BOMB THREATS AGAINST BARNEYS DENOUNCED

On December 13, Barneys New York issued “an apology” stemming from an offensive nativity scene that was displayed as “art” in its store at 61st and Madison Avenue. Though the statement was more of a public relations commentary than a true apology, it has been accepted as satisfactory by the Catholic League, the organization that first lodged the complaints against the store. Unfortunately, it now seems that some of the critics of Barneys have gone too far: Barneys has been the target of at least three bomb threats. Speaking to this issue is Catholic League president William A. Donohue:

“While the Catholic League takes no responsibility for the excesses of others, it condemns all threats of violence that have been made against Barneys. To be sure, Barneys could have avoided all the retaliatory measures that have been waged against it had it moved expeditiously to remove the exhibition, “Hello Kitty Nativity Scene,” after I made my complaint on December 7. That it didn’t, however, is no excuse for making threats. Barneys has removed the offensive display and has issued a public apology that, however lame in its wording, is no cause for violence.

“The Catholic League condemns all violent acts that have been threatened, or might be threatened, against Barneys. It asks New Yorkers of all faiths to join with us in denouncing violence and in dissuading would-be terrorists from acting.”

The Catholic League is the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization. It defends the right of Catholics—lay and clergy alike—to participate in American life without defamation or discrimination.