52 Comments

• seanomelbourne | Oct 01, 2011, 07:16 PM EDT

  I suppose Donohue would praise the fascist franco. Donohue is probably a member of the fascist opus dei which is now running the RCC.Donahue like his opus dei colleagues are anti christs.

• JuneAnnette | Sep 30, 2011, 01:41 PM EDT

  McNamara31 . . A worthwhile read ***GOOGLE: Injury Board Blog Network 'Catholic League President Bill Donohue Dishes Out Big Bucks for NY Times Ad' / Posted by David Mittleman, Attorney / April 11, 2011 4:41 PM***SCROLL DOWN and read the comment Posted by peter centorcelli / April 12, 2011 11:30 AM**Note sent to Catholic League**EXCERPT: "Was it just happy coincidence that the home page of your site had a "More hypocrisy" link alongside your defense of child rape by priests? It seems that since 3/4 of the victims were post-pubescent that this lessens the magnitude of the horrific act. That somehow forcing sexual contact on a 13 year old is so much less heinous than if the victim was only 11. And let’s have a cheer that the poor 13 year old was most likely a boy because that makes it so minor to hardly be worth mentioning.You laud the fact that only 8.3 reported cases per year for a recent 5 year period. So since only 43 children (‘cause pre or post puberty, they are still children) were reported molested by priests, that is an accomplishment in which to be proud. And you count all 40,000 priests to show how small that number really is. Well, Mr. Donohue, how many of those priests are realistically working in an environment where they have ease of contact with children? Half of them? Less? Who knows because you couldn’t be bothered to put that number together because it makes your case that much weaker."***As I wrote below, Donahue has the endorsement of Edward Cardinal Egan, Roger Cardinal Mahony, Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.***A MAN IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS!

• McNamara31 | Sep 30, 2011, 12:12 PM EDT

  The Nassau County AOH just "honored" William Donohue of the Catholic League at Molloy College a week ago. Very sad.

• SingleDonald | Sep 27, 2011, 09:09 PM EDT

  falconflash, I did not consider your criticism to be directed against me. eiriamach & christopherMATT, I can't accept your views against statute of limitations. I empathize with cM, concerning the abuse which he experienced as a child. However, there are too many ambiguities, after decades have elapsed. I don't mean to trivialize what cM experienced, but, generally speaking: Did these things really occur as the now adult thinks they did? Might the now sdult be overblowing an isolated incident, out of proportion? Who can back up the accuser's claims? Who can disprove the claims: did the alleged abuser have any witnesses, who can put him in a more favorable light? And yes, might the now adult merely be on a "gold digging" venture? If the alleged abuser has no current or recent claims of molestation against him, why should an old allegation, which he would have difficulty disproving, sully his present reputation? On a slightly related(though not pedophillic note) consider this. Prior to 1968, New York's Statutary Rape Law had the boy always guilty of the crime, even if consensually entered into with a same, or near age girl, who was under 18. The new law allows a 4-year "window" where, say, a 20 year old would not be charged in sleeping with a 16 year old. At 21, he/she would be guilty of statutory rape. Seventeen is the age of consent, and the law now applies to both males & females. Should a girl who was under 18, in 1967, now have the right to sue a same, or near age boy, for consensual sex, all these years later?? Of course not!!

• JuneAnnette | Sep 27, 2011, 12:40 PM EDT

  falconflash, CONTINUED . . the thoughts of Thomas Doyle, RC priest & Clergy Abuse Advocate***Source: The secret secret of the Vatican / Tom Doyle – My Comments on Andrew Brown’s Blog /July 23, 2010 /"If all of these things were true!The problem is that there is no authentic historical evidence that any of it is true. The various titles, roles and offices attributed to popes, bishops and priests are not products of divine revelation but of human invention, often as a response and reaction to serious external threats to the power and wealth of the clerical aristocracy. For example, and it’s a good example, Papal Infallibility was literally invented by Pope Pius IX and forced through the First Vatican Council...for political reasons. The pope’s kingdom, the Papal States, was threatened with dissolution by the Italian social upheaval at the time. Likewise the title “Vicar of Christ” was part of a conscious program of a medieval pope to fortify papal power. This title has had a long and complex and by no means consistent history. It was not applied to the Papacy until the 13th century when Pope Innocent III took it to enhance his overall program of actively concentrating just about all power in the Church in the papacy."

• JuneAnnette | Sep 27, 2011, 12:39 PM EDT

  falconflash, CONTINUED . . the thoughts of Thomas Doyle, RC priest & Clergy Abuse Advocate***Source: The secret secret of the Vatican / Tom Doyle – My Comments on Andrew Brown’s Blog /July 23, 2010 /"This teaching is the foundation for the clerical culture that runs the Church. Clericalism is the belief that clerics (deacons, priests and bishops) are superior to lay persons and are rightfully entitled to deference, unquestioned respect and exemption from many of the obligations born by most lay people. This clerical world is the home of the men who make up the Church power structure. The Church teaches that this structure is the church. To be a Catholic, one must believe totally in the teachings about the nature of the church strictures and the sacredness of the Church’s clerical ministers.If all of these teachings were true, would there be a need for all of the secrecy? If these teachings were true, especially about the “Christ-like” nature of priests and bishops, would there be such widespread corruption, dishonesty and abuse found among clerics at every level?"

