese since 1995. He has headed the diocese's African American ministries since 1990. He also serves as a board member of the Roundtable, the National Association of Diocesan Social Ministry Directors.
Active in the civic community, McCloud was elected to four two-year terms to the Fort Worth City Council, in 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003. He served as Fort Worth's mayor pro-tem from 1999 to 2005. He currently chairs the Mayor's Commission on Homelessness in Fort Worth.
In other civic activities, he was president of the Fort Worth Local Housing Development Council and served four terms on the National League of Cities' Human Development Steering Committee.
McCloud attended Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas, and was co-founder of the African-American Summit for Peace, Justice and Equality. He is a past-president of the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators.
Msgr. David Malloy, USCCB general secretary, noted McCloud's reputation as a "respected and experienced social ministry leader with strong ties to CCHD."
"Ralph's profound commitment to the Catholic Church enables him to communicate the biblical, theological and spiritual dimensions of Catholic social ministry and the principles that guide CCHD's mission of empowering people trapped in the cycle of poverty," Msgr. Malloy said.
Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth praised the appointment saying, "Ralph has served the Diocese of Fort Worth for 14 years, assisting faithfully both the late Bishop Joseph Delaney and myself. He will be a great asset at the USCCB."
The appointment is effective in January.