Posted on 05/03/2008 6:58:15 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
Bill Donohue may not be tired of the culture wars–or internecine Catholic wars. The head of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is often over the top in denunciations of anti-Catholicism, real or perceived, and of other Catholics who Donohue sees as not toeing the proper Catholic line. But even Donohue may have outdone himself, and done in his own organization, if his latest press release prompts an IRS investigation.
The May 2 release is “Catholic Dissidents Advise Obama,” and it draws down on Obama’s Catholic National Advisory Committee, which includes several Commonwealers, such as Cathleen Kaveny and Grant Gallicho. It also includes Catholics in public and religious life, ranging from Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania to the Sister of St. Joseph, Sr. Catherine Pinkerton. Also included are more than a few writers and theologians whose work I have long admired. Point of disclosure: I have also known Bill Donohue for years, and while I think he is completely wrongheaded many times, and inimical to the church’s well-being other times, he can also be a good guy to have a beer with, as well as someone who does not run from an argument, and an advocate who can point out indisputable cases of anti-Catholicism that still persist.
That said, this latest blast is way outta line. Donohue not only labels these Obama-advising Catholics as “dissidents” but he says “Practicing Catholics have every right to be insulted by Obama’s advisory group”–setting up Catholics who back Obama as bad Catholics and opponents of Obama, by implication, as good Catholics. Donohue employs his favorite trick of the invidious–and distorting–comparison, saying he wouldn’t have gay advisors who “don’t reflect the sentiment of the gay community”–as if these Obama-backers don’t reflect Catholic opinion. (In fact, they largely do. Not that this should be about public opinion, no?)
In his closing, Donohue takes a real potshot, saying that “If these are the best ‘committed Catholic leaders, scholars and advocates’ Obama can find, then it is evident that he has a ‘Wright’ problem when it comes to picking Catholic advisors.” As if these Catholics–check out the list–are the equivalent of Jeremiah Wright…!
But let me dissect this a bit more analytically. I see four chief problems.
One is that Donohue bases his criticism of these dozens of advisors principally on the “scores” that the abortion rights group NARAL gives some of the political figures on the committee (conveniently not mentioning the presence of Democrats Bob Casey and Tim Roemer, also on Obama’s committee, who have taken stands against abortion rights in many cases). Donohue also states that Obama’s pol pals do not agree with the church’s “three major public policy issues: abortion, embryonic stem cell research and school vouchers.” That is a rather selective list, in that the bishops’ own statement on political participation, titled “Faithful Citizenship,” lists seven principal policy areas, and they include “Option for the Poor and Vulnerable,” “Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers,” and “Caring for God’s Creation.” Not to mention the church’s opposition to the Iraq War, which John McCain wants to continue.
Indeed, while Donohue has criticized McCain’s alliance with the rock-ribbed televangelist and preacher of standard anti-Catholic rhetoric, John Hagee, he has not brought similar scrutiny to McCain’s own Catholic advisory board.
And that raises the second problem, which was noted by the liberal group, Catholics United, namely that Donohue’s apparent partisanship could jeopardize the League’s 501c3 non-profit status. Catholics United also cites passages from “Onward Christian Solders,” a new book by Deal Hudson–a longtime GOP advisor–that show how Donohue has been active in helping the Bush White House and the Republican Party woo the Catholic vote.
This adds up to a big potential problem for Donohue. Yet it also adds up to a big payday for him. As the League’s publicly-available financial forms show, Donohue takes in a whopping $343,000 a year in salary and compensation. He can rightly claim that he has turned the League from a penny-ante mom-and-pop shop into the $20-million-dollar a year culture war machine that it is. But while few would disagree with fighting anti-Catholicism, I wonder how many will see Donohue as getting rich off anti-Catholicism.
A final point: Pope Benedict XVI, who Donohue spares no effort to defend, even when the pontiff is not under attack, made an explicit call during last month’s visit for Catholics to seek unity, not division. I’m not sure how Donohue’s internecine and potentially partisan sniping achieves that end, or even how attacking other Catholics connects with fighting anti-Catholicism.
