William A. Donohue

Infobox Person
name = William A. Donohue
image_size = 250px
caption = Donohue on MSNBC's "Scarborough Country"
birth_date = Birth date and age|1947|7|18|mf=y
birth_place = Manhattan, New York, USA
occupation = President of the Catholic League
spouse =
parents =
children =

William Donohue (born July 18, 1947 in Manhattan, New York), has been the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in the United States since 1993. It claims to be the largest Catholic civil rights organization in the United States. He is known for his public statements on matters that the Catholic League believes relate to the defamation of and the civil rights of Catholics in particular and Christians in general.

= Biography = William A. Donohue began his teaching career in the 1970s working at St. Lucy's School in Spanish Harlem. In 1977, he took a position as a college professor teaching at La Roche College in McCandless, Pennsylvania. In 1980 he received a doctorate in Sociology from New York University (NYU). [http://www.catholicleague.org/about.php Official bio] ]

His first book was "The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union" and he became associated with the conservative Heritage Foundation where he is an adjunct scholar. His books on the ACLU made him one of the group's most prominent critics and firebrands.

While Donohue was in college in New York, Virgil C. Blum, a Jesuit at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded the Catholic League to counter Anti-Catholicism in American culture. Blum died in 1990; in 1993, Dr. Donohue became the director of the organization. Under his direction, the organization has become far more prominent and vocal.

Donohue publishes "The Catalyst," the Catholic League journal. He serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Scholars. He serves on the board of advisers of the Washington Legal Foundation, the Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society, Society of Catholic Social Scientists, Catholics United for the Faith, Ave Maria Institute, the Christian Film & Television Commission and Catholic War Veterans. He has received several awards from the Catholic community and was voted one of the top 100 Catholics of the 20th century in a survey of Catholics conducted by the internet site, Daily Catholic. He received the 2005 St. Thomas More Award for Catholic Citizenship from Catholic Citizens of Illinois.

The Catholic League is registered as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. In 2006, according to its Form 990, its revenue was $16,590,333, and Donohue's salary and benefits amounted to $343,420. [cite web |url=http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/237/279/2006-237279981-037482be-9.pdf |title=Form 990 |publisher=Guidestar.org]

= Activities =

William Donohue has made a name for himself fighting what he perceives as discrimination against and defamation of Catholics and Catholicism. In doing so he has gone after a diverse array of public figures, from individuals such as Christopher Hitchens and Bill Maher, and even businesses such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Miller Brewing Company, to institutions such as Bob Jones University.

Bill Maher

Donohue has noted that political and social commentator Bill Maher "has consistently been listed in the Catholic League's Annual Report on Anti-Catholicism" for acts of bigotry.Fact|date=October 2007 Donohue says that among his offensive acts, Maher has a habit of "slandering all priests as molesters and mocking the Eucharist". In the League's 2003 report, it claimed "no one insulted Catholics more than Bill Maher". Regarding one series of slurs, Donohue explained: "Bill Maher has been attacking Catholicism for years, and this explains why the Catholic League is now at a breaking point with him. It seems ‘the Catholics’ are always causing him pain and it was noted that when challenged he moved from blaming all priests for molesting young boys to raping nuns."Fact|date=October 2007 Reflecting on comments made by Maher in a late show, Donahue said "...most Americans believe in God, guys like Maher want a brawl. He should be careful what he wishes for because there are those who pine to deliver.” [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1372 Bill Maher wants a brawl] Catholic League January 7, 2008 ]

In response to "Religulous", a film starring Bill Maher in which he attacks several religions, Donohue released a statement calling the film, “more absurd than hateful.” Donohue went on to state that, “Maher’s contention that religion kills looks rather feeble given that the 20th century was the most violent in history. Hasn’t he noticed that Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot were expressly atheistic and anti-religious? In any event, Catholicism will survive ‘Religulous.’” [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1491 “Religulous” is More Absurd than Hateful] , Catholic League, September 30, 2008]

