The secularization of religious holidays has been on-going for some time now, but it is the position of the Catholic League that every opportunity to reverse this trend must be taken. That is why it recently appealed to those involved in the Christmas and Easter Seal campaigns to reconsider past practices. In a letter to the head of the American Lung... [Read more...]
The Catholic League, along with several other organizations and distinguished individuals, signed an open letter to Vice President Al Gore regarding a trip he made to China during Holy Week. Published in the Washington Times on Easter Sunday, the letter implored the vice president to make an issue of human rights and religious persecution when visiting... [Read more...]
Kathleen Pielech and Patricia Reed, two workers whom the league defended when they were fired for not going to work on Christmas Day, have notified us that the law which would forever bar this practice from happening again was made retroactive, thus giving them the desired protection. The league had filed an amicus brief on their behalf. However, Pielech... [Read more...]
After a protest by the Catholic League, Texaco Inc. has withdrawn sponsorship of a controversial holiday festival. During the holiday season, the league complained to Texaco that the Festival of Trees and Lights displayed Jewish religious symbols but no Christian religious symbols; secular symbols associated with Christmas were all that were shown. “Upon... [Read more...]
The Packer Collegiate Institute, a prep school in Brooklyn, revised its “Holiday” program after a protest by the Catholic League. In December, the school held a holiday celebration that recognized Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but not Christmas. Students in the middle-school grades sang songs celebrating the Jewish and African-American holidays, but when... [Read more...]
The New York media have shown precious little interest in reporting on a pattern of vandalism that has struck Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York. On Christmas Eve, 300 gravestones were knocked over by vandals. On January 12, more than 100 other gravestones were desecrated and the cemetery’s tool shed was set on fire. Then on January 20 the vandals... [Read more...]
A bill that would secure protection for workers who desire to observe religious holidays without penalty has been passed by the Massachusetts legislature and signed by Governor William Weld. Unfortunately, the bill was not retroactive, thus leaving Kathleen Pielech and Patricia Reed—the two principals who were initially victimized when they didn’t... [Read more...]
Every December the Catholic League presses its case that crèches should adorn the public square. From public parks to public schools, league activists have succeeded in getting the authorities to recognize that it is unfair to deny the placement of a crèche when space has been provided for menorahs. This past December was no different. Reports of... [Read more...]
In mid-December, B.J. Rudell, a staffer for Congressman Bob Clement of Nashville, Tennessee, posted via e-mail and the Internet an offensive statement about the pope. In The Hotline: Daily Briefing on American Politics, Rudell submitted a list of the “Top Ten Surprising Confessions Made by the Pope.” Included in this “humorous”... [Read more...]
The Catholic League has threatened to take action against a school district in Northwestern Pennsylvania. After learning that students were barred from creating artwork that depicted a nativity scene, Dr. Donohue sent the following letter to the offending party. December 13, 1996 Ms. Alice Niebauer President, Millcreek Township School District Education... [Read more...]