In the September Catalyst we did a story on how two booksellers, the Book-of-the-Month Club and BookCloseouts, were uncritically promoting John Cornwell’s book Hitler’s Pope. In both instances, the description of the book read more like an endorsement than an objective review. We published the names and addresses of who to write to; many of you... [Read more...]
BRADLEY FILES AMICUS BRIEF IN SCHOOL VOUCHER CASE
Gerard V. Bradley, professor at the University of Notre Dame School of Law, is filing an amicus brief for the Catholic League in an historic case concerning the constitutionality of school vouchers; Bradley is chairman of the Catholic League’s legal advisory committee. A ruling by the high court is expected by June. The Supreme Court will hear three... [Read more...]
CATHOLIC CHURCH BLAMED FOR BACKING “CLONES” OF ISLAMIC TERRORISTS
On September 20, the San Francisco Examiner published an article by one of its contributors, Kimberly Blaker, that accused the Catholic Church of organizing and supporting “clones” of Islamic terrorism. In addition, the Catholic League was branded a “violent” organization. After criticizing Rev. Jerry Falwell for his remarks... [Read more...]
“CONSCIENCE CLAUSE” NEEDED IN D.C. FUNDING BILL
On September 25, the House of Representatives debated H.R. 2944, the District of Columbia Appropriations Act. The bill contains a provision that prohibits the enactment of the Health Insurance Coverage for Contraceptives Act of 2000 unless a religious “conscience clause” is adopted; the clause would allow religious organizations an exemption... [Read more...]
eBAY QUICKLY WITHDRAWS ANTI-CATHOLIC ITEM
In response to a complaint by the Catholic League, eBay, the most famous Internet auction site, expeditiously withdrew a very offensive item from its marketplace. On September 20, the Catholic League learned that eBay had listed a “Virgin Mary Immaculate Conception Condom” on its website. On the condom was a picture of the Virgin Mary holding... [Read more...]
TWO PAPERS SPIKE HATE ADS
Two more newspapers have said they will no longer run the anti-Catholic ads sponsored by the Eternal Gospel Church. Both the Idaho Statesman and the Sun in Boca Raton, Florida, have said they are finished with such ads. The ads portray the Catholic Church in a vicious light. The league registered its first complaint against the Idaho Statesman when... [Read more...]
HOLOCAUST “HATE ART”
No sane person denies the horror of the Holocaust or excuses those responsible for it. Unfortunately, it needs to be said time and again that it was the Nazis, and no one but the Nazis, who bear sole responsibility for what happened. Somebody needs to tell this to Fritz Hirschberger. The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center in Maitland,... [Read more...]
HITCHENS’ MAD OBSESSION
He’s at it again. Left-wing malcontent Christopher Hitchens has launched another attack on Mother Teresa. In the October edition of Vanity Fair, Hitchens explains that the Vatican invited him to make his case against the beatification of Mother Teresa. Given his mad obsession with her, it was not surprising that he took another opportunity to bash... [Read more...]
CATHOLIC BASHERS DELIVER “LIAM”
“Liam” is the story of a Depression-era Liverpool family seen through the eyes of a 7-year-old boy. The movie opened in select theaters on September 21 and was previewed that day by Catholic League research analyst Louis Giovino. We knew there was a Catholic element in the movie that bared watching. We noted, for example, the dreary tale... [Read more...]
“MEGIDDO” LEAVES US WONDERING
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, Hollywood decided to put “Megiddo: The Omega Code 2″ on ice. But not for long. Two weeks later it opened. Though the critics generally panned it, only one reviewer picked up on what disturbed the Catholic League. “Megiddo” bears no relation to “The Omega Code.” The plot... [Read more...]