Jessica Delfino

On December 19, 2006, Donohue issued a press release condemning controversial singer, songwriter, and comedian Jessica Delfino. Donohue attacked Delfino's act, which he described as "rife with Christmas-themed debauchery," and said that it "includes the showing of an obscenely-titled video banned from YouTube that features her rapping about her vagina, complete with obscene pictures flashing in the background." Based on this, he asserted of her comedy performance that "None of this is without malice. And at a time when radical Muslims are accusing Americans of harboring a depraved understanding of liberty, it only provides ammunition to the enemy." [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1211 "Christmas Season Marked by Obscenities"] Catholic League Press Release, December 19, 2006]

Jessica Delfino responded in a press release, saying "I was brought up Catholic, and I was also brought up to believe that it isn’t anti-Catholic to celebrate the life-giving and life-nurturing parts of a woman’s body. I don’t know why William Donohue hates women’s bodies. I don’t know why he is afraid of refocusing attention on humanity's true source of creation, the mysterious and magical womb. But I do know that William Donohue is a hypocrite and a bigot, who has publicly made outrageous and highly-offensive anti-Semitic, and now anti-Muslim statements. And that certainly doesn’t make him a better Catholic than I am. William Donohue does not speak for all Catholics. He doesn’t speak for me." [ [http://jessydelfino.blogspot.com/2006/12/for-immediate-release-nyc-artist.html "NYC Artist Responds to Catholic League's Attack"] Jessica Delfino Press Release, December 21, 2006]

= Senator Charles Schumer = Senator Charles Schumer opposed Judicial nominee William Pryor saying his beliefs "are so deeply held that it's very hard to believe that they're not going to influence" him. Donohue raised a red flag noting that Schumer's objection to Pryor's "deeply held beliefs", in this context, is a violation of the Constitution's prohibition on a religious test for public office. Schumer countered that his concern arose out of a fear that Pryor's religious convictions would override his charge to interpret the law free of personal beliefs. Donohue claims that if such a statement were made of a Jewish nominee it would be recognized as bigotry. Fact|date=April 2007

Opie and Anthony

In 2002, FM talk radio hosts Gregg Hughes and Anthony Cumia hosted "Sex for Sam 3", where comedian Paul Mecurio encouraged Brian Florence and Loretta Harper, a Virginia couple visiting Manhattan, to have sex in a vestibule at St. Patrick's Cathedral on August 15, 2002. When a security guard ordered Mecurio and the couple to leave the church immediately, Mecurio began to argue with the guard, who then contacted police. The couple was arrested and charged with public lewdness. A description of the encounter was relayed by cell phone and broadcast on the "Opie and Anthony" radio show. Fact|date=April 2007

When Donohue learned of the incident, he immediately contacted the FCC asking that it revoke the license of the offending station, WNEW. But, after the station cancelled the show, the Catholic League relented, telling the FCC it was not necessary to revoke the license.

Two years after the incident, Hughes and Cumia were hired by XM Satellite Radio. On one of their first programs at XM, the duo called Donohue to apologize. Regarding the guest spot on the show, Donohue said "They made it clear that they regretted the St. Patrick's stunt. We mixed it up for a bit and had a great time."

In 2006, Opie and Anthony signed a deal to return to CBS radio as well as being heard on XM. After the deal was announced, the Catholic League released a press release regarding the hire. The release said that they should be forgiven and given another chance. The release was summed up with the following quote “In short, the Catholic League hopes Opie and Anthony have a great run on CBS Radio.”

After the release was issued, Cumia called Donohue personally and thanked him for the support. Donohue was a guest when the program returned to CBS radio. The three talked about current events, the Church and politics, surprising themselves, and their listeners, by how often they agreed rather than disagreed.

= Employment discrimination against Catholics = On Ash Wednesday 1997, a Catholic woman went to work at Silvergate Retirement Residence in Fallbrook, California and was told that she had to remove the ashes wiped on her forehead. When she refused, her supervisor wiped the ashes with a dish towel after allegedly grabbing her arm. The Catholic League issued a complaint making several demands.

