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PDF versionCatholic League president responds to NCR column
May. 13, 2010
Catholic League president Bill Donohue making a point on the telephone in his office.
Looks like Joe Feuerherd doesn't like me ("Billy the bully is bad for the church," May 11). Let's go through his gripes, one by one.
Like so many other left-wing Catholics, Feuerherd thinks I make too much money. My goal in life, actually, is to make as much money as Sr. Carol Keehan, who cleared $963,436 last year as president of the Catholic Health Association. In fact, I would settle for making as much as Sr. Patricia Talone, the VP for Mission Services: she makes $394,092.
Please note, too, that the latest figures show that the Catholic League has amassed over $26 million (not $22 million as reported). Not bad considering that when I took over as president 17 years ago we had $400,000 and were losing upwards of $20,000 a month.
My board of directors and our members hold me accountable, but I couldn't help but notice that many of those who commented on Feuerherd's online article wondered why I have not been reined in by the bishops. And I thought you guys were against such censorship.
Hollywood is not run by Chinese Taoists, nor does it make movies endearing to Catholics. As the Forward, a Jewish weekly, said a few years ago, it is merely a "sociological observation" to say that "Jews run Hollywood." Was it wrong?
In the 1990s, some seminarians from the Legionaries of Christ supposedly said that Father Marcial Maciel told them that he had gotten the green light from Pope Pius XII to have sex with them for the purpose of "relief." I mocked this absurd story. Feuerherd evidently believes it. I am delighted to know he does.
The story about the Republican operative who had to resign after Feuerherd broke the story about what happened when he was a Fordham professor is misleading. I put out a statement on the morning of August 19, 2004 based on a story that day in The New York Times. All the Times said was that the professor resigned after charges of sexual harassment were made by a co-ed who got drunk with him one night. The Times also said that it was believed that the source of this outing was the National Catholic Reporter.
The details of what happened, which were much more disturbing than what the Times said, were not published until 1:57 p.m. that day. In other words, Feuerherd is criticizing me for what I said before I learned the whole story. No matter, what was also disturbing was the graphic detail that Feuerherd went into describing the sex acts. He didn't have to do that, but the fact that he did speaks volumes.
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What is really driving Feuerherd's anger are my comments to the media regarding the fact that most of the sexual abuse in the Catholic Church is the work of homosexual priests. It is. Kevin Cullen, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the priestly sexual abuse scandal in The Boston Globe, summarized the findings of a study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice: "Of the 10,667 reported victims [between 1950 and 2002], 81 percent were male, the report said, and more than three-quarters of the victims were post-pubescent, meaning the abuse did not meet the clinical definition of pedophilia." Which obviously means this was the work of homosexuals. By the way, the American Pediatric Association defines puberty as beginning at age 10 for boys.
Cullen also interviewed Robert S. Bennett, the Washington lawyer who headed the National Review Board that prepared a report on this issue. After saying that there were many fine homosexual priests, he said that "any evaluation of the causes and context of the current crisis must be cognizant of the fact that more than 80 percent of the abuse at issue was of a homosexual nature."
If we are to get to the bottom of this problem, we must stop the cover-up and start telling the truth: the link between homosexuality and the molestation of minors is real. In any event, it's a moot point since practicing homosexuals have been barred from the priesthood, thus resolving the problem.
Feuerherd needs an editor. He says I have "strange company," citing my affiliation with the Catholic Citizens of Illinois, a group founded by Tom Roeser, a pundit who has roiled Cardinal George. My association is that of a letterhead advisor and my contacts with Mr. Roeser are zilch: I met him once several years ago. In any event, two paragraphs later, Feuerherd makes an unrelated comment deploring "Joe McCarthy's guilt-by-association tactics." Does he even realize how hypocritical he appears?
These are tough times for struggling Catholic journalists on the left. But not for me. After four years in the U.S. Air Force, four more as a teacher in Spanish Harlem and 16 years as a professor (including a year as a scholar in residence), I found my dream job. But it is demanding.
I am busy writing daily news releases (often several a day), writing a monthly journal, contributing to an annual report, writing all the fund-raising letters (we don't need a director of development), offering information and advice to our direct mail agents, preparing a budget, writing newspaper and magazine ads, penning essays and op-eds, granting interviews, teaching part-time at New York University, giving talks around the nation, doing non-stop radio and TV (we don't need a publicist—they come to me), writing books (my fourth was published last year and I am now working on another), accepting awards, debating my adversaries, writing to the bishops, etc.
