Bill Donohue comments on a remark made by Chelsea Handler on the November 8 episode of “Chelsea Lately”:

Speaking of the inclusion of Pope Francis on the Forbes list of the most powerful people in the world, Chelsea Handler said, “So, and the new pope is on the list. That’s interesting since he’s never had penetration. How can he be that powerful?”

Any woman who goes on TV to laugh about an abortion she once had, as Handler did with Conan O’Brien, is capable of taking an obscene shot at the pope. But it doesn’t make her gratuitous quip any less offensive.

Contact the E! PR director, John Rizzotti: John.Rizzotti@nbcuni.com

Bill Donohue comments on the suspension of Father Michael Kolodziej:

Father Michael Kolodziej, a former Minister Provincial of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, has been suspended from all public ministry by the Franciscans. Furthermore, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has withdrawn his faculties so that he can no longer serve as a priest.

Sounds as if the priest must have been convicted of something serious. In fact, Father Kolodziej has not been found guilty of anything. His accuser says he was abused by the priest while they were wrestling at Baltimore’s Archbishop Curley High School in the mid-to-late 1970s. That’s it.

This is insanity. Priests evidently have no rights. To top things off, the Order has posted an 800 number asking anyone else who was abused by the priest to come forward. No other organization, religious or secular, acts this way. By the way, Father Kolodziej, who is 69, has never had an accusation made against him until now.

This is another sad chapter in the way priests are being treated. Priests involved in a contact sport in front of spectators can be accused of groping a wrestler several decades ago and be treated as if he were guilty. This isn’t Christian—it’s an abomination. It’s also the worst possible advertisement to young men contemplating the priesthood.

To read an astute article on this subject that was published November 6, see “Priests ‘Credibly’ Accused?” by Father Thomas Guarino, professor of Systematic Theology at Seton Hall University; click here.

Bill Donohue comments on amendments to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA):

The Catholic League raised serious questions about the consequences of ENDA in 2007, and while some aspects of the bill have improved, efforts to strengthen the religious liberty exemptions are badly needed. Senators Rob Portman and Kelly Ayotte have introduced an amendment that would prohibit federal, state and local governments from seeking reprisals against religious groups that are exempt from the law. Senator Pat Toomey wants to expand the number of groups that would qualify for an exemption. Both deserve to be passed.

Workplace discrimination against those who are not heterosexual has decreased markedly, calling into question which organizations the advocates for ENDA want to blanket. Sexual orientation, unlike race or gender, is inseparable from behavioral issues, thus drawing the attention of religious organizations. If the proponents of ENDA are sincere in their stated objective not to unfairly burden churches and religious groups, then locking in the exemptions already provided should not act as a deterrent to their support.

Americans have seen what happens when activist judges get their hands on religious liberty cases. This is all the more reason to support the amendments by Senators Portman, Ayotte and Toomey.

Bill Donohue comments on the November 1 edition of “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO:

When a young boy recently sat in Pope Francis’ chair, and the Holy Father welcomed him, the response was universally acclaimed. Well, not quite.

Bill Maher is different: he hates Catholicism with a passion, and that is why he showed a picture of the pope with his hand on the boy’s head, saying, “No, Pope Francis, I thought you were different.” Everyone in the audience knew that he was saying the pope is a child rapist, and that’s because every week Maher portrays priests as molesters.

The man needs help.

Contact HBO executive producer Nancy Geller: nancy.geller@hbo.com

Bill Donohue comments on a news release he wrote earlier today on an Army soldier whose religious rights were abridged:

A few hours ago, we posted an open letter that I wrote to the Commander at Fort Sill, Oklahoma regarding a female Catholic soldier who was denied her right to attend Mass on Sunday on three occasions; they have a “battle buddy” system on the base that requires all soldiers to move about in pairs, and since there was no other Catholic in her unit to go to Mass with, she was denied permission to go by herself. My complaint was that an escort should have been provided.

Fort Sill acted responsibly and contacted us without delay. I spoke to an official there and he said he would speak to the chaplains about the necessity of accommodating Catholics who lack a partner to go to Mass with on Sundays.

This matter has been amicably resolved. Case closed.

Bill Donohue wrote the following letter today regarding the denial of an Army soldier’s constitutional rights:

Major General Mark McDonald
U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence
455 McNair Avenue, Ste. 100
Fort Sill, OK 73503

Dear Major General McDonald:

I have learned that a Catholic female enrolled in Advanced Individual Training has been denied the opportunity to go to Mass on three Sundays. The “battle buddy” system that requires soldiers to travel in pairs surely has its merits, but it is not an adequate defense to deny someone her constitutional rights simply because there are no other Catholics in her unit. A cadre escort would resolve this matter, while not doing anything to undermine the policy of moving about in pairs.

I am a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and have nothing but respect for the men and women of the armed services. But I am also the president of the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization, and as such, I take anti-Catholicism very seriously, regardless of the motive of the offender.

Please investigate this matter. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

William A. Donohue, Ph.D.
President

Bill Donohue comments on the latest attack on a bishop:

Last week, I defended St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt when he was being attacked by left-wing Catholics, and ex-Catholics, from the Catholic Coalition for Church Reform; the group, which rejects the Church’s teachings on sexuality, called for the Vatican to remove Nienstedt from office.

Yesterday, another open letter was sent to the Vatican seeking the ouster of a bishop; Pope Francis is being asked to remove Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop Robert Finn from office. The request is coming from another person who is not in communion with the Church—he never was—Presbyterian journalist Bill Tammeus. His letter is being featured by the National Catholic Reporter, a left-wing dissident weekly.

Tammeus claims that Bishop Finn was not duly protective of children in his diocese. Not only is he wrong about this, he has no moral standing to be pointing fingers at anyone. For years, Tammeus wrote for the Kansas City Star, yet in all of his columns on sexual abuse, he never took on the teachers’ unions for their obstructionist policies that contribute to child rape in the public schools.

Kansas is one of only two states where there are no laws requiring criminal history checks for public school teachers. In 2011, when an attempt was made to strengthen current regulations by mandating fingerprinting of prospective public school employees, the Kansas teachers’ unions fought it. Tammeus said nothing.

The irony is complete: Tammeus, a non-Catholic, is writing to the pope to get a bishop removed; this same man has no record of seeking to keep children safe from molesters in a state known for its enfeebled response; and he writes for a newspaper that championed Anthony Kosnik’s book, Human Sexuality, a work that gave cover to child molesters.

Contact Tammeus: wtammeus@gmail.com

The University of South Florida contacted Bill Donohue today about the incident involving Dr. Timothy Weil. Weil had compared priests to feces at a recent academic forum; to read the background about this issue, click here.

Donohue received a letter from Dr. Julianne Serovich, Dean and Professor, College of Behavioral & Community Sciences, wherein she stated that Weil received a “Letter of Counsel.” She also said he would be issuing an apology. Donohue had not sought his removal; rather, he asked for a reprimand. Here is Donohue’s response:

Dear Dr. Serovich:

Thank you for your letter regarding my complaint against Dr. Timothy Weil. Your response is judicious. I consider this matter closed.

Sincerely,

William A. Donohue, Ph.D.
President

Bill Donohue comments on an apology issued by ABC for a remark made by a child on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”:

In a skit that aired last week, Kimmel wanted to know how children felt about the United State’s debt to China. “Kill everyone in China” one child said.

Lisa Berger, ABC’s Entertainment executive vice president, and Tim McNeal, ABC’s Talent and Diversity vice president, took the matter seriously. “We offer our sincere apology,” they said. “We would never purposefully broadcast anything to upset the Chinese community, Asian community, anyone of Chinese descent or any community at large. Our objective is to entertain.” The skit was immediately removed from all public platforms and edited out of any future reruns.

Berger and McNeal are insincere—either that or ABC doesn’t consider Catholics to be a “community at large.”

For years the Catholic League has contacted ABC about the vicious anti-Catholic remarks made by panelists on “The View.” Indeed, we have even taken out ads in the New York Times about their relentless assaults. But there have been no apologies.

Nor was there an apology for what happened on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on April 2 this year. That’s when Bill Maher trashed the Bible, adding that both the Trinity and the Sacrament of Reconciliation were “pulled out of their [the hierarchy’s] ass in the 12th century.”

One kid makes an offensive remark about the Chinese and the diversity dons at ABC go ballistic. But ripping Catholics is okay. Wonder how ABC would react if a bunch of Chinese Catholics were insulted? That kind of dilemma would have to be resolved by a diversity summit.

Contact Tim McNeal: tim.mcneal@abc.com

Bill Donohue comments on last Friday’s edition of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the HBO show:

Bill Maher’s latest show was a bigoted bash fest featuring Valerie Plame and Michael Moore, and, of course, himself. Al Sharpton was also one of the panelists, but he didn’t say anything untoward (regrettably, the Reverend also didn’t say anything to challenge the religion bashers). More surprisingly, Britain’s star atheist, Richard Dawkins, behaved himself.

Maher began by observing that Pope Francis had fired the German “bishop of bling” because he was “getting the altar boys drunk on Cristal.” That no bishop was “fired” is besides the point—Maher reeks with hatred toward Catholics.

After Sharpton noted there were Christian members of the Klan who burned crosses, Plame said, “Yeah, but now there are Christian Dominionists that are just as extreme.” Too bad she didn’t name one. Since Christian bashers like to finger Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry as Dominionists, perhaps Plame has footage of them acting like Klansmen. She ought to apologize for her irresponsible remark.

Maher then spoke about Christians and Muslims. “Look,” he said, “I’m no f***ing Catholic or Christian, but one is herpes [Christians] and one is cancer [Muslims].” Couldn’t help but think that it was Hitler who once called Jews cancerous. Maher is in good company.

When Maher said that at least Christians were not killing anyone, Moore shot back, “I can guarantee to you that right now there are Christians out there tonight that want to kill you and me.” He did not say how he knew this to be true, nor did he cite a single recent instance that might provoke him to make such an accusation.

Lucky for Moore that most Christians act like Christians.

Contact HBO executive producer, Nancy Geller: nancy.geller@hbo.com