When the employer claimed the matter was blown out of proportion Donohue responded, "No, it hasn’t. On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, blessed ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful. The ashes remind Catholics of their own mortality and of the necessity for contrition and penance during the Lenten season. The supervisor's insensitive actions and the casual response of Silvergate's management betray anti-Catholic prejudice. It is as unacceptable for someone to wipe the ashes from the forehead of a Catholic as it would be for him to yank the yarmulke from the head of a Jew."

After initial resistance, Silvergate fired the supervisor. They also issued public and private apologies and implemented sensitivity training for employees. [ [http://www.catholic-league.com/catalyst/1997_catalyst/497catalyst.htm#WORKPLACE%20DISCRIMINATION%20CHECKED%20IN%20SAN%20DIEGO Workplace Discrimination Checked in San Diego] "The Catalyst", Volume 24, Number 3, April 2005]

"Lucky Louie"

In August 2006, Bill Donohue issued a press release which called comedian Louis CK's show "Lucky Louie" "barbaric" and listed examples of the show's "blasphemy" and "obscenity". Later, both Louis CK and William Donohue were on the Opie and Anthony radio show, and Louis CK challenged Donohue about his comments, accusing him of misrepresenting the show by taking things out of context and also of complaining about things that are in no way immoral or anti-Catholic. What followed was a heated exchange between the two in which Donohue revealed that he had never watched the show and Louie called Donohue a 'block-head.' [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=neDyIWRyiXQ Opie and Anthony] ]

=Joan Osborne= In 1996, Donohue took issue with Joan Osborne over her song "One of Us", which explores the question of what it would be like if God were a human being. [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/catalyst/1996_catalyst/496catalyst.html#GRAMMY%20NOMINEE%20JOAN%20OSBORNE%20%22RELISHES%22%20CONTROVERSY Donohue's campaign against pop singer Joan Osborne] ] Donohue questioned the point of the song and brought up her activism calling for support of "Rock for Choice" and other pro-choice groups stating, "It is no wonder that Joan Osborne instructs her fans to donate their time and money to Planned Parenthood. It is of a piece with her politics and her prejudices. Her songs and videos offer a curious mix of both, the effect of which is to dance awfully close to the line of Catholic baiting." [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/catalyst.php?year=1996&month=April&read=41 Grammy Nominee Joan Osborne "Relishes" conterversy] , "The Catalyst" Vol. 23, No. 3, April 1996] Religious educator Paul Moses stated that Donohue's was a "tortured reading" and he saw Osborne as having "the Catholic imagination" with the song "awakening...spiritual hunger". Osborne said, in a letter to fans, that "the church's attitudes toward women and gays make the pope look far more ridiculous than any pop song could", she also did not write the song, which "speaks of the pope only with respect."Paul Moses "'One Of Us' - dad listens to daughter - religion and Joan Osborne's hit pop record". Commonweal. June 14, 1996. FindArticles.com. 11 December 2007. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1252/is_n12_v123/ai_18420062] ] Donohue also admitted that he was treating the issue "prophylacticly" because "cultures are changed as a result of patterns."

="Nothing Sacred"= In 1997, Donohue declared the ABC show "Nothing Sacred" as deeply offensive to Catholicism, although not as Anti-Catholic in the traditional sense. [ [http://www.tv.com/nothing-sacred/show/261/episode_guide.html Nothing Sacred Episode Guide] ] [Donahue, William [http://www.catholicleague.org/1997report/report97.htm Catholic League's 1997 Report on Anti-Catholicism] , Catholic League, 1997] Calling for a boycott, he stated that the show portrayed Catholics with a traditional view as cold or cruel while glorifying more the maverick, irreverent voices in the community. However, the show was defended by some Catholics and had been written with the consultation of Jesuits, from which it later won the Humanitas Prize. Many Catholics agreed with him that the show was hostile to the beliefs and values of the Catholic Church, and ABC cancelled "Nothing Sacred" after less than a season, reportedly for ratings difficulty. Defenders and critics think he may have played a significant role in the show's rapid demise as advertisers often become leery of shows deemed "controversial". [ [http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/99Aug/aug31top.htm Top 100 Catholics of the century] , "Daily Catholic", Vol. 10, No. 164, August 31, 1999] [Seal, Cynthia [http://www.sffaith.com/ed/articles/1997/1197cs.htm Hollywood's treatment of Catholicism] , "San Francisco Faith", November 1997]

="Dogma"= The year 1999 saw the release of Kevin Smith's controversial film "Dogma". Despite the fact that Smith is a practicing Catholic, as Kevin Smith confirmed in an interview on the DVD of "Dogma", several religious groups, especially the Catholic League, claimed that the film was anti-Catholic and blasphemous, and organized protests, including one that took place at the November 12 premiere of the film at Lincoln Center in New York City. Smith noted that several of the protests occurred before the film was even finished, suggesting that the protests were more about media attention for the groups than for whatever was controversial about the film. [ Penhollow, Steve [http://www.newsaskew.com/dogmarc/article148.html Director Kevin Smith calls himself a devout Catholic and says his latest comedy, "Dogma", is "pro-faith, pro-Catholic, spiritually uplifting."] , "The Journal Gazette"] The Catholic League's main complaints were that the film's main character is supposedly a descendant of Mary, who happens to work in an abortion clinic, which were seen as ironic conventions for a Catholic.Fact|date=February 2007 The film's distributor, Miramax, removed its name from the production, and hired attorney Dan Petrocelli to defend it publicly. Petrocelli accused Donohue of trying to stir a violent reaction to the film.

According to the film's director, Kevin Smith, " [Donohue] actually invited me out to have a beer after making my life hell for six months." [ Croft & Reiter, [http://archive.salon.com/ent/col/fix/2004/01/23/mon/index.html The Fix] , "Salon.com" Jan. 23, 2004]

=Marilyn Manson= In 2000, Donohue claimed that shock rock singer Marilyn Manson hated Christianity, including Catholicism. Donohue said, "It is Christianity that [Manson] hates, and it is Catholicism that he hates most of all. This guy is at war with Christ." He cited as evidence Manson's CD, "Holy Wood", which featured a crucified Manson on the cover, and included a depiction of an aborted fetus nailed to a cross.

Marilyn Manson then responded to Donohue's claim by saying, "I can't possibly be at war with Christ, because your religion killed him and what he stood for. But if you want to be at war with me, bring it on." [Quelland, Sarah, [http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/12.14.00/cover/manson-0050.html Into the Mind of Marilyn] , "Metroactive", December 14, 2000] Donohue's response was as follows: "The Catholic League will not shy from criticizing Manson but it refuses to take the bait of this madman. The vile and illiterate response we got from his fans demonstrates what happens when people overdose on junk." [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/catalyst/2001_catalyst/01201catalyst.htm Journal of the Catholic League] January-February 2001]

"Scarborough Country" appearances and allegations of anti-Semitism

On the December 8, 2004 broadcast of "Scarborough Country", in a discussion of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ", Donohue claimed, "Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. It's not a secret, OK? And I'm not afraid to say it. That's why they hate this movie. It's about Jesus Christ, and it's about truth. It's about the Messiah."

This statement was called anti-Semitic by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach on that same show. Donohue had come to defend Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ" from criticism. In responding to critics of Gibson's film, Donohue proclaimed that "Hollywood has become an America-hating bastion that always portrays people in uniform in some sinister role", and additionally criticized it as immoral. When Donohue, whom Rabbi Boteach had called "a friend", then asserted that Hollywood was "controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity and Catholicism in particular", this horrified the Rabbi. In response Rabbi Boteach stated "I have got to tell you that Bill Donohue, who I otherwise love and so respect, ought to be ashamed of himself, the way he's spoken about secular Jews hating Christians. This is a bunch of crap, okay?" He also added, "Hollywood has become a cesspit because it's secular, period." Rabbi Boteach was also disappointed in Donohue's later responses to the controversy. [Boteach, Shmuley [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15826_1.html Bill, Jews Are Not the Enemy] , Beliefnet ]

Donohue made a qualified defense of his statements as follows:

In the same segment that I made this remark, I also said the following: "You have got secular Jews. You have got embittered ex-Catholics, including a lot of ex-Catholic priests who hate the Catholic Church, wacko Protestants in the same group…." Later in the debate, I said, "There are secularists from every ethnic and religious stock", and when people talk about Hollywood, they are "talking mostly about secular Jews."