Finally, it is not true that I take a cab to the network and cable studios. They always send a limo.
[William A. Donohue is president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.]
Excellent article and I have
Excellent article and I have to say I respect Mr. Donohue more after reading this. Maybe I too was one who judged by talk shows and didn't really look into the entire story.
This response from Bill D.
This response from Bill D. should be grounds on its own for his dismissal from any group that has the word "Catholic" in its title. It reeks of elitism, pomposity, and arrogance. "Catholic" always used to mean inclusiveness, humility, and compassion. Here is a man, judging by his written response, who models the antithesis of Jesus. How did it happen that such a poor soul could have anything to do with "representing" the Catholic church?
Always the response from
Always the response from liberals. Dissent and name-calling is justified when they do it. They are righteous and properly aggitated by all the sins and opinions of those who disagree with them. If, however, you tweaked their noses with facts they are even more incensed. As Alinsky taught, take the moral high ground and demonize your enemies.
Have you read what he was
Have you read what he was repsonding to?
Bruce, this isn't "dissent
Bruce, this isn't "dissent and name-calling", it's the use of a dictionary! "Catholic" means "universal, all-inclusive", and you don't have to believe Webster on that; it goes all the way back to Jesus Christ.
And yet, it was the Catholic
And yet, it was the Catholic Church who uses the word "anathema" much in its 2000-year history, right?
The Catholic Church has always known it is important to be open-minded, but not SO open-minded that one's brains fall out. As G. K. Chesterton says: ""Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid."
Yes, nuntym, "anathema" is a
Yes, nuntym, "anathema" is a word found frequently coming from the RCC about those who diverge from the "official teaching of the Magisterium". It is NEVER found coming from the mouth of Jesus [and not just because it is Latin!] The British writer, G.K. Chesterton, is quite the Catholic apologist, but I prefer the inspirational writings of the French Dominican, Louis Evely. In his awesome book, "That Man Is You", he describes the attitude of Jesus regarding a case like this. He writes: "At the end of the world, all the souls are gathered outside the gates of Heaven to seek admission. All of a sudden the rumor spreads: 'Apparently Jesus is going to forgive all of us and let everyone into Heaven.' Some in the crowd begin to murmur saying: 'that isn't fair'; 'I worked too hard in life to always do right'; 'He can't do that'. Just then, they were all condemned, LOVE had appeared and they refused to accept it!
Uh, "anathema" is not Latin.
Uh, "anathema" is not Latin. And St. Paul was the first Catholic to used it, in his Epistles. And if you don't believe in all the dogmatic teachings of the Catholic Church you're a heretic. From the Baltimore Catechism:
"Q. 554. Could a person who denies only one article of our faith be a Catholic?
A. A person who denies even one article of our faith could not be a Catholic; for truth is one and we must accept it whole and entire or not at all."
And,
"169c. How does a baptized person separate himself from full incorporation in the Mystical Body by heresy?
A baptized person separates himself from full incorporation in the Mystical Body by heresy when he openly rejects or doubts some doctrine proposed by the Catholic Church as a truth of divine-Catholic faith, though still professing himself a Christian. "
Kindly, dearest Bruce,
Kindly, dearest Bruce, document your characterization of Mr. Saul Alinsky's "teaching" which seems so freely tossed around the Palinist tea partiers, but with no care to quote, and no source.
Where and when did Alinsky teach what is essentially the Karl Rove play book?
Strong words for someone with
Strong words for someone with a nom de plume. Come out of your closet and tell us who you are.
Robert, there is a reason for
Robert, there is a reason for a "nom de plume". It gives me the freedom to write much more freely than I could otherwise with the position that I currently hold in the church. Until the Reformation grows further, I will have to maintain the nom de plume due to the powers that be.
Thank you
Thank you
The man was attacked and he
The man was attacked and he dares to write a self defence in regard to the various attacks made on his integrity and you label him arrogant?
Read the original attack article again and then note hoe he defended the accusations made with FACTS not personal attacks.
Also allow for a bit of humour!
I never respected Donohue as
I never respected Donohue as a Christian, which he is not. Like a pharisee he lists all his material accomplishments and poses himself as a defender of Church. Yes, he is the defender of an institution. Neither he, nor the institution has anything to do with Jesus of Nazereth.
Spot on!
Spot on!
