By Robert P. Lockwood The public debate over abortion was critical in a resurgent anti-Catholicism in the mid-1960s. With the cooperation of media, abortion became an ongoing battle waged with a war of words mired in anti-Catholicism. Why did Catholicism become the issue in the abortion debate? It was in many ways a planned effort by the National Abortion... [Read more...]
NYS SENATOR SCHNEIDERMAN LIBELS PRO-LIFERS
In a libelous statement made against those involved in the pro-life movement, New York State Senator Eric T. Schneiderman sent a letter to his supporters linking Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, with those involved in criminal attacks against abortionists. Schneiderman called on his friends at NARAL, Planned Parenthood and... [Read more...]
PICTURE THIS
Sometimes it’s not the written word that gets our back up, it’s a picture. Take, for example, the following. On the Monday of Holy Week, the New York Daily News printed a big picture taken by an AP reporter of participants in a Holy Week procession in Spain. The byline was innocent enough—it explained that since the 15th century penitents adorn... [Read more...]
SAGA OF A SORE LOSER
Jim Dempsey didn’t like the fact that his boss had to apologize for his behavior, so he quit. Well, almost. In fact, Dempsey, a columnist for the Telegram & Gazette in stepped down to become a reporter at the Worcester, Massachusetts daily.. Here’s what happened. On April 20, Dempsey wrote what he called a satirical piece but what others,... [Read more...]
STICKS AND STONES REDUX
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Kids who repeat such rubbish can be forgiven for mouthing childish statements, but adults should know better. If anything, history is replete with examples where a lot more than bones have been broken by name-calling. Remember what happened when they screamed, “Crucify... [Read more...]
TALK ABOUT CHUTZPAH!
Leader newspapers are published weekly in New Jersey. The editorial of April 26, “Infamous salute in church is in poor taste,” was one of the more startling comments we’ve yet seen. The editorial commented that in a Mass at St. Mary’s in Rutherford on April 22, parishioners were seen raising their right arms in a way that the newspaper... [Read more...]
WE TOLD YOU SO
In the May Catalyst, we reported that Catholics at the Blaisdell Alcoholic Treatment Unit at the Rockland Psychiatric Center in New York were being denied access to Mass and Confession; they were told they could attend Protestant services. After stating that we had registered a complaint, we ended by saying, “We don’t expect to lose.” On... [Read more...]