In an April 5 Los Angeles Times column, George Skelton criticized Cardinal Roger Mahony because Mahony, the Los Angeles Archbishop, expressed disappointment with a Catholic public official, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, for supporting a bill that would authorize doctor-assisted suicide. Skelton referred to the Catholic Church as “looking like... [Read more...]
CATHOLIC BASHERS SPARED IMUS TREATMENT
In mid-April, talk-show radio host Don Imus was blasted for anon-air racial comment directed at the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. There were demands from numerous quarters that Imus be fired—we couldn’t help but contrast these calls for Imus’ head with the way Catholic-bashing is so often dismissed as “free speech.” Two... [Read more...]
NO POST-IMUS CULTURE FOR CATHOLIC BASHERS
In the wake of the controversy last month involving shock-jock Don Imus, CBS chief Les Moonves remarked that Imus “has flourished in a culture that permits a certain level of objectionable expression that hurts and demeans a wide range of people. In taking him off the air, I believe we take an important and necessary step not just in solving a... [Read more...]
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Finally, a unique film that combines the excitement of sports and the richness of the Catholic Faith! “Champions of Faith: Baseball Edition” is a film that showcases Catholicism in a positive and respectful manner. Too often Hollywood uses the Catholic Church as a punching bag, choosing to treat Catholics as “looney” and out-of-touch... [Read more...]
THE SCANDAL THAT HAS NO NAME
On April 11 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released the 2006 report on clergy sex abuse. Rachel Zoll of Associated Press did her usual fine work in her coverage of the story, but because most of the news was good, her piece was either ignored or drastically reduced by most newspapers. Here are some of the key findings: Of... [Read more...]
GIULIANI AND CASEY: MAKING LIFE DECISIONS
Catholics who accept the teachings of the Catholic Church on the life issues have every reason to be angry with Rudy Giuliani’s recent pledge to maintain taxpayer-funded abortions if elected president. His overall position on abortion is incoherent. He says he is now opposed to partial-birth abortion except to save the life of the mother, would... [Read more...]
BEHAR STRIKES AGAIN ON “THE VIEW”
Joy Behar, a panelist on ABC’s ”The View,” is a former Catholic who denigrates the Church at every chance she gets. The April 13 show proved no exception. When asked if she is superstitious, Behar remarked, “When I was a kid I used to be because the Catholic Church has a lot of that sort of thing in it, but then I... [Read more...]
DEFENDING THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF ALL
Department of Justice publications on Religious Freedom The Civil Rights Divison of the U.S. Department of Justice recently released itsReport on Enforcement of Laws Protecting Religious Freedom for the fiscal years 2001-2006. This publication contains useful information regarding protection of your rights in such areas as education, employment, and... [Read more...]
PROBE CUTS TOO CLOSE
Brian Brown, executive director of the Connecticut Family Institute, recently testified before some members of the Connecticut legislature. The issue was same- sex marriage. During the questioning, Brown, known to the lawmakers as a practicing Catholic, was subjected to an improper line of inquiry. Bill Donohue sent a strongly worded letter... [Read more...]