A growing number of bishops are speaking out on the subject of pro-abortion Catholic politicians. But there is disagreement over what should be done. Fargo, North Dakota Bishop Samuel J. Aquila said in May that denying Communion to pro-abortion politicians is part of Catholic teaching. Portland, Oregon Archbishop John G. Vlazny said that "Catholics who publicly [...]
When school voucher programs are instituted, it stimulates public schools to improve. That, at least, is what the Florida experience shows. In Florida, if a school receives two failing grades in a four-year period, its students can elect to go elsewhere. Performance is measured by standardized tests, and students who choose to use a voucher can [...]
For the first time in over four decades, Catholicism has emerged as a factor in a presidential campaign. In 1960, Massachusetts Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy had to overcome Protestant critics who objected to having any Catholic in the White House. Now another Roman Catholic JFK from Massachusetts is the source of controversy, namely John Forbes Kerry. [...]
On March 24, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Pledge of Allegiance case. The Catholic League, together with the Thomas More Law Center, filed an amicus curiae brief in support of the Elk Grove Unified School District that seeks to uphold the recitation of the Pledge in the schools. Challenging the school district [...]
A news story in the New York Post of July 16, 2003 began by saying, "Mel Gibson's pet project 'The Passion' is doomed to box-office oblivion, insiders say…." On August 3, 2003, New York Times entertainment critic Frank Rich said, "it's hard to imagine the movie being anything other than a flop in America." Now all the experts are crying [...]
The February 25th opening of "The Passion of the Christ" was one of the most anticipated openings of any movie in American history. That it opened on Ash Wednesday made it all the more special. Advance ticket sales to the Mel Gibson film were astonishing. News reports cited many Protestant organizations buying up large blocks of [...]
On February 27, professors from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City released a report on priestly sexual abuse since 1950. In anticipation of the report, the Catholic League prepared its own report; it was released in early February. The complete document is reprinted in this edition of Catalyst. The Catholic League strongly believes [...]
Critics of the Mel Gibson movie, "The Passion of the Christ," are confounded. That's because the pope has seen the film and has extended his blessings. "It is as it was," Pope John Paul II said. Thus did he drive Mel's adversaries into a tizzy. It was on December 17 that Peggy Noonan broke the story [...]
Every December the Catholic League goes into high gear confronting those who attempt to censor Christmas. This year was no exception. Unfortunately, the long-awaited ruling on the New York City schools did not come down. So another year went by without nativity scenes in the schools; Jewish menorahs and Islamic crescent and stars were allowed. We [...]
Critics of Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of Christ," are becoming unhinged, but their smear campaign is backfiring. For example, on November 6, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) convened its 90th Annual National Meeting at New York's Plaza Hotel. One of the sessions explored the controversy over the film. Paula Fredriksen, professor of theology at Boston University, [...]