I like Donohue. He defends the Catholics against those who attack his religion and maybe even against fools who sit on their computers 24 hours a day searching for articles that can slam the Catholic church. Sadly, these “surfers” call themselves Christians and actually think they are doing God’s work.The joke will be on them praise Jesus.
Sorry, he’s not going away.
the guy is definitely over the top and I’ve seen many interviews with him...that said I’m glad he’s on my side...
I too like Bill Donohue who is defending the Catholic Religion against Catholics In Name (CINO) Bob Casey Jr. who is treated as the great catholic by the Bishops of the Scranton Diocese!
BD is right...the catholic faith has rules and dogma and beliefs that have been around for many many many centuries...and when CINO’s step on those, they need called on it...
unlike our separated brethern, whos doctrines can change from church to church depending on who interprets the bible, or ‘allows the scripture to interpret itself (as long as it agrees with whatever pastor has pre-decided), BD says “NO”, the barque of peter will continue to chart the same continual course as it has from the inception of the church..
people need to realize that...
Like the ususal suspects on FR who scour the internet looking for anything that mock our faith and you know who you are, because your snarky and arrogant remarks always seem to be on the Catholic threads! Jesus Christ who said to Peter our first Pope, on this Rock I will build my Church, Thanks be to God!
I am afraid that the only folks around here who can make such demands are JimRob and the moderators.
No personal attacks have been made in this thread, both the folks you cite have only posted once each.
If Freepers were restricted from attempts to read minds, there would be very few posts here.
It doesn’t matter how deceitful, how prurient, how liberal, how contrary to everything that Free Republic, Christianity or the Republican Party’s values something is; if it bashes, hates, ridicules, embarrasses, slanders, contradicts, or maligns the Catholic Church, we all know who’s going to post it to Free Republic.
>> Discuss the article or leave. Do not make personal attacks or make attempts to mindread individual posters. <<
Then go back to the Democratic Underground where you belong, troll! And take your hit piece by this Obama-loving heretic with you.
Hey Alex,
If you can’t take the heat, then don’t post at FR. The simple fact is that Radl and notaliberal are both right.
This article is nothing but a hit piece against Bill Donohue in an attempt to silence him. No good Catholic can morally support Obama because Obama believes killing babies is a moral thing to do.
Also, the salary BD is getting isn’t an issue for me. The way I look at it, if I was paying part of that salary (and I’m not), I would definitely think I was getting my money’s worth because he’s everywhere on TV and in print and on radio taking it to the anti-Catholics, the bigots, the liars, and fools.
Money well spent.
Yeah, Donohue’s over the top, but sometimes he has to be. We tend to get complacent, but he’s always front and center defending the Church and reminding the faithful to do the same. Loss of religious freedom, heresy, and disrespect from within as well as outside the Church must be fought. I hate to break it to the author of the article, but Catholic teaching is not based on the popular opinion of us sinful creatures! Thanks be to God! Many dissenting “Catholics” know the truth but resist it to follow their own will, not God’s. Some have been poorly catechized and simply don’t know any better. My opinion is that BHO formed his little Catholic advisory group purposely from those whose beliefs and practices are closer to the Little Red Book than the good book. But then, he is an expert at twisting the meanings of words with his sleight of tongue. He may not be the father of lies, but he might be the brother. BTW, Donohue makes about as much as Michelle Ma Belle Obama for her goldbrick position. Fine with me. God bless him.
I like Bill Donohue. He’s worth every penny.
Personal atacks? I was talking about those who spend 24 hours a day attacking other religions. You were never mentioned.
Wow, you almost said that with authority. Were you wearing your moderator's hat at the time?
Oops. Forgot to change to the Religion Moderator profile. Easily done.
In his defense, just because you are a mod does not mean you can’t have an opinion and post under your own profile name on FR.
"By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Matthew 7:16
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