• JuneAnnette | Sep 27, 2011, 12:37 PM EDT

  falconflash, I would strongly urge you to prayerfully reflect upon the thoughts of Thomas Doyle, RC priest & Clergy Abuse Advocate***Source: The secret secret of the Vatican / Tom Doyle – My Comments on Andrew Brown’s Blog /July 23, 2010 / "The Church is a visible institution. The Church teaches as official dogma that the Church as we know it, that is, a hierarchical structure that is totally run by celibate male clerics (mostly bishops), was instituted by Jesus Himself. The Church teaches that the pope is the representative (Vicar) of Christ on earth. It teaches that Christ founded His church and left it in the control of the twelve apostles and explicitly willed that these apostles pass this power down to their successors. Consequently the official teaching is that the visible church is run by men who have been explicitly chosen by the Supreme Being. Furthermore the Church teaches that priests are fundamentally different than other humans. They are, in the words of John Paul II, uniquely configured to Christ. Catholics are taught to believe that priests are special. They represent Jesus Christ. They have very special spiritual powers. Their intercession is essential for anyone who wishes to make it to heaven in the next life.

• JuneAnnette | Sep 27, 2011, 12:32 PM EDT

  falconflash . . I would strongly urge you to prayerfully reflect upon the thoughts of Thomas Doyle, RC priest & Clergy Abuse Advocate***Source: The secret secret of the Vatican / Tom Doyle – My Comments on Andrew Brown’s Blog /July 23, 2010 / Link: http://www.richardsipe.com/Doyle/2010/2010-07-25.htm***"The Church is a visible institution. The Church teaches as official dogma that the Church as we know it, that is, a hierarchical structure that is totally run by celibate male clerics (mostly bishops), was instituted by Jesus Himself. The Church teaches that the pope is the representative (Vicar) of Christ on earth. It teaches that Christ founded His church and left it in the control of the twelve apostles and explicitly willed that these apostles pass this power down to their successors. Consequently the official teaching is that the visible church is run by men who have been explicitly chosen by the Supreme Being. Furthermore the Church teaches that priests are fundamentally different than other humans. They are, in the words of John Paul II, uniquely configured to Christ. Catholics are taught to believe that priests are special. They represent Jesus Christ. They have very special spiritual powers. Their intercession is essential for anyone who wishes to make it to heaven in the next life.

• JuneAnnette | Sep 26, 2011, 11:56 PM EDT

  It seems implausible to me that otherwise intelligent people are willing to ignore the abundant and compelling evidence regarding the abuse of children across the globe by the Roman Catholic “church” that unarguably and categorically proves the “church” of which they are members is not guided by the Holy Spirit, neither the “one true church” built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, of which Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone and only head.(Eph. 2:20; Eph. 5:23) So blinded are they by their inbred institutional loyalty they find themselves unable to act rationally in the face of the painful realities with which they are now confronted which compels them to leave, but choose instead to remain tethered to a church that is utterly devoid of any moral or spiritual credibility. “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”(Eph. 5:9) In place of goodness, there is gross immorality and unchecked vice . . all that is evil; in place of righteousness, there is widespread corruption; in place of truth, there is mental reservation . . deceit and lies. As it is written . . “spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12) May the Lord be pleased to grant those who are so blinded, the courage to renounce the counterfeit religion of Rome, that they may by God’s grace, wholeheartedly embrace the religion of Christ and serve HIM in sincerity and in truth.*** “. . . Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4)

• christopherMATT | Sep 26, 2011, 10:21 PM EDT

  I would like to weigh in on the statue of limitations question. I did not seek/get help until I was 55 years old. The abuse occurred occurred between 1968 - 1972. This is 40 years after the abuse. My brain SUPPRESSED a lot of this for many years. But when I found that perscription sleeping pills made you go to sleep and feel really really good, I thought maybe take 1 or 02 0r 10 more. This was a wakeup call. So........................ I am all for the removal of statue of limitation laws regarding child sexual abuse.

• christopherMATT | Sep 26, 2011, 10:10 PM EDT

  One more comment to A/H . Don't hold back. You seem to harbor some hostility. Maybe you need to post what that hostility is all about ? I am new to this dialog.

• christopherMATT | Sep 26, 2011, 10:02 PM EDT

  To A/H, I think your comments are totally over the top. I am a victim of childhood sexual abuse. You cannot judge the entire church, the vast majority of the clergy are 'priests of integrity'. You can rant and rave all you want. Are you a victim ? If so, I pray for your healing. If we have larned anything over the centuries, it is not to judge by the group, but by the individual. God bless.