Nice come back by wee Will
Nice come back by wee Will the shill. How are we handling the left wing smut mongers now that BXVI admits the problem is in the Catholic organization not the victims or the press? Hey, Will, lets throw the pope under the bus too, OK?
Q.E.D.
I agree. What a great guy. No
I agree. What a great guy.
No one at the Register can compare AND I wouldn't want to REALLY make this guy mad!
" . . .the fact that most of
" . . .the fact that most of the sexual abuse in the Catholic Church is the work of homosexual priests . . ."
As usual, when commenting on the sexual abuse matter, Bill has his head up his backside. Yeah, he can quote his stats and show his studies to try to hold his argument up, but none I've seen really nail this down.
After listening for years to the stories directly from the sexual abuse survivors I came to the correct conclusion this not about homosexuality or heterosexuality. It's about power; it's about predators who know no one's going to hold them accountable.
I agree with you Mike. The
I agree with you Mike. The sex abuse is not about homosexuality or heterosexuality but about power and arrogance and the belief that as a priest you can do no wrong. I've held the opinion that most of the survivors were boys because they were less likely to tell about the abuse and they weren't, of course, in danger of pregnancy. The embarrassment and intimidation may have just been more effective with boys and priests had easier access to boys. Thank you for addressing this issue in your comment.
The "problem" is that a
The "problem" is that a priest really knows how to use the "sacrament" of reconcilliation. A priest can not reveal to anyone any thing said when the purple stole is worn.
Roman Catholicism has made the sacrament of reconcilliation an easy remedy for all sins.
I'm sure we have all heard that it is easier to obtain forgiveness than to get permission for something.
I don't think that we have a reverence for the sanctity of reconcilliation when it is so easy to obtain it.
Peace!
Cheryl, I think you raise a
Cheryl, I think you raise a perceptive point re the disincentive for boys, and the stark pregnancy incentive for girls. I'm almost certain you're right that boys would be more"complexy" about revealing these tragic incidents, and that perverts would know the same with their characteristic cunning, and bank on this.
But this admitted truth doesn't plumb the issue, I suggest. I think it's common knowledge that "gays" (males) are, among themselves, quite open about their distinct preference for younger males. And you only have to sample their literature to confirm this fact. If you have the stomach for it: just have a look at the advertisements therein. I could be more explicit here, but I know NCR, to its credit (and I say that while disagreeing with many of its positions), has standards that would exclude my descriptions.
Hugh, when one sample the
Hugh, when one sample the 'literature' for heterosexual males, one would leave totally convinced they are all in lust with lesbians.
Many heterosexual males have
Many heterosexual males have (but for a variety of reasons suppress) an attraction to underage females. So I don't believe it's accurate to describe an attraction to minors as gay thing -- I really think it's a male thing. (Similarly I think describing homosexual males as overly promiscuous is a bit unfair; a lot heterosexual males would be equally so if only they could find willing partners.)
But I do think that most priests were alter boys at some point. I'd wager that many priests who abuse were abused themselves, and knew what profession to choose if they were inclined to carry on the tradition.
I believe that the "crisis"
I believe that the "crisis" was not about power, but rather was mostly about sex, homosexual in nature needless to say. The priesthood was used by too many as a cover and an opportunity for access. When the abuse and immorality spiraled, the inevitable exposure that came about spoiled what the exploiters saw as a good thing. That drove the cover-up, while the vast majority of priests who are innocent had to pay a price, even while The New York Times strains at six-degrees-of-separation exercises on the pope. Bill has been a reality check and one of the rare public figures who has declared the truth.
Some of it may be about sheer
Some of it may be about sheer loneliness.
Who says "practicing"
Who says "practicing" homosexuals are barred from the priesthood. I don't think my local ordinary is equipped with some sort of gaydar. So yeah, you're right, Bill and the rest of us are wrong.l
Most gay men I know,
Most gay men I know, including myself, are way beyond the "practicing" stage: we know why and how to be gay.
Self-respecting gay men who aren't forced to live a lie, as almost all ordained men are (and apparently choose to do), do NOT need to live out their lives with underage or even teenaged boys.
Most straight people don't have enough gaydar to recognized the broad side of a barn.
So, Jim . . . Why?
So, Jim . . .
Why?
