In a story in today’s New York Post, it is reported that Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein has pressured Hillary Clinton to drop her plans to pose for the cover of George so that she can appear on the cover of Talk, a new magazine that is being funded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein.

The Clinton-Weinstein tie is more than casual: in 1998, and again in 1999, Harvey Weinstein contributed $10,000 to President Clinton’s Legal Expense Trust, the maximum allowed by law; he also gave them a first-edition copy of “Welcome to the Monkey House” in 1998. The Weinsteins are known to be among the top fund-raisers for the Clintons.

In October, the Weinsteins are determined to release the anti-Catholic movie, “Dogma.” The Clinton-Weinstein connection deserves scrutiny.

Catholic League president William Donohue discussed the problem today:

“Four years ago, the Weinsteins insulted Catholics by distributing the movie ‘Priest,’ and now they are prepared to do the same again by releasing ‘Dogma.’ Meanwhile, one of their best friends, Hillary Clinton, continues her relationship with the Weinsteins, never questioning their ethics.

“In 1997, Hillary Clinton slammed the movie, ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding,’ simply because Julia Roberts smoked too much in the film. Can she now summon the courage to slam ‘Dogma,’ what with its filthy humor targeted at Catholics?

“Catholics need to know—and this is especially true of Catholic New Yorkers—whether Hillary Clinton is as exercised about Catholic bashing as she is smoking. The Catholic League calls on her to break her association with the Weinsteins by refusing to accept another dime from them. We’d also like to hear her sound off against ‘Dogma.’”

Tomorrow, June 22, there will be a press conference sponsored by the Catholic League that will address the league’s concerns over the upcoming movie, “Dogma,” and what will be done about it. Also to be discussed is the league’s reaction to a threatening letter it received from the attorneys for Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the Miramax co-chairmen who are putting out the film.

The press conference will take place on the 9th floor, Room 921 of the Catholic Center, 1011 First Avenue (between 55th and 56th Streets) New York, New York. It begins at 10:00 a.m. Catholic League president William Donohue will answer any questions that the media have about “Dogma.”

The attempt by Bob and Harvey Weinstein to silence the Catholic League has now taken a new direction: the Catholic League is asking Tina Brown, formerly of the New Yorker, and soon-to-be-editor of Talk magazine, to make a public statement regarding this issue; the Weinsteins are bankrolling Talk.

Catholic League president William Donohue commented today on this issue:

“Tina Brown allegedly has a strong interest in free speech. It stands to reason, therefore, that she should be appalled by the efforts of her patrons to silence the Catholic League (attorneys for the Weinsteins have threatened to sue the Catholic League if violence occurs when the movie “Dogma” is released). Talk will premier in August, giving Miss Brown enough lead time to write a principled piece on this subject.

“All truly committed students of the First Amendment are on the side of the Catholic League. Anyone who threatens to sue those who are exercising their First Amendment right to protest a movie is despicable. When high-powered lawyers do it, it is worse than despicable—it is un-American. The Catholic League hopes that Miss Brown is on the side of freedom and looks forward to her remarks.”

Lawyers for Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the Miramax chiefs, have threatened to hold the Catholic League responsible for any acts of violence that may occur as a result of the league’s protest of the movie, “Dogma.” The letter, delivered today, takes note of a statement that William Donohue made on April 8: “The Catholic League has a few buttons of its own to push, and we will not hold back.” Donohue’s comment was a response to a remark made by “Dogma” star Ben Affleck, who admitted that “The movie is definitely meant to push buttons.”

The Los Angeles firm of Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, said of Donohue’s comment: “Statements like these may be interpreted to announce or imply an intention by the League to go beyond the bounds of legitimate and peaceful dissent or protest, and to stimulate, motivate, or incite danger or violence. Please be advised that any such impermissible activity authorized, committed, or encouraged by the League that harms or threatens harm to any person will not be tolerated. We intend to hold the League fully accountable for any wrongdoing, injury, or damage it causes.”

Catholic League president William Donohue replied as follows:

“The letter by the Weinstein attorneys is wonderful. It proves who the true enemies of free speech really are. Now I don’t even have to argue this issue anymore—all I need do is present their letter. It settles everything.

“I don’t know how many years it has been since the lawyers of Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp last took a course in constitutional law. But even if they are slip and fall hacks, they should know better.

“The Catholic League protest of ‘Dogma’ will now proceed with even more vigor than ever before. Fascistic attempts to silence us will never win.”

Ex-Spice Girl Geri (“Ginger Spice”) Halliwell landed in the Philippines yesterday advocating condom use and “safe sex.” Saying that it was “everybody’s fundamental right” to use condoms, Halliwell made her remarks on the first day of her tour as United Nations goodwill ambassador. She was criticized by officials of the Catholic Church for doing so.

