Bill Donohue

Major League Baseball (MLB) is okay with one of its teams honoring a vile anti-Catholic group of drag queen bigots, but it is not okay with a pitcher who objects to the radical LGBT agenda. That is the principal takeaway in light of MLB’s response to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence being honored by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass’ rejection of LGBT extremists.

Everyone knows how Bud Light used a twisted cross-dressing activist to market its beer, triggering a backlash from normal men. Similarly, Target’s decision to market “tuck-friendly” women’s swimsuits that conceal male genitalia (the outfits are made for men who claim to be a woman yet refuse to have their sex organs cut off) inspired normal men and women to object. In late May, Bass posted an Instagram video that criticized the two companies.

The video included a plea by its creator, Ryan Miller, asking Christians to boycott Bud Light and Target. Although Bass did not personally comment on the post, he came under fire by LGBT activists and the front office of the Blue Jays. After the blowback, he apologized but it was too late. His team dumped him, saying he was a “distraction.”

We have not heard a word from Rob Manfred about this perversion of justice.

We forced his hand on May 16 to nix the Dodgers decision to honor the “Sisters” (he was so bombarded with emails protesting this stunt that the next day the bigots were disinvited). But a few days later, he and the Dodgers succumbed to pressure from the LGBT crowd and reinvited them. So we know which side they’re on.

Manfred’s silence with regard to the Bass matter suggests he is okay with the player effectively being fired for exercising his First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Nothing in the video was obscene or insulting, but everything the “Sisters” do is both.

What kind of moral compass Manfred, the Dodgers and the Blue Jays are working with is a mystery. They have managed to sanction a vicious assault on Catholic sensibilities while simultaneously punishing those who reject LGBT mania. They are twice wrong.

Contact Manfred again: rob.manfred@mlb.com

Bill Donohue

We are so happy with the strong response to our KABC Los Angeles radio ad against the Dodgers that we have decided to do it again.

Last week, we ran 25 ads, 30 seconds each, imploring listeners not to attend the June 16 “Pride Night” game featuring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; the ads ran June 6-9. Our next round runs from June 12-15.

We will have more to say about the June 16 game throughout the week. It is important that attendance at this game drop below the attendance for last year’s “Pride Night” game. Major League Baseball needs to get the message—not just the Dodgers: Anti-Catholic bigotry should no more be tolerated than any other expression of hate.

Bill Donohue

Bill O’Reilly did not make a mistake last night on his streaming show on First TV—he lied. No one can lie unless he knows the truth. O’Reilly knew the truth yet he lied about the Catholic League.

Yesterday, I issued a statement saying, “Bill O’Reilly Makes a False Claim.” I did not say he lied, because I had no evidence that he knew the truth. What I said was that his comment on his June 7 show claiming the Catholic League would not share with him our KABC radio ad against the Dodgers for honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was false: We did, in fact, send it to his “No Spin News” producer, Samantha Marciano.

Yesterday, we received an apology, in writing, from Marciano acknowledging that we sent the radio ad. The problem was a technical one on their end. No problem—these things happen.

After we sent my statement yesterday to the media and our email subscribers, we received a phone call from Nicole Casey, the executive producer of O’Reilly’s show.

She told our director of communications, Michael McDonald, that their tech staff had determined that the audio file was indeed sent, but that there was a problem on their end with their server. She said O’Reilly would play the ad on his show, admitting that the tech glitch was on their end, and that it was not because the Catholic League would not share the video file.

The conversation was amicable, so we thought this matter was behind us. But then O’Reilly went on the air last night and said the following:

“So I told you yesterday that the Catholic League would not send us the ad, the radio ad they made objecting to the Los Angeles Dodgers honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. We asked nicely. I mean my staff is so nice they are not like me. These are nice people. And the Catholic League would not send it over. So I said if you’re not going to help send it over then we are not going to help you. So anyway, they called, ‘Oh no, no, no, it was a technical glitch, we meant to send it.’ Because in the Catholic religion, if you lie, it’s a sin so there are Catholics and—technical glitches happen all the time. We didn’t get it, they tried to send it, but now we have it.”

O’Reilly lied. No one from the Catholic League ever called his office saying we screwed up. McDonald left a message on the phone of Marciano wanting to speak to her about what O’Reilly said the night before. When she called back, that is when she said the problem was on their end. This was confirmed by Casey.

O’Reilly is right about one thing: It is a sin for Catholics to lie.

Bill Donohue

There is a widespread hoax campaign underway by radical queer and trans activists trying to scare the public into thinking they are “under attack.” Buying into this lie is the United States military.

Bill Donohue is asking Rep. Jim Banks, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to launch a hearing on this manipulation of the military. To read his letter, click here. We are contacting all members of the armed services committees in the House and Senate.