• Rayosun | Sep 26, 2011, 04:51 PM EDT

  When Mr. Roberts ends his critique by saying "It is time for the church,who are clearly approving of Donohue's attacks to rein him in. He is doing their cause no justice smearing victims and launching vicious attacks on journalists who are doing their job uncovering corruption and abuse in the Catholic Church." those who still imagine that this church is "tru and holy" wonder why it allows Dononue to represent it in the U.S. media. When are sincere Catholics going to recognize that the INSINCERITY of the R.C. church, which is NOT AT ALL what it claims to be, as I show in agonizing detail at http://JesusWouldBeFurious.Org/ ?

• JuneAnnette | Sep 26, 2011, 03:56 PM EDT

  Ripley838, F.Y.I. . . the Catholic League is endorsed by these pillars of Roman Catholicism and so-called “princes of the church”:***"The Catholic League performs an invaluable service in defending the Faith. All too often, the Church and her faithful are misrepresented and even slandered in contemporary society. However, the Catholic League always stands ready, willing and able to challenge those who would malign us and our beliefs. Ever vigilant, the Catholic League does what other lay organizations hesitate to do —protect the religious and civil rights of Catholics according to the provisions of the United States Constitution. I am happy to assure the Catholic League of my support and esteem."/ Edward Cardinal Egan, former Archbishop of New York***"I encourage you to join the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights which defends not only the interests of Catholics, but of all victims of anti-religious bigotry." /Roger Cardinal Mahony, former Archbishop of Los Angeles***"The Catholic League has the courage to speak up candidly and forcefully for the Church when circumstances call for fighting the good fight. The League should be on every Catholic's short list of essential organizations to support." /Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., former Archbishop of Denver***"I am privileged to support the Catholic League. The work of the Catholic League is invaluable and its accomplishments over the years are unparalleled." / Most Rev. Edwin O'Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore

• JuneAnnette | Sep 26, 2011, 03:43 PM EDT

  ripley838 . . FACT CHECK . . The Catholic League has the endorsement of these "so-called princes of the church"***Source: catholicleague.org "The Catholic League performs an invaluable service in defending the Faith. All too often, the Church and her faithful are misrepresented and even slandered in contemporary society. However, the Catholic League always stands ready, willing and able to challenge those who would malign us and our beliefs. Ever vigilant, the Catholic League does what other lay organizations hesitate to do —protect the religious and civil rights of Catholics according to the provisions of the United States Constitution. I am happy to assure the Catholic League of my support and esteem."— Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York***"I encourage you to join the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights which defends not only the interests of Catholics, but of all victims of anti-religious bigotry."— Roger Cardinal Mahony, former Archbishop of Los Angeles***"The Catholic League has the courage to speak up candidly and forcefully for the Church when circumstances call for fighting the good fight. The League should be on every Catholic's short list of essential organizations to support."— Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.,Archbishop of Denver

• ripley838 | Sep 26, 2011, 02:30 PM EDT

  Bill Donohue is the head of the Catholic League, an organization consisting of exactly one member, himself. Why does any media outlet kowtow to this bully?

• eiriamach | Sep 26, 2011, 12:14 PM EDT

  SingleDonald, you and I would agree on almost everything, I think, except statutes of limitations. There are good reasons for discarding all time limits on filing charges of sex abuse and other abuses of children. Children are often under the control of their abusers until they reach legal age, and when the abuser is a close relative or strong authority figure, or has succeeded in frightening the child into keeping the abuse secret for years, the psychological trauma can trigger repression. Then it may be years after the abuse ends before the child can re-construct clear memories of what the abuser did, when and where, etc. And the 'return of the repressed' in such cases is also traumatic, so the young adult may need years of treatment just to gain a clear idea of the justice due in the case. The more I think about it, the more I think that there should be no statutes of limitations on such crimes against children.

• falconflash | Sep 26, 2011, 10:37 AM EDT

  Freedom of speech is a terrible thing for liberals to see in action, they actually want to ban it.

• Suivness10 | Sep 26, 2011, 10:35 AM EDT

  Bill Donohue is a jackass. Anybody who know him knows that. Nothing new here.

• falconflash | Sep 26, 2011, 08:27 AM EDT

  eph, what have you done about abortion? most likely looked the other way, a sort of coverup, no? the bloold of innocents is on your hands.....

• EphraimKibbey | Sep 25, 2011, 11:47 PM EDT

  Pt. II - When one conspires to commit a crime, to allow it to happen or to cover up a crime that person becomes complicit it that crime and is also a criminal. All those involved in any way in this orgy of criminal activity should be given a fair trial. If found guilty, they should be imprisoned as would anyone of the laity, with whose souls they were entