From today's Crook's and Liars:
Jeff Gatlain, a Catholic priest in KY
"As a Christian, a Catholic Priest, I stand in opposition to any and all hateful speech used by anyone, especially when they do so in the name of Jesus. I do not believe that one can claim to be a disciple of Jesus and at the same time deride, mock, insult, or threaten violence against another person. Mr. Donohue clearly makes hateful remarks as well as violent comments towards (the sculptor) Mr. Cavallaro and as such he insults God, his fellow Catholics and humanity for that point.
Proclaiming the Salvation of Jesus means that we are to refrain from such vile speech. One cannot preach the love of Jesus while cursing one's neighbor. The two cannot co-exist. To continually use hateful, crude, violent language is indicative of what dwells within one's heart. Mr. Donohue speaks only for himself and not the Catholic Church."
Would that quote be okay? I am a pretty low key person and I strive to be a force of unity and healing in the parishes I serve. I just do not want to become yet another screaming voice like Mr. Donohue.
Thank you, Father Gatlain, we need more of your kind!!
If you feel the same, you might want to visit his blog here.
Marykk says:
Far too many people, (and I've seen plenty of it right here on the DK) do not understand that:
Donoghue does not speak for the church;
The Catholic League is not an agency of the church; and frequently say things like "the Catholic Church" when they mean "the Catholic League."
JjC2002 said earlier
on the controversy around the sculpture "My Sweet Lord" by Cosimo Cavallaro that was cancelled as a result of violent condemnation by Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League:
Someone who DOES represent the Catholic Church needs to make it clear, in the press, that Donahue, does NOT represent the church. While many informed catholics here KNOW that, many, many people do not. Because Donahue is given so much airtime on MSNBC by Tweety et al, he is mistakenly viewed as being an official of the church.
To which Marykk replied:
If all the Catholics on KOS (and non-Cathaolics, for that matter) would write their bishops and make that complaint, perhaps they would respond. (I've already written mine) I've also complained to MSNBC and all their anchors, and suggested that if they want a "Catholic Perspective" (whatever that is) that they call a bishop.
So what we have here is ONE priest in Kentucky speaking out against Bill Donohue's violent rhetoric... (some call it hate speech) The Catholic League DOES NOT represent the Catholic Church, nor the values of its adherents... when will a New York priest stand up and say this?
...I know that Bill Donohue made himself Pope on South Park last night. I know that Ninja Christ killed him. It was very clever and I thoroughly enjoyed it... but this diary is not about that....
Just ONE brave priest spoke up against the violent rhetoric of a rightwing nutjob extremist of the Catholic persuasion. As Marykk has pointed out most sincerely, the Catholic League DOES NOT represent the Catholic Church, does not speak for the Church. The Catholic League does not behave according to Catholic or Christian principles, as Fr. Gatlain has pointed out.
The problem is that no one in the Church has made a move to put a muzzle on the rabid dog Bill Donohue, and far too many people continue to believe he has the Church's sanction, or that he is representative.
This guy needs to be stopped, and not by South Park. He needs to be stopped by more priests speaking out like Fr. Gatlain, and more people Catholics and non-Catholics writing letters to the dioceses and the networks.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 Fourth Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20017
(202) 541-3000
Archdiocese of New York
Joseph Zwilling
Director Office of Communications
1011 First Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-371-1011 Ext. 2990