(Practicing) Gay priests
(Practicing) Gay priests "barred" from the Priesthood? On what planet? If that were the case, many bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, including many in the Curia, would have been forced to openly resign. I don't believe this has happened, nor do I think that it ever will. Ever time I read a piece by our dear brother, Bill, I wonder how and why good Catholics send him money to spew his medieval views all over the world. He would have been a good understudy for Torquemada the Inquisitor, but fortunately for those, who were persecuted and tortured during the Inquisition for voicing views contrary to Brother Bill's, he was born 450 years too late!
Prove your point. Name
Prove your point.
Name names.
Numbers.
You won't or you cannot, so button it.
Liberals...sheesh.
Could you explain which of
Could you explain which of his views are medieval?
An excellent response, Mr.
An excellent response, Mr. Donohue! God will bless you for your work.
"An excellent response."
"An excellent response." Well,St Paul, in Romans, ch. 12, v.10 tells us:"In brotherly love let your feelings of deep affection for one another come to expression and regard others as more important than yourself."I see no sign of the Apostle's teaching in this diatribe.
Is God blessing loud
Is God blessing loud polemical mercenary lies now?
Gosh, whatever happened to
bearing no false testimony?
To Love thy neighbor,
even members of the Roman Catholic family?
Since when does decibel level indicate righteousness, logic?
holiness?
Blessed are the meek . . .
Peace.
Mr. Donahue is a symptom of
Mr. Donahue is a symptom of our times. He is one of those smug commentators who appear on TV on a regular basis who has a personality filled with bile and an air raid siren for a voice. That those qualifications are what passes for meaningful commentary are a sad comment on our times. He is as representative of the Catholic Church as Bill O'Reilly or Pat Buchanan.
Thank you.
Thank you.
My prayers for Mr. Donohue
My prayers for Mr. Donohue and those who read and believe his words. A bit of hubris goes a long way.
I love how smug liberals pull
I love how smug liberals pull the "I'll pray for you" card! Show me where he's wrong Sister!!! Talk about hubris!
none so blind as those who
none so blind as those who will not see.
old Irish expression
I still can't understand.
Bro. Charles, Well said. And
Bro. Charles,
Well said.
And if I may add another old Oirish expression that is equally apropos: "he's full of himself"
Donohue is very little different from Hannity, O'Reilly, Buchanan, Noonan, Ingraham, etc. Not the best or most inspiring of Catholics. Nor ones who follow the teachings of Christ(peace, love, tolerance and "Do unto others...).
Thanks for your insights.
bob
Please pull Noonan from this
Please pull Noonan from this list. I do not think she is a loud obnoxious blowhard. I do disagree with her often. But she writes beautifully and taste counts for something, courtesy allows for discourse.
The velvet viper in the
The velvet viper in the hydrangea is still a snake in the grass.
Besides which, that whole ridiculous hagiographic thingie of attributing Wojtyla a "Pope John Paul the Great" ring can come only from "a loud obnoxious blowhard."
I mean where did that title come from anyways? The propaganda of the new high school in Virginia says it was by popular proclamation at the funeral Mass. I must have missed that part, waiting for Ratzinger to tell Bush to get out of Iraq, like Wojtyla said.
JBD, You spoke of the
JBD,
You spoke of the "liberals" mindset. Obviously you've been listening to the likes of Hannity, O'Reilly, Beck and Limbaugh, to name a few of the haters from the conservative side of the fence.
Hitler told the German people that the Jews were the reason for all of their problems. Sound familiar??? Now Frank Luntz, Karl Rove, Lee Atwater(deceased) Reagan, the GOP, the Bush family, Weigel, Weyrich, Bennett, Hannity, O'Reilly etc, ad nauseam, are all saying the same thing about liberals. Has the Vatican learned anything, yet??? Seems not!!! Have you learned anything yet. Seems not.
The GOP is promising the illusion of wealth and security to you and you are buying it. To the Vatican they offered the illusion of ending homosexuality and of ending abortion. YET, when they had total control of both houses of Congress (super majority and the nuclear option) they never came through. Could it be that one reason is because 71% of Republican women refuse to give up their Reproductive Rights same as other women. What the GOP promised is really an illusion. When their Big Pharmas can make money selling abortifacients that's all they care about because they are really all about making MONEY and nothing else.
Sooo, exactly what is the GOP doing? And for whom is it doing those things.
Religion is only a smoke screen for them and their various money making ventures, such as killing in Iraq for oil and oil company and other corporate profits. That's what you get when you choose to deal with people who are money grubbers, hate-mongers, war-mongers and fear mongers.