Contact David Keller, Banks’ chief of staff: david.keller@mail.house.gov

Bill Donohue

Mid-morning on June 7 we were contacted by Samantha Marciano, producer for “Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News” show on First TV asking permission for him to run our KABC Los Angeles ad against the Dodgers. We immediately said yes. But last night on his show, O’Reilly said we denied the request. We have the email exchange that proves he is factually wrong.

Catholic League communications director Michael McDonald spoke to Marciano about this today. She said she never got our email response. She said she would tell O’Reilly about what happened.

Marciano sent us a second email today apologizing for what happened. She is having her technician look into this matter. We appreciate her apology.

O’Reilly should follow suit and issue an apology on his show tonight. We will have a follow-up tomorrow, depending on what he says.

Bill Donohue

Today, the Catholic League will contact 236 of the most prominent Hispanic leaders in the Los Angeles area, asking them to spread the word about our request for area Catholics not to attend the June 16 Dodgers game that will honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an anti-Catholic group of drag queens.

Our appeal is being made to the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders, the LA Latino Chamber of Commerce, the National Hispanic Media Coalition and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals Los Angeles. All 236 leaders will receive a letter that details our request, and a copy of the report that I wrote about the history of anti-Catholic acts committed by the “Sisters.”

This brings to over 700 Catholic leaders we have contacted in Los Angeles asking them to tell their constituents not to attend the June 16 game.

Bill Donohue

KABC radio in Los Angeles started June 6 airing the first of 25 ads paid for by the Catholic League asking listeners not to attend the June 16 “Pride Night” Dodgers game honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an anti-Catholic hate group; it runs through June 9. The initial reaction has been very positive.

The Los Angeles Times just published a story, “Catholic League Launches Radio Ad Campaign Urging Boycott of Dodgers’ Pride Night.” While the story is not critical of the “Sisters,” it accurately conveys our stand.

Now we have been contacted by other media outlets asking permission to disseminate the ad. We are encouraged by this robust response.

It should be noted that while there are several lay Catholic groups that have weighed in against the Dodgers, the Catholic League is the only organization in the nation to launch an ad campaign. Coupled with our mass mailings to prominent Catholics in the Los Angeles area, we are proud to lead the way. Even critics of the overall Catholic response are citing our leading role.

We will have more to say tomorrow about the next stage in our campaign.

Bill Donohue

Today we are contacting 126 Catholic entities asking them to spread the word about our boycott of the June 16 “Pride Night” Dodgers game that will honor the anti-Catholic Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. To that end, we are sending them a copy of our report that details the bigoted acts of this hate group.

We previously mailed our report to over 300 parishes in the Los Angeles archdiocese. We also contacted 53 Catholic schools, including colleges and universities. In each case, we asked pastors and educators to ask their constituents not to attend the June 16 game.

Now we are asking the Catholic leaders of the following archdiocesan entities to do the same: Residences of priests and brothers; endowments, foundations and trusts; retreat houses; hospitals and health systems; seminaries; and convents and residences for women.

Also ongoing is our radio ad blitz on KABC in Los Angeles asking area Catholics to boycott the June 16 game. Stay tuned for more announcements about our campaign.

Bill Donohue

Starting today, for five consecutive days, we are running 25 radio ads (30 seconds each) on KABC asking listeners not to attend the June 16 “Pride Night” Dodgers game that features the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.” KABC is the ABC affiliate that covers Los Angeles and the Southern California area.

Due to copyright laws, we are prohibited from mentioning the Dodgers, or Dodger Stadium, per se. Everyone in the huge listening area will understand what the selected euphemisms mean (the stadium is also known as Chavez Ravine).

Here is the text of the ad that is being read by a woman chosen by KABC.

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization, is asking Catholics not to attend the  game at the Ravine on June 16. That is when an anti-Catholic group, the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” will be given an award.

We are not asking Catholics to boycott all games. Just this one. By doing so, we will send an unmistakable message that bigotry against Catholics should not be tolerated.

If attendance dips on June 16, the entire league will take note. Please boycott this game.

Bill Donohue

Very shortly, at 2:00 p.m. PST, California Democrats will honor one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Michael Williams (who goes by “Sister Roma”). The invitation was extended by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins. Williams is one of a larger group of queers and trans persons being honored on the floor of the Capitol in Sacramento.

Throughout much of the last century, the Democrats were the Catholic-friendly Party. That changed in the 1970s, and in recent years it has become increasingly inhospitable to Catholics. Now it is openly anti-Catholic. This event proves it.

Faithful Catholics are holding an ecumenical prayer vigil on the west steps of the Capitol.

The only difference between these California Democrats and the Ku Klux Klan is that the latter promotes violence. But non-violent bigotry is not only intolerable, it abets its violent manifestations.

Contact Nick Hardeman, chief of staff to Atkins: nick.hardeman@sen.ca.gov