William A. Donohue Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has released a lengthy essay on the roots of clergy sexual abuse that is illuminating and courageous. It is illuminating because he shows how forces inside and outside the Church came together to create the problem, and it is courageous because he speaks the truth about matters that are [...]
William A. Donohue When I was in the Air Force, in the late 1960s, I became interested in politics. It was a turbulent time, and this was certainly true of California, where I was stationed. My first political leanings, some may be surprised to learn, were liberal-left. That didn't last long. When I was discharged, I [...]
Bill Donohue To be sentimental about certain things in life is not only normal, it is admirable. But sentimentalism is different. One of the definitions found in The Free Dictionary defines it as "excessive indulgence in sentiment or emotionalism, predominance of feeling over reason and intellect." That is not admirable. Indeed, it can be perilous. This [...]
William A. Donohue The average detainee in Guantanamo Bay has more rights than the average accused priest in America does today. Those who doubt this to be true can begin by naming all of the left-wing activist organizations and civil libertarian groups that are defending the rights of accused priests. By contrast, accused Muslim terrorists in [...]
The week before the U.S. bishops convened in Baltimore, I wrote an article warning the bishops to be careful when listening to the laity for advice. Some are responsible, I said, and some are an utter disgrace. After the conference ended on November 14, I issued another statement, detailing the irresponsible ones. Should the bishops listen [...]
William A. Donohue When I debated Christopher Hitchens, I told the famed atheist that if he wants to take on Mother Teresa, then he had better have the evidence. My axiom is simple: the more prominent the person is who is being dissected, the stronger the evidence must be. He failed. In his 99-page book trashing [...]
"Fidelity, fidelity, fidelity." That was Father Richard John Neuhaus' answer to the clergy sexual abuse crisis that exploded in 2002. It still is a great tonic, but it is incomplete: courage is also needed. Priests need to practice fidelity to Church teachings, in both their spiritual and behavioral life. They also need to exercise courage: when [...]
William A. Donohue At first glance, there doesn't appear to be a relationship between the views of atheist leaders and sexuality, but upon closer inspection, there clearly is. In so many cases, the hatred of religion that marks atheist activists is integral to their love of sexual libertinism. Indeed, the former abets the latter. The nation's [...]
William A. Donohue July 1st marked my 25th anniversary as president and CEO of the Catholic League. It's been a great run, and I am not about to pack it in. On July 18, I turn 71. Fortunately, God gave me pretty good health and a whole lot of energy. When I took over in 1993, [...]
William A. Donohue May 5th marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx. He is being celebrated by those who are horrified by Hitler, which makes their opposition to genocide phony. What Marx bequeathed—his legacy is written in blood—makes Hitler look benign. This is why anyone who condemns Hitler without also condemning his communist [...]
