Bill Donohue comments on today’s New York Times article on the passing of Cardinal Edward M. Egan:

Unlike the rest of the New York media, which treated the late New York Archbishop with respect, the New York Times took advantage of his death to write a statement that read more like an editorial than an obituary.

The Times wasted no time telling its readers what it thought of the late archbishop. In the first sentence of its 2800-word obituary, it labeled Cardinal Egan a “stern defender of Roman Catholic orthodoxy.” Not just an ordinary defender of the Church’s teachings, but a “stern” one. Even without the adjective, the phrase makes us wonder whether the Times expects any archbishop not to defend the Church’s orthodoxy. Don’t those who write editorials for the Times defend the newspaper’s orthodoxy, sternly or otherwise?

The reason the Times mentions Egan’s orthodoxy is because it finds many Church teachings disagreeable. Which ones? It says Egan “delivered stentorian lessons from the pulpit on abortion, contraception, homosexuality, priestly celibacy and other matters.” With the exception of women priests, there really aren’t any “other matters” as the Times sees it; that list just about sums up the entire corpus of Church teachings. Similarly, it said Egan “walked the line of church doctrine against winds of change.” Meaning he didn’t adopt the Times’ secular values.

Right on course, the obit speaks about “pedophile priests” and clergy “accused of molesting children.” In fact, less than 5 percent of the molesters were pedophiles and almost 80 percent of the victims were postpubescent. This was a homosexual scandal—not a pedophile one.

Egan is also accused of “calling the police to oust protesters from a church.” He sure did: they camped out in the church and refused to leave. Question: Does the Times allow squatters to take over its offices?

The obit also notes that “Cardinal Egan distrusted the news media and rarely gave interviews.” Actually, he didn’t distrust all the media, just those outlets that can’t separate their politics from their coverage.

Bill Donohue comments on last night’s Comedy Central show, “@Midnight”:

Last night’s game show contest featured Neal Brennan responding to a question by host Chris Hardwick about confession. “Forgive me father for I have sinned, I went to Catholic school growing up. While I was never molested, I did f*** a few priests.” Not surprisingly, he won the contest.

Crude, vulgar, bigoted—they are three terms that come quickly to mind.  Another label, one that is not so obvious, is uncreative. Here’s why.

On the premier of his own show, which aired January 19, 2014, Brennan commented that he went to Catholic school for 12 years. “No, I didn’t get molested, I f***** a few priests, but I didn’t get molested.”

It tells us something about Viacom, which owns Comedy Central, that they are willing to bankroll these lazy writers. Are the creative talents in such short supply at Comedy Central that the writers have to go back to the sewer to deliver another assault on priests?

Contact Carl Folta, Executive VP, Viacom Communications: Carl.Folta@viacom.com

Bill Donohue comments on a resolution passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors:

Sacramento does not lack for lawmakers who are hostile to Catholicism, but it takes a back seat to those who work in San Francisco. The Board of Supervisors in San Francisco unanimously passed a resolution yesterday [click here] that declares war on the Archdiocese of San Francisco; some Sacramento lawmakers previously sought to intimidate the archdiocese.

To read the letter I sent to the Board today, click here.

Contact the author of the resolution, Board Supervisor Mark Farrell: Mark.Farrell@sfgov.org

Bill Donohue’s new book, published by Image, was released today. The Catholic Advantage: Why Health, Happiness, and Heaven Await the Faithful contends that the surest path to achieving the Three H’s of health, happiness, and heaven is by adopting the Three B’s of beliefs, bonds, and boundaries.

Donohue compares the Catholic Vision to the Secular Vision on the Three B’s. Representing the former are practicing Catholics, priests, nuns (especially cloistered nuns), and saints. The latter are represented by celebrities and intellectuals.

Sure to be controversial, Donohue maintains that Catholics are much better positioned to live a healthy and happy life than are agnostics and atheists. More than that, they are more likely—on the basis of charitable giving and altruistic behavior—to make it to heaven.

For more information click here.