AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY JUSTIFIES BIGOTRY
December 2, 1998
On October 18, an anti-Catholic group,
the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, held a "wig drive" in San
Francisco to benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS); over $1300
and 100 wigs were collected to service women who have suffered
hair loss as a result of breast cancer. As is customary, the
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence paraded as drag queens at the
benefit drive, mocking Catholic nuns in the process.
On October 27, Catholic League president William Donohue
registered a complaint with the ACS. His concern was the extension
of a legitimate platform by the ACS for this anti-Catholic group.
He was told that the California division would respond, which it
did. Here is what Patricia Fells, CEO of the division, said in
reply: "We do not judge our donors based upon their religious
beliefs or sexual preferences. Because cancer impacts all
communities, we draw our donors and volunteers from all religions,
races and socio-economic groups. To do otherwise would be
hypocritical."
Donohue went public with his reply today:
"The Catholic League, like the American
Cancer Society, does not judge its donors based upon their
religious beliefs or sexual preferences. But quite unlike the
ACS, we would never knowingly take money from any group whose
identity was clearly linked with bigotry against any segment of
our society. That’s the difference between our idea of
inclusion, which holds to ethical standards, and their idea,
which holds to none.
"Are we to assume that the American Cancer Society would
accept donations from the ‘Al Jolson Society’—a group of white
men adorned with black faces who paraded stereotypically as
African Americans? Not on your life. Indeed, Ms. Fells would
have no problem being a first class-hypocrite by rejecting
donations from such a group. But her tolerance for anti-Catholic
bigotry is very different, and that is why she gladly justifies
accepting funds from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence."
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