Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Day 13 of the protest campaign on behalf of Mother Teresa:

Today I am writing to the legislators in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut notifying them that Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, has decided not to overrule those who have chosen to deny a tribute to Mother Teresa: our request to have the towers shine blue and white, the colors of her congregation, on August 26th, the 100th anniversary of her birth (and the day the U.S. Postal Service is honoring her with a commemorative stamp), was denied without explanation. Yet the same persons who chose to stiff Mother Teresa decided to honor the Chinese Communist revolution last year, even though 77 million innocent men, women and children were murdered under Mao Zedong.

Everyone is being asked to sign our petition (click here), and to write to Anthony Malkin. His address is Malkin Properties, One Grand Central Place 60, E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165.

Also contact Melanie Maasch at the Empire State Building: mmaasch@esbnyc.com

Catholic League president Bill Donohue discusses New York Times op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof’s article from today’s paper:

Recently, Nicholas Kristof has been on a mission to assure Catholics that he likes them, but that he can’t stand the institutional Church. Indeed, he has condemned the “patriarchal premodern” Vatican as an “out of touch” and “self-absorbed” “old boys’ club.” Today’s article is no different.

Kristof is upset that Phoenix bishop Thomas Olmsted has spoken out against a nun who helped to facilitate an abortion at a Catholic hospital. Kristof goes out of his way to paint her as a “saintly” nun “who helped save a woman’s life.” What he just can’t wrap his head around is that by her involvement in the decision, the nun automatically excommunicated herself. What really gets his goat is the Catholic Church’s unwavering position that no abortion can ever be justified.

On par with the Times, Kristof loathes the Church for its stance on abortion, contraception and women’s ordination. Indeed, he has touched on this triumvirate in his recent hit jobs on the Church. Kristof believes that the “true” Church is the grassroots one. While it is true that lay Catholics play an integral role in the Church—just as reporters at the Times play a critical role for the newspaper—the decision making body in the Church is the Magisterium (the pope in communion with the bishops), just as the editorial board makes the decisions at the Times.

In Kristof’s bifurcated world there are two Catholic Churches. He needs a reality check: there is but one Roman Catholic Church

Contact NYT public editor Clark Hoyt: public@nytimes.com

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Day 12 of the protest campaign on behalf of Mother Teresa:

Today I am writing to the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut notifying them that Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, has decided not to overrule those who have chosen to deny a tribute to Mother Teresa: our request to have the towers shine blue and white, the colors of her congregation, on August 26th, the 100th anniversary of her birth (and the day the U.S. Postal Service is honoring her with a commemorative stamp), was denied without explanation. Yet the same persons who chose to stiff Mother Teresa decided to honor the Chinese Communist revolution last year, even though 77 million innocent men, women and children were murdered under Mao Zedong.

Everyone is being asked to sign our petition (click here), and to write to Anthony Malkin. His address is Malkin Properties, One Grand Central Place 60, E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165.

Also contact Melanie Maasch at the Empire State Building: mmaasch@esbnyc.com

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments today on the growing support for the Mother Teresa campaign:

Earlier today I contacted all the members of the New York City Council. This afternoon I received the following statement from Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s office offering her full support of our effort: “Mother Teresa built hundreds of orphanages, hospitals, health clinics and homeless shelters across the globe. She even created the first hospice for AIDS patients right here in Greenwich Village. She was voted the most admired woman in the world three years in a row and even won the Nobel Peace Prize. We respectfully request that the Empire State Building’s Board reevaluate its decision and choose to honor this wonderful woman who has given so much to the world.” Her office let us know that like millions around the world, Speaker Quinn is a big fan of Mother Teresa and will be contacting Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, today.

Along with the Speaker’s support, tens of thousands have signed our petition (click here) voicing their displeasure with the Empire State Building’s snub of the saintly nun. Just more proof that the outrage is growing.

We are happy to know that Speaker Quinn is on board and hope that her support will help to bring this ordeal to an end.

Contact Melanie Maasch at the Empire State Building: mmaasch@esbnyc.com

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Day 11 of the protest campaign on behalf of Mother Teresa:

Today I am writing to the members of the New York City Council notifying them that Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, has decided not to overrule those who have chosen to deny a tribute to Mother Teresa: our request to have the towers shine blue and white, the colors of her congregation, on August 26th, the 100th anniversary of her birth (and the day the U.S. Postal Service is honoring her with a commemorative stamp), was denied without explanation. Yet the same persons who chose to stiff Mother Teresa decided to honor the Chinese Communist revolution last year, even though 77 million innocent men, women and children were murdered under Mao Zedong.

Everyone is being asked to sign our petition (click here), and to write to Anthony Malkin. His address is Malkin Properties, One Grand Central Place 60, E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165.

Also contact Melanie Maasch at the Empire State Building: mmaasch@esbnyc.com

The Obama administration has sided with the Vatican in holding that the Ninth Circuit Court erred when it ruled that an exception could be made to the federal law that grants immunity to other nations seeking immunity from lawsuits arising from cases of abuse in the U.S.

A man who alleges he was sexually abused in the 1960s by a priest in Oregon brought suit maintaining that the Vatican should be held responsible because there were accusations made against the priest before he was transferred to the western state. The Vatican has long argued that the Holy See is not responsible for the behavior of priests in the various dioceses throughout the world.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue was happy with the decision:

By the most elementary standards of justice, this was the right ruling. First, the idea that anyone should be permitted to sue, independent of the nature of the offense, for an incident that allegedly took place a half century ago, is patently outrageous. Second, the idea that Catholic priests line up single file, taking their cues from the Vatican, and that the Holy See could possibly be held accountable for the actions of priests all over the globe, is positively ludicrous.

The Catholic League commends the Obama administration, and especially Supreme Court nominee Eleanor Kagan, the Solicitor General involved in this suit. Justice was served.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Day 10 of the protest campaign on behalf of Mother Teresa:

Today I am writing to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio notifying them that Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, has decided not to overrule those who have chosen to deny a tribute to Mother Teresa: our request to have the towers shine blue and white, the colors of her congregation, on August 26th, the 100th anniversary of her birth (and the day the U.S. Postal Service is honoring her with a commemorative stamp), was denied without explanation. Yet the same persons who chose to stiff Mother Teresa decided to honor the Chinese Communist revolution last year, even though 77 million innocent men, women and children were murdered under Mao Zedong.

Everyone is being asked to sign our petition (click here), and to write to Anthony Malkin. His address is Malkin Properties, One Grand Central Place 60, E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165.

Also contact Melanie Maasch at the Empire State Building: mmaasch@esbnyc.com

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Day 9 of the protest campaign on behalf of Mother Teresa:

Today I am writing to the U.S. bishops in the West notifying them that Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, has decided not to overrule those who have chosen to deny a tribute to Mother Teresa: our request to have the towers shine blue and white, the colors of her congregation, on August 26th, the 100th anniversary of her birth (and the day the U.S. Postal Service is honoring her with a commemorative stamp), was denied without explanation. Yet the same persons who chose to stiff Mother Teresa decided to honor the Chinese Communist revolution last year, even though 77 million innocent men, women and children were murdered under Mao Zedong.

Everyone is being asked to sign our petition (see below), and to write to Anthony Malkin. His address is Malkin Properties, One Grand Central Place 60, E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165.

Also contact Melanie Maasch at the Empire State Building: mmaasch@esbnyc.com

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Day 8 of the protest campaign on behalf of Mother Teresa:

Today I am writing to the U.S. bishops in the Midwest notifying them that Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, has decided not to overrule those who have chosen to deny a tribute to Mother Teresa: our request to have the towers shine blue and white, the colors of her congregation, on August 26th, the 100th anniversary of her birth (and the day the U.S. Postal Service is honoring her with a commemorative stamp), was denied without explanation. Yet the same persons who chose to stiff Mother Teresa decided to honor the Chinese Communist revolution last year, even though 77 million innocent men, women and children were murdered under Mao Zedong.

Everyone is being asked to sign our petition (click here), and to write to Anthony Malkin. His address is Malkin Properties, One Grand Central Place 60, E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165.

Also contact Melanie Maasch at the Empire State Building: mmaasch@esbnyc.com

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Day 7 of the protest campaign on behalf of Mother Teresa:

Today I am writing to the U.S. bishops in the South notifying them that Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, has decided not to overrule those who have chosen to deny a tribute to Mother Teresa: our request to have the towers shine blue and white, the colors of her congregation, on August 26th, the 100th anniversary of her birth (and the day the U.S. Postal Service is honoring her with a commemorative stamp), was denied without explanation. Yet the same persons who chose to stiff Mother Teresa decided to honor the Chinese Communist revolution last year, even though 77 million innocent men, women and children were murdered under Mao Zedong.

Everyone is being asked to sign our petition (click here), and to write to Anthony Malkin. His address is Malkin Properties, One Grand Central Place 60, E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165.

Also contact Melanie Maasch at the Empire State Building: mmaasch@esbnyc.com