Somehow I can't believe that God is going to forgive those who killed for oil and profits(Cons and Neocons) and those who were aligned with that agenda. Some have said it is the lesser of two evils, is it really. I know some brothers, nuns and priests who taught and would not agree with that notion. I had two priests in college that were among the most brilliant and learned people I have ever known. They would have said there is no such thing as the lesser of two evils. Just as there is no such thing as a "just war". God would never agree with either notion. They would have said there is no such thing as CHOOSING one evil over another, BOTH evils are evil and one must never choose any evil.
Choosing an evil is nothing short of inviting satan in. These priests would have demanded that we all work much harder to find a third alternative, one that solves the problem and yet is NOT an evil or an illusion. That made sense to me, I never forgot it.
Also, I never forgot the professor who asked us: did we want to vote by political party or for someone who is doing a good job. That's why I never voted by political party. That is, until the election of 2004, and then only after watching the shenanigans of the Bush-Cheney-GOP-Cons-Neocons-Theocons manipulations of America and all of our values to kill over theocracy and oil; all against Muslims who have a sea of oil under their feet and a different theocracy.
Btw, you called us smug. Don't forget arrogant and elitist.
Something is wrong; very, very wrong when caring about human values is somehow much less than caring about dollar values and wealthy welfare and corporate welfare.
I can only hope God forgives us for our many stupidities.
Amen!!!
You just can't separate your
You just can't separate your political biases from a religious discussion, can you? How do you know this woman is a (gasp!) liberal? You need to go somewhere, take a deep breath, say a rosary or two, attend a novena, then turn or Fox News. You seem conflicted, and this should cover all your bases.
By the way, the Church is doomed because of unquestioning and uncritical thinking such as yours.
William Donohue by any other
William Donohue by any other name is still William Donohue -- "Billy the Bully". Who he is and what he is about will never change...sad for dialogue in the Catholic Church. According to his account, he is truly "overworked" and "underpaid" -- preposterous! That he would ever espouse a progressive idea to promote the Catholic Church is not in the cards -- he will always pander to those on the right who believe they and they alone have the good of the church at heart!
I am amazed at the ignorance
I am amazed at the ignorance of the defensive posture taken here. Once more accuse others rather than accept responsiblity. It is a pretty well know fact that nearly 50% of those in the priesthood are homeosexual but that isnt the problem! The problem lies in whether these men are predators and/or whether they can exercise self discipline and celibacy. This is the same issue hetersexual priests are faced with.
Also, Catholics all know that nuns (not priests) take a vow of poverty so whatever salary they might earn in heading up huge Catholic organizations will never be used for personal gain and ends up supporting their order and other charities. Can this be said by Bill Donohue?
Actually nuns and religious
Actually nuns and religious priests take the vow of poverty. Diocesan priests do not...although many of them are truly poor.
ANd where did you get your
ANd where did you get your fats regarding Priest Homosexuality, Bill Donohue??? - We know Nuns take a view of both poverty as well as chastity and obedience...... Bill on the other hand has taken a vow to damage any institution in the name of Political gain. Far more interested in defending Glenn Beck Style Social Justice than Catholic Social Justice. But then again, who is it he wants to stand on stage with when the mid-terms are in full session?
I firmly believe that actions of people like Bill Donohue and his smug response to any critism as well as his use of our church for his personal and political gain will do far more harm than any priest scandal.
Read his smug posts,,, they are filled with arrogance revenge and anger,, I wonder how proud the Pope would be to read any of his Releases.
Right on, Bill Donahue! I am
Right on, Bill Donahue! I am proud to be a member of the Catholic League, and just wish I could support the League more generously than my limited means allow. Anyone in this position needs to be feisty and aggressive. Bill Donahue has those qualities in abundance. I rise up and call him blessed!
Presbyter simplex says:
Presbyter simplex says: "Right on, Bill Donahue!" Go ahead, waste your money and send it to Billy the Blind Bully, instead of to the poor, the suffering, the lame, the widows, the victims of flooding and tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. Don't do what the Apostles did in the early Church, just continue to praise someone like Bill Donahue and shower him with your money so he can bully somebody, show off his egotistic aggressiveness and ignorance. It shows where your heart truly is and what you truly support - the "feisty and aggressive" instead of Jesus who said "blessed are the poor in spirit.... blessed are the peacemakers.... "
I suggest you do more homework and read about who Jesus truly was all about and who He was teaching us to become like. It wasn't at all about being like Bill Donahue, puffed up and arrogant, stiff-necked and blind, boastful and egotistical.
