Catalyst April Issue 2005, Front Page
Following the February 22 episode of the NBC-TV sitcom, “Committed,” we were hit with an avalanche of complaints. We investigated the matter and immediately demanded that this particular episode be permanently retired, never to air again. NBC agreed. The episode featured two non-Catholics who are mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic... [Read more...]
HALLMARK PULLS CARDCatalyst April Issue 2005, Front Page
It wasn’t the worst we’ve seen, but it was still unnecessarily offensive. So we made a complaint to Hallmark and they decided to withdraw the birthday card for good. On the cover of the card was a sketch of a homely nun wearing a habit, saying, “I’m so excited about your birthday, I feel like doing a cartwheel.” On the... [Read more...]
KEY TO CATHOLIC SUCCESS: KEEPING IT CLEANCatalyst April Issue 2005, From The President's Desk
William A. Donohue Several years ago, a woman who was setting up a new Catholic lay group asked if it would be okay for her to attend one of our staff meetings; she admired the success of the Catholic League and wanted to learn how I handled such matters. She was told that I could not accede to her request because we don’t have staff meetings... [Read more...]
WHY WE PUBLISHED THE PIUS WARCatalyst April Issue 2005, Essay
By William Doino, Jr. Eight years ago this month, the New Yorker magazine published a spectacularly long article entitled “The Silence.” Written by the resigned priest James Carroll (now a columnist at the Boston Globe), it argued that the doctrine of papal infallibility and the Church’s insistence “upon the primacy of Jesus... [Read more...]
TRIBUTE TO FATHER VIRGIL BLUM, S.J.Catalyst April Issue 2005
The Jesuits at Marquette University are fielding the names of priests they would like to honor, whether deceased or living. To that end, Father John Rainaldo, S.J., asked William Donohue to prepare a tribute to Father Blum, founder of the Catholic League. We thought we’d share it with our members. Although I never had the privilege of meeting... [Read more...]
NEW SOURCE OF BIGOTRYCatalyst April Issue 2005
The Saudi Arabian government is actively disseminating hate literature to Muslims in the U.S., some of which is virulently anti-Christian. Freedom House, the most reliable source of information on civil liberties throughout the world, has a Center for Religious Freedom that monitors religious liberty. It has just released a major report, Saudi Publications... [Read more...]
THE NEXT POPECatalyst April Issue 2005
William Donohue was asked by the Fox News Network to submit a short piece on the next pope; it was posted on its website. Those who are banking on the next pope to be someone who will undo much of the work of Pope John Paul II are in for a grand disappointment. There are two good reasons why major changes will not be made: a) John Paul II has appointed... [Read more...]
PHOTO PULLEDCatalyst April Issue 2005
Arizona is home to Oregano’s, a pizza chain. At its Tucson location, there was a large photograph of Pope John Paul II with an inscription below that was offensive—”Chicks Dig It.” One of our members from Tucson contacted us, and we, in turn, contacted the proprietor of Oregano’s, Mark Russell. He quickly apologized for what... [Read more...]
POPE’S RESILIENCY ANGERS NEWSWEEKCatalyst April Issue 2005
In the March 7 edition of Newsweek, there was an article in the “Periscope” section by Christopher Dickey on the health of Pope John Paul II titled, “He Has Willpower—But No ‘Living Will.’” In the article, Dickey (who did the piece with Robert Blair Kaiser) wrote, “Even as the aged pope’s body shuts... [Read more...]
EPISCOPAL BISHOPS RESPONDSCatalyst April Issue 2005
In the last issue of Catalyst, we printed a letter by William Donohue to New York Episcopal Bishop Mark S. Sisk. Donohue described the artistic work of Diane Victor that was showcased in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine; Victor’s “The Eight Marys” portrayed Our Blessed Mother in an obscene way. Donohue asked the bishop whether... [Read more...]