In short, I did not single out secular Jews as some have said. Nonetheless, I do regret using the verb "controlled", and that is because it suggests that there is some kind of cabal among secular Jews. That's nonsense. But is there a segment of the secular Jewish community that is anti-Catholic? Absolutely.

The day after our debate, Boteach was kind enough to have me on his radio show to mix it up again. During the course of that conversation, I admitted that there was a segment of the Catholic community that is anti-Semitic. I then asked him if he would agree that there is a segment of the secular Jewish community that is anti-Catholic, and he denied it without equivocation. That's also nonsense. Donohue, William, [http://www.catholicleague.org/catalyst/2005_catalyst/01205.htm#JEWS%20AND%20HOLLYWOOD Jews and Hollywood] , "The Catalyst", Volume 32, Number 1, January-February 2005]

Donohue noted that "The Forward", one of the nation's most prestigious Jewish newspapers, editorialized in 2004 that it is merely a ‘sociological observation’ to say ‘Jews run Hollywood.’" He then asked whether the "Jewish Forward" is "anti-Semitic". He also states that "the Los Angeles Times noted that ‘many of the town's senior executives are Jewish and Hollywood has a long history of supporting Israel and Jewish causes.’ The next day, the same newspaper opined, ‘Hollywood was largely founded by, and the studios are still chiefly run by, Jewish executives.’ [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/07press_releases/quarter_1/070214_oreilly.htm O’Reilly is right: Olbermann is a "Smear merchant"] , Catholic League, February 14, 2007]

Donohue summed his defense and his qualification of his remarks as follows:

Finally, it is important to mention that "The Forward", a Jewish weekly, published an editorial last summer saying that it is merely a "sociological observation" to note that "Jews run Hollywood". The newspaper quite rightly said that to say "the Jews run Hollywood" is an entirely different matter, one that smacks of anti-Semitism.

"The Forward" gets it just right. Now if only my critics would learn how vital it is to make critical distinctions.

"The Golden Compass"

As part of a two-month protest campaign, Donohue called for a boycott of the film "The Golden Compass" believing that while the religious elements of the film will be "watered down" from the source novels, the film will still encourage children to read the series, which Donohue says "denigrates Christianity" and promotes "atheism for kids",cite web |url= http://catholicleague.org/catalyst.php?year=2007&month=October&read=2306|title= Film Sells Atheism To Kids; Major Protest Launched|accessdate=2007-10-09 |date= October 9, 2007|publisher= CatholicLeague.org] citing author Pullman as saying that he is "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." [Cite news | author=Alona Wartofsky | title=The Last Word |publisher=Washington Post |date= 2001-02-19 | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A23371-2001Feb18?language=printer | accessdate=2007-10-17] Donohue hopes that "the film [will fail] to meet box office expectations and that [Pullman's] books attract few buyers." [Cite news | author= Mary McSweeney | title=Catholic League condemns 'The Golden Compass' |publisher=Washington Post |date= 2007-10-13 | url=http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1365093.php/Catholic_League_condemns_The_Golden_Compass | accessdate=2007-10-18] The call for a boycott has resulted in action by some Catholic groups in the US and Canada, and a Catholic school board in Ontario has ordered the source novel removed from its library shelves. Pullman has since said that the books do not have a religious agenda, saying of Donahue's call for a boycott, "Why don't we trust readers? Why don't we trust filmgoers? Oh, it causes me to shake my head with sorrow that such nitwits could be loose in the world."cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2953880.ece | title=Philip Pullman: Catholic boycotters are 'nitwits' | publisher=The Times | author=David Byers | date=2007-11-27 | accessdate=2007-11-28 ] Other evangelical groups, such as The Christian Film and Television Commission, are adopting a "wait-and-see" approach to the film before deciding upon any action, [cite news | author=Catherine Donaldson-Evans | url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305487,00.html |title=Christian Groups Claim Pro-Atheist 'Stealth Campaign' in Nicole Kidman Fantasy Film 'The Golden Compass' | accessdate=2007-10-30 |date=2007-10-29 | publisher= Fox News] as is the Roman Catholic Church in Britain.