Catholic League president William Donohue commented on this issue today:

“Couldn’t the U.N. have chosen someone with better credentials than Ginger Spice to do their bidding? Halliwell brings to the table nothing but problems.

“In her latest solo video, ‘Look at Me,’ Halliwell mocks Catholicism by appearing as a nun. Now she chooses a Catholic non-white minority nation to lecture them on why the world has too many people. Why doesn’t she dress as a princess and peddle her message at home?

“From Margaret Sanger to Ginger Spice, the population-control movement has been characterized by troubled persons who have an animus against Catholicism and an aversion to non-whites. That such bigotry is celebrated by the United Nations brings shame to the world body.

“Ginger should do us all a favor and butt out. Even Ted Turner has to feel cheated knowing she’s on his team.”

A state representative from Pennsylvania, Joseph Preston, Jr., said yesterday that school vouchers would enable certain religious schools to pay for the cost of lawsuits involving pedophilia.

Rep. Preston specifically referred to “certain religions hit hard by a lot of lawsuits,” saying that “millions of dollars of certain faiths” were used to pay for court settlements. “I don’t want to see our money to be able to go for those different lawsuits for certain people who do not act appropriately,” he said. When questioned about which religion he was referring to, Rep. Preston got angry and said he was referring to different “systems” who have made court settlements. However, it was widely understood by those at the press conference that the lawmaker was targeting the Catholic Church.

Catholic League president William Donohue spoke to Rep. Preston today. Here is what transpired:

“I spoke to Rep. Preston today and found him to be rude and dishonest. When I asked him to explain himself, he accused me of being defensive about my group, thus acknowledging what everyone knows—his bigoted remarks were aimed at Catholics. He then contended that he was referring to certain ‘systems,’ not religions. When I asked him to identify those systems, he could not do so.

“I am writing to every member of the Pennsylvania legislature requesting that Rep. Preston be censured for his remarks. In addition, we will do everything we can to inform the voters in his Pittsburgh district that they are represented by an anti-Catholic bigot.

“The Catholic League applauds the quick and unequivocal response to this matter that was made by Pennsylvania Education Secretary Eugene Hickok. We look for the state legislators to do likewise. There is no place for bigots in our democratic system.”

As a result of President Clinton’s “congressional recess” appointment of James Hormel as Ambassador to Luxembourg, Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma has threatened to thwart all of President Clinton’s future nominations.

William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, responded this way:

“The Catholic League applauds Senator Inhofe for courageously standing up to President Clinton. The abuse of the ‘congressional recess’ appointment process to thwart the will of the legislature deserves the kind of response that the Oklahoma senator is proposing.

“Just yesterday, I wrote to Vice President Al Gore, Bill Bradley, and all the Republican candidates for the presidency in the year 2000, asking whether they agreed with the appointment of Mr. Hormel. The Catholic League has consistently opposed this nomination because of Hormel’s refusal to dissociate himself from the anti-Catholic group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. When given the opportunity by Senator Tim Hutchinson to do so, Hormel rebuffed him.

“The Catholic League could care less about Republicans or Democrats, or straights or gays. What we do care about is stopping anti-Catholic bigots from holding public office.”

President Clinton announced today that he has appointed James Hormel as Ambassador to Luxembourg. Clinton took advantage of the 10-day Memorial Day recess to make his appointment, thus allowing him to install Hormel without congressional approval.

The Catholic League has consistently opposed Hormel’s appointment because of the nominee’s refusal to dissociate himself from an anti-Catholic group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; we have never opposed Hormel—or anyone else—because of his sexual orientation.

It was at a gay pride parade in 1996 in San Francisco that Hormel, while doing commentary for KOFY-TV, laughed approvingly at the anti-Catholic group as they mocked Catholic nuns in front of him. When given the chance to repudiate the group by Senator Tim Hutchinson, Hormel refused to do so. Luxembourg is a nation that is 97 percent Catholic.

Catholic League president William Donohue commented as follows:

“In a move that was quintessentially Clintonesque, the president showed contempt for congress by doing an end-run around the legislative process in appointing James Hormel as Ambassador to Luxembourg. That he managed to offend Catholic sensibilities as well is hardly a shocker.

“We will now make Al Gore the target of our concerns. We need to know whether the vice president, who just last week voiced strong approval for a ‘new partnership’ between church and state, would make such an appointment were he to be elected in 2000. If Gore is serious about an increased role for religious institutions in public policy programs, he should have no problem explaining to Catholics why someone like Hormel would never be appointed to any office. The faster Gore gets this behind him, the better. We won’t give up until he states his position.”