Bill Donahue needs to do his Bible study homework too with regards to Jesus Christ's teachings. Bill's rant here is adolescent chatter and immature babbling and does not in any way conceivable portray that he is even Christian or that he is in any way a mature symbol to replicate, promulgate or condone as representative of "Catholic" behavior.
Jesus doesn't! Jesus
Jesus doesn't!
Jesus says:
Blessed are the meek . . .
Ask the Reverend Father John Dear SJ the full implication of the original term we so treasonously translate as Blessed . . .
Bullies are always defensive
Bullies are always defensive when they get exposed! Donahue is a self-appointed spokesman for the Church, and that should be profoundly embarrassing to Catholics.
It is certainly embarrassing
It is certainly embarrassing to me...God, when are they ever going to stop being so self-important! I wish the press (who are being accused of Catholic bashing) would keep this guy off the air. He just talks loudly and overwhelms anyone else in the room. Such arrogance.
Blessed are the meek . . .
Blessed are the meek . . .
It is sad that Mr. Donohue
It is sad that Mr. Donohue really believes that the preponderance of sexual abuse is by homosexuals just because it is between two adults. Priest can (although, of course, they shouldn't) have sex with adult women, too, but that is rarely publicised. It is all awful and the Church is suffering for it and will until the truth is known and the Church repents.
"Please note, too, that the
"Please note, too, that the latest figures show that the Catholic League has amassed over $26 million (not $22 million as reported). Not bad considering that when I took over as president 17 years ago we had $400,000 and were losing upwards of $20,000 a month." You are NO spokesman for the Catholic Church...and won't be until your IRS 1040 indicates a helluva lot more charitable giving!!!
SOUTH PARK had you pegged from the start!
SOUTH PARK had you pegged
SOUTH PARK had you pegged from the start!
I said it before, and I'll say it again:
Deo gratias for Catholic blowhard, Mr. Donohue. If not for him, the world would never have received this EASTER GIFT from the creators of South Park:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/bill-donohue-considered
http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1105/
For those who can't wait to see Bill the Bully:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155566
That's all he's really worth these days, a washed up, one minute video-byte. Even the late nite comics don't consider him newsworthy enough to be monologue fodder anymore, so why should we?
ok so like you realize I have
ok so like you realize I have no television and stuff, but this is really really funny
the hare club for men?
see the whole episode . . .
what is this show?
Well I'm relieved to know
Well I'm relieved to know that Mr. Donohue has to actually work for his generous salary. Yet there are people who do as much as, if not more than, he does and earn considerably less. Can't imagine why nuns would be compensated so magnanimously as Mr. Donohue claims. Since when has working for the Catholic Church been so profitable?
Lest one forget, Some Sisters
Lest one forget, Some Sisters work for the kingdom of God and witness the Gospel outside the Catholic Church structure yet within the broader definition of Church as noted by Mr. Donohue. This is often done in order for their religious Congregation to have enough financial support to provide for the many Sisters who worked within the Church structure for a salary that even collectively could not support Mr. Donohue's life style. The Sisters' salaries are turned over to the congregation to support the members and their ministries not for their personal use. Mr. Donohue in his position should know this and it is unfair for him to use the facts so dishonestly.
Mr O'Donoghue was responding
Mr O'Donoghue was responding to an attack on him re his salary He pointed out others receiving much higher salaries.
You make assertions about the man's lifestyles provide some facts and also give evidence to support your claimed knowledge of how the 2 sisters disperse their pay packets I would be pleasantly surprised if it went into the orders collective account and they had an allowance to cover travel expenses but somehow I doubt it.
What ever happened to "Love
What ever happened to "Love God & your Neighbor" instead of earning an inflated salary and putting on an act that we are better then most of God's Creation!!!
Too bad he doesn't watch the
Too bad he doesn't watch the movies he condemns; he must have time in his busy day for this.
Too bad he doesn't know how to integrate Catholic educational methods to his whateveritishedoes.
How he communicates IS what he communicates.
BTW, those nuns receive recompense equal to their counterparts and they don't keep it! It goes to support their apostolates and their communities. Their work saves lives. I cannot imagine a single life that this guy saved.