Some commentators have indicated they believe the criticism will prove ultimately impotent and that the negative publicity will prove a boon for the film's box office. [cite news | url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/10/is_the_golden_compass_too_anti.html |title=Is ‘The Golden Compass’ Too Anti-Christian, or Not Anti-Christian Enough? | accessdate=2007-10-18 |date=2007-10-16 | publisher= New York Magazine] [cite news | author=Chris Kaltenbach | url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/news/bal-to.compass24oct24,0,5108746.story |title='Golden Compass' draws ire of the Catholic League | accessdate=2007-10-24 |date=2007-10-24 | publisher= Baltimore Sun]

="Passion of the Christ"= Donohue is a staunch defender of Mel Gibson's controversial movie "The Passion of the Christ". On the March 12, 2004 broadcast of "Scarborough Country", he stated:

"Well, first they (critics of the film) said "The Passion of the Christ" was anti-Semitic. That didn't work. Then they said it was too violent. That didn't work. Then they said it was S&M. That didn't work. Then they said it was pornography. That didn't work. Now they're saying it's fascistic queer-bashing. That kind of language would ordinarily get somebody taken away in a straitjacket and -- put you in the asylum. I don't know what about -- the queer-bashing is all about. I'm pretty good about picking out who queers are and I didn't see any in the movie. I'm usually pretty good at that." [ [http://www.nndb.com/people/337/000085082/ William Donohue] , "NNDB"]

=Catholic priest scandal= On October 13, 2005, he appeared on NBC's "Today Show". While on the show he asserted that the crisis was "a homosexual scandal, not a pedophilia scandal". Creager, Cindi [http://www.glaad.org/action/alerts_detail.php?id=3835 NBC's Today Provides Platform for Defamatory Anti-Gay Attacks] , "GLAAD Alert", October 14, 2005] Donohue and the Catholic League also opposed a bill proposed by the New York legislature in 2002 that would add the clergy to the list of professionals, such as physicians and teachers, who were mandated reporters of suspected child abuse under existing statutes. An exception was carved out for information specifically received in the confessional. Instead, Donohue and the Catholic League favored alternative legislation, dubbed a "poison pill" by its opponents, that would have controversially expanded the definition of "child abuse" to include consensual sexual relationships between teenagers. [ Anthony, [http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2005_01_06/2005_06_30_Farmer_NYBills.htm N.Y. Bills Would Require Clergy to Report Abuse] , "Poughkeepsie Journal", June 20, 2005]

=Bush holiday cards= After U.S. President George W. Bush used the term "Holidays" instead of "Christmas" on the White House 2005 Christmas cards, Donohue stated "The Bush administration has suffered a loss of will and... they have capitulated to the worst elements in our culture." [Davis, Matthew [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4512156.stm Lines drawn in battle over Christmas] , BBC News, December 10, 2005]

"CSI" dispute

Donohue took issue with the November 3, 2005 "" broadcast for its portrayal of anti-abortion activists. Donohue claimed, "A talented writer could easily spin an interesting who-done-it from this plot, but CSI chose to advance a pro-abortion rights agenda by portraying those who are opposed to abortion as religious nuts not to be taken seriously." He went further and claimed, "Americans who respect human life in all of its stages have become the target of public ridicule. Enough is enough." [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/05press_releases/quarter%204/051104_csi.htm CSI to viewers: Real crime is respecting life] ,"Catholic League", November 4, 2005]

Michael Savage

"I was scheduled to be on with Mike Savage the day he savaged the Catholic Church and made bigoted comments about Latinos", Donohue said.

