He has long been known in Nebraska for his bigotry. And on August 29, he struck again. State senator Ernie Chambers went on a rampage blasting Catholics in front of wealthy businessmen at a luncheon hosted by the Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha. Chambers, who is black, attacked the Catholic Church before an all-white audience. “The [...]
The summer no sooner began when the Catholic League learned that two anti-Catholic lectures were scheduled to take place at Pierce Community College in Los Angeles. The lectures, given as part of the Encore/Oasis continuing education program, were titled "The Sex Lives of the Popes" and "Crime and Immorality in the Catholic Church." Both lectures were [...]
No date in American history is known by its month and date in numerical form except 9-11; the closest rival is the Fourth of July. No war is known by its date of origin; the War of 1812 expresses a year but lacks the specificity and timeless nature of 9-11. And that is how it should [...]
When the bishops assembled in Dallas on June 13, they did so in a climate of apprehensiveness. Two days later, they left in a mood of contentment. While not everyone was happy with the charter that was approved (including many who voted for it), a calmness was finally evident. The U.S. Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on [...]
On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow school vouchers. The Catholic League filed a friend-of-the-court brief in this case. Here is an excerpt from our news release on the subject: "This is a victory for the poor that triumphed over the so-called champions of the poor. Condemned to failing public schools in [...]
All eyes will be on Dallas when the U.S. bishops meet June 13-15 to discuss the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Church. National guidelines are expected though the details are still in dispute. Virtually every media outlet in the nation will cover the event. Indeed, every room in every hotel will be booked as [...]
The outcome was in doubt but reason prevailed. A law governing child sexual abuse in Connecticut allowed for an exemption for allegations heard in the confessional. In the first part of May, the Connecticut state House passed a bill that would require Catholic priests to report allegations of child sexual abuse disclosed in the confessional. But [...]
On April 23-24, Pope John Paul II summoned U.S. cardinals to Rome indicating a real turning point in the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church. The Holy Father clearly understands the gravity of the problem and that is why he directly intervened in this matter. Even before the cardinals met with the pope, [...]
An inappropriate joke about a Catholic priest is told at a function sponsored by the state of Oklahoma. A Catholic layman in attendance objects. Nothing is done. He contacts the Catholic League. An apology is forthcoming. Here's what happened. At a "Partnership Series" substance abuse workshop, an instructor opened his seminar by telling an offensive joke [...]
On March 11, the Catholic League went on a tear against the American Red Cross. Four hours later we got what we wanted: a reversal of its newly minted policy banning religious speech at its functions and a much-deserved apology. The pressure we put on the American Red Cross was enormous. We asked over 100 organizations [...]
