Eight local groups that encourage low-income and...

Eight local groups that encourage low-income and minority people to become active on issues ranging from homelessness and immigration rights to child support enforcement have received grants totaling nearly $200,000 from the Roman Catholic Church’s Campaign for Human Development.

The campaign, which is the domestic anti-poverty and social justice program of U.S. Catholic bishops, is funded by collections taken in churches across the country once a year, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Despite hard times, Catholics dug deep into their pockets last November to place $12.5 million into collection plates--the largest amount ever raised by the 12-year-old campaign.

All the money is distributed the next fall through community grants. Three-quarters of the funds are earmarked for grants from the national office. One-fourth remains for disbursement by each diocese.

The grants were announced by Father Joseph Hacala, who serves as executive director of the Washington-based campaign, and Bishop Stephen Blaire, chancellor of the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese, which runs a local Human Development Campaign under its Office of Justice and Peace.

Hacala said: “The campaign is proud and honored to be in partnership with groups that . . . empower the poor with financial support, to help educate for justice and to build bridges of solidarity between poor and non-poor.”

Grants from the national campaign include:

* $70,000 to the Hope in Youth Campaign, the largest gang-prevention program in Los Angeles County, created by a coalition of religious and community organizations.

* $45,000 to CARACEN, the Central American Refugee Center, which provides legal and social services and teaches organizing skills to about 500,000 Salvadoran and Guatemalan refugees in Los Angeles.

* $40,000 to North County Community Project and Southcoast Community Organizing Project, which mobilize neighborhoods on housing, child care and gang prevention issues in Santa Barbara County.

Grants from the archdiocese’s campaign:

* $10,000 to Oakwood United, a Venice community group that organizes residents to combat violence, create jobs, improve schools and housing, and encourage political participation.

* $10,000 to Labor-Community Watchdog, a South Bay environmental group.

* $8,000 to the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights in Los Angeles.

* $8,000 to the Assn. of Children for Enforcement of Support, dedicated to enforcement of child support obligations of parents in Los Angeles County.

* $6,000 to the California Homeless Network, a statewide coalition of organizations led by homeless people who want to develop leadership and affect legislation.

“The archdiocese hopes that others will be inspired by the example of these organizations,” Blaire said.

In the Los Angeles Archdiocese, more than $2 million in grants have been made to 53 projects, according to Hacala.

Since its inception, the campaign has provided more than $200 million in grants nationwide to more than 3,000 grass-roots projects. “It is the nation’s largest source of financial support for organizations controlled by low-income people and directed toward institutional change,” Hacala said.

For information about the Campaign for Human Development, call (213) 251-3550.

SPEAKERS

* Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti will deliver the keynote address at “Living in the City of Angels: Violence Against Women/Women Against Violence,” an assembly of the Jewish Federation Council Women’s Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Olympic Collection. A panel discussion follows. The $18 admission includes a kosher breakfast buffet and program materials. 11301 Olympic Blvd., West Los Angeles. Reservations required. (213) 852-7712.

* “How to Make Your Organization a Creation Awareness Center” is the title of a free, interactive seminar to be led from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Malibu Presbyterian Church by Calvin DeWitt, a professor at the Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin and director of the AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies in Michigan. He will also speak on “Biblical Principles for Creation Stewardship” at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday services. 3324 Malibu Canyon Road. (310) 456-1611.

* Bruce B. Lawrence, professor of religion at Duke University and an expert on the post-colonial Muslim world, will give two free lectures Tuesday at Pomona College, sponsored by the college’s department of religious studies and Phi Beta Kappa. His 11 a.m. talk is on violence in the 1990s; his 3 p.m. subject is about how religious nationalism will reshape modernity. (909) 621-8473.

DATES

* Twenty bagpipers, Scottish country dancers and a “Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans” (placing family tartans on the communion table as an act of consecration) will be part of a worship service and celebration at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday. 1760 N. Gower St. (213) 463-7161.

* Tamara C. Eskenazi, who teaches Bible at Hebrew Union College, will speak at an Interfaith Service for Peace/Salaam/Shalom in the Middle East, sponsored by the Westside Interfaith Council and the National Conference of Christians and Jews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Sha’arei Am: The Santa Monica Synagogue, 18th Street and Broadway, Santa Monica. (310) 453-4276.

BRIEFLY

First United Methodist Church of Monterey Park celebrates its 80th anniversary today with a number of special events. (818) 573-1240 . . . Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, in Long Beach holds an open house today from 3 to 5 p.m. (310) 424-5562 . . . Founder’s Church of Religious Science installs its new minister, the Rev. Arthur W. Chang at 3 p.m. Sunday. (213) 388-9733.

Sara S. Lee, director of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College and co-director of the Lilly Endowment Colloquium for Catholic and Jewish Educators, has been appointed adjunct professor of Jewish education by the college . . . Rabbi David J. Wolpe, author of “The Healer of Shattered Hearts,” signs his latest book, “Teaching Your Children About God: A Young Rabbi Speaks to Concerned Parents,” at the Los Angeles Central Library at noon Tuesday. 530 W. 5th St., Downtown. (213) 612-3320.

For information about a free Christian fellowship group for single men and women ages 45 and over, telephone Arcadia Presbyterian Church (818) 445-7470.