In response to Mr. Donohue, I
In response to Mr. Donohue, I share the following:
The 81% of male victims, 3/4 of whom were post-pubescent, DOES NOT mean that child sexual abuse by clergy is the work of homosexuals. Most often it means that the perpetrators experienced a psycho-sexual delay in development within our all-male, "heterosexual" seminaries, and are acting out with the most convenient population. (Didn't Catholics think it was wonderful that "father" showed so much attention to boys-- why they may even become priests themselves!)
In addition, practicing HETEROsexuals ARE NOT barred from the priesthood-- it is tolerated much like the "don't ask, don't tell" policy of military practice, along with the already ordained clergy who shun the celibacy dictates of the Vatican. And today, if a man wants to become a priest, the fact that he is a heterosexual is welcomed in this climate of homosexual reticence. Thus, their "practicing" patterns are very much overlooked. (We're not talking just the U.S. here, look at South America and Africa to find clergy who have been and are still in relationships with women.)
I don't think Mr. Donohue understands all the dynamics of the problems..., but he sure thinks he does, and doesn't mind boasting about it-- which in turn tarnishes the credibility of the Church even more!
I think Mr. Donahue
I think Mr. Donahue understands the problem just fine. He pretends not to because that is what the conservative Catholics who support his organization so handsomely believe. He knows that the seminaries have been accepting any warm body for decades because of the priest shortage. He knows that they've kept some pretty damaged goods because they needed to show that they were doing well in recruiting future priests.
The priesthood has been a great hiding place for people with psycho-sexual problems. Is is better for a young man who doesn't want to marry because he's immature sexually and/ or not interested in females to break the hearts of his family, or to make them proud by trotting off to the seminary? The naivete' and total unwillingness to accept what has happened to the priesthood is one of the subjects that keeps ultra-conservative Catholics contributing to the Catholic League. Denial is not just a river in Egypt, as the pun goes.
"The 81% of male victims, 3/4
"The 81% of male victims, 3/4 of whom were post-pubescent, DOES NOT mean that child sexual abuse by clergy is the work of homosexuals. Most often it means that the perpetrators experienced a psycho-sexual delay in development within our all-male, "heterosexual" seminaries, and are acting out with the most convenient population."
Your explanation of the preponderance of male victims assumes a 'situational' homosexuality (as sometimes noted in the military and in all-male boarding schools). However, this does not address the equally valid explanation that homosexuals (with a stable orientation as such) would be attracted to the cover of legitimacy (for remaining unmarried) offered by the promise of celibacy. Also I am not convinced that "psycho-sexual delay" as you call it is not home-grown. It could be that arrested development forms a big part of the attraction felt by both pedophiles and pederasts in the general population, including those who are married and have their own children. In any case, it has certainly NOT been PROVEN that most of the victims were male simply because they were more easy targets (as one could reasonably ASSUME). While avoiding making scape-goats, it would be wrong to avoid talking about the relation of homosexuality to the abuse crisis. As with the celibacy and clerical culture issues, we cannot consider discussion of the role of homosexuality as taboo. I am against any attempts to shut down discussion on this issue when openness and consideration of ALL the facets of the problem need to be considered.
"My goal in life, actually,
"My goal in life, actually, is to make as much money as Sr. Carol Keehan, who cleared $963,436 last year as president of the Catholic Health Association. In fact, I would settle for making as much as Sr. Patricia Talone, the VP for Mission Services: she makes $394,092."
Memo to Donohue:
REBUT Feuerhard's gripes all you want. Big deal, you went to Catholic high school and joined the debate team. The real question remains:
How many of your RETIRED SISTERS in schools and hospitals, who were screwed out of basic retirement benefits by the Catholic Church for centuries -all in the name of Holy Poverty- are YOU supporting? Or do you think Sisters Keehan and Talone have their cash socked away in off-shore accounts?
By the way, I didn't see any IRS 1040 line items noting YOUR donations to www.soar-usa.org
He sites that Puberty begins
He sites that Puberty begins at 10 years old. so he thinks gay sex begins at ten .As a father of 5 sons I say he is a moron and a dangerous one at that. also I note his supporters are anonymous when posting here.
Thanks Ed. Bill the Bully's
Thanks Ed. Bill the Bully's venomous diatribes are getting cheers from his followers. I am glad you are to tell it like it is.
To be fair Ed he cited that
To be fair Ed he cited that puberty begins at ten, and also that most of the instances of sexual abuse invole post pubescent males.
That doesn't mean he thinks gay sex begins at ten as you stated. He's talking about after puberty finishes (which he doesn't define, but certainly several years after it begins).
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