"But in the pre-interview — which occurred just a half hour before Savage went ballistic — I let a producer know that I did not share the host's position; after he checked with Savage, I was told they would not have me on the show. That was fine, but what is not fine is Savage's diatribe about the ‘greedy pigs’ in the Catholic Church and how ‘the institution is rotten from the top to the bottom.’ He owes all Catholics an apology." [ [http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/4/3/162352.shtml Savage Remarks Anger Catholics] , "NewsMax.com", April 3, 2006]

"South Park"

Following the "Cartoon Wars Part II" episode of South Park, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone criticized their home network, Comedy Central, for refusing to display an image of Muhammad. An image of Jesus (a recurring character on the show), was however depicted defecating on an American flag and President Bush in the same episode. Donohue called on Parker and Stone to resign out of principle for being censored, stating, "The ultimate hypocrite is not Comedy Central — that's their decision not to show the image of Muhammad or not — it's Parker and Stone. Like little whores, they'll sit there and grab the bucks. They'll sit there and they'll whine and they'll take their shot at Jesus. That's their stock in trade." [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12303873/ ‘South Park’ takes on own network over ban] , "MSNBC.com", April 18, 2006]

On April 4, 2007, "South Park" parodied Donohue in the eleventh season episode "Fantastic Easter Special" as a power-hungry official of the Catholic Church who overthrows the Pope and sentences Jesus ("The Jew") to death for going against him and contradicting Catholic belief. In the show, the fictional Donohue calls Stan and Kyle, "whores". Subsequently, Jesus kills Donohue by tearing him in half with a bladed throwing star, in reference to the 1983 fantasy film "Krull".

John Edwards campaign staffers

Donohue demanded that former Sen. John Edwards fire two presidential campaign staffers in February 2007, charging that they were "anti-Catholic, vulgar, trash-talking bigots." He cited a blog written by Amanda Marcotte regarding the church's opposition to birth control saying it forces women "to bear more tithing Catholics". He also cited another posting called "Pope and Fascists". Donohue also objected to one of the staffers describing President Bush's "wingnut Christofacist base".

Donohue called the statements "incendiary, it's inflammatory. It's scurrilous and has no place being part of someone's resume who's going to work for a potential presidential contender." On February 8, John Edwards addressed the writings of the staffers, Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan, saying ‘that kind of intolerant language will not be permitted from anyone on my campaign, whether it's intended as satire, humor or anything else.’Fact|date=February 2008 Donohue insisted that Edwards fire the pair immediately.

After the complaints, Marcotte wrote, “The Christian version of the virgin birth is generally interpreted as super-patriarchal,” she said, “where God is viewed as so powerful he can impregnate without befouling himself by touching a woman, and women are nothing but vessels.” After Marcotte parted with the campaign, Donohue stated, "It is not enough that one foul-mouthed anti-Christian bigot, Amanda Marcotte, has quit. Melissa McEwan must go as well. Either Edwards shows her the door or she bolts on her own. There is no third choice—the Catholic League will see to it that this issue won't go away." He continued, "The Edwards campaign is in total disarray and the meltdown will continue unless McEwan is removed from his staff. The fact that Marcotte had to quit suggests that Edwards doesn’t have the guts to do what is morally right." McEwan resigned 13 February 2007, [cite web |url=http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2007/02/announcement.html |title=Announcement |work=Shakespeare's Sister |last=McEwan |first=Melissa |accessdate=2007-04-03 |date=2007-02-13] citing the hostility of the Catholic League and emails threatening rape and murder, for which McEwan neglected to provide evidence. [cite web |url=http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/melissa_mcewan/2007/02/my_life_as_a_rightwing_target.html |title=My life as a rightwing target |work=The Guardian |last=McEwan |first=Melissa |accessdate=2007-04-03 |date=2007-02-16 |quote=The truth is, being a firebrand of any political persuasion does not warrant rape and death threats.]

Cosimo Cavallaro - Chocolate Jesus statue

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI5Mqn4Fr5w&mode=related&search= Donohue appeared on CNN] opposite artist Cosimo Cavallaro, who had created a six-foot sculpture of a nude Jesus out of 200 pounds of chocolate with arms extended as if on a cross and entitled "My Sweet Lord." Donohue called Mr. Cavallaro a liar for saying he is a Christian and a Catholic. Cavallaro's sculpture was to be displayed at the Lab Gallery in midtown Manhattan beginning on 2 April, the Monday of Holy Week 2007, but the hotel housing the gallery, the Roger Smith Hotel, cancelled the show after an intense lobbying effort against it. Donohue, who had called the sculpture "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever", says he exercised his rights of free speech in calling 500 people and organizations to boycott the hotel housing the exhibit. He said that those responsible for the display of the art were "morally bankrupt" and that his "goal is to make them financially bankrupt." Donohue told Cavallaro "you're lucky I'm not as mean [as the Taliban] because you might lose more than your head." Donohue stated "we have a lot of these loser artists", but made no reply when asked if Michelangelo's nude sculptures, such as the biblical David, should be clothed during Holy Week. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI5Mqn4Fr5w&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Evideosift%2Ecom%2Fvideo%2FChocolate%2DJesus%2DMakes%2DCatholics%2DCRAZY/ CNN interview on youtube.com.] ]

When given the opportunity to speak to the artist via a televised debate, Donohue's exact words were,

You stuck your middle finger up at the Catholic church, and we just broke it, pal.

Cavallaro noted that without Donohue's assistance, he would not have had even a fraction of the publicity he received for his work.

Kathy Griffin

On September 8, 2007, Kathy Griffin won her first Emmy for season two of reality show "". Griffin stirred up controversy with her acceptance speech, saying that "a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. He didn't help me a bit." She went on to hold up her Emmy and say, "Suck it, Jesus, this award is my god now!" [cite news | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN1144512920070911 | title=Kathy Griffin's Jesus Remark Cut from Emmy Show | work=Reuters date=11 Sept 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-25]

Her remarks were quickly condemned by Bill Donohue of the Catholic League who urged the TV academy to "denounce Griffin's obscene and blasphemous comment." [cite news | url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070911/ap_en_tv/tv_emmys_griffin | title= Griffin's Emmy remarks to be censored | work=AP Television | author=Lynn Elber | date=11 Sept 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-11] After the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences decided to censor Griffin's remark Donohue said, “The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences reacted responsibly to our criticism of Kathy Griffin's verbal assault on 85 percent of the U.S. population. The ball is now in Griffin's court. The self-described ‘complete militant atheist’ needs to make a swift and unequivocal apology to Christians. If she does, she will get this issue behind her. If she does not, she will be remembered as a foul-mouthed bigot for the rest of her life.” [ [http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1327 Academy to Censor Kathy Griffin; She Still Needs to Apologize] ]

Mike Huckabee

Catholic League president Bill Donohue said Mike Huckabee went beyond wishing people a joyous holiday. Donohue said he was especially disturbed by the cross-like image created by a white bookcase in the background of the ad, saying he believed it was a subliminal message.

"What he's trying to say to the evangelicals in western Iowa (is): I'm the real thing," Donohue said Tuesday on Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends". "You know what, sell yourself on your issues, not on what your religion is." [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/huckabee_christmas_ad]

References

External links

* [http://www.catholicleague.org/ Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=neDyIWRyiXQ Bill Donohue debating Louis CK on Opie and Anthony]

=Pages supporting Donohue=
* [http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/99Aug/aug31top.htm A positive appraisal at the Daily Catholic]
* [http://www.catholicherald.com/articles/00articles/donahue.htm Defending the Church: Bill Donahue Leads Rescue Squad for Christ]

=Pages critical of Donohue=
* [http://mediamatters.org/items/200412210001 Media Matters for America file on Donohue]
* [http://onepeoplesproject.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=27 One People's Project - Rogues' Gallery: William Donohue]
* [http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/04/05/a-catholic-priest-stands-tall-against-bill-donohue/ A Catholic priest stands tall against Bill Donohue]
* [http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/05/08/bill-donahue-the-bully-and-his-tv-pulpit Bill Donohue: The Bully's TV Pulpit]

Persondata
NAME = Donohue, William "Bill" A.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Donohue, Bill
SHORT DESCRIPTION = President of the Catholic League (U.S.)
DATE OF BIRTH = 18 July 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH = Manhattan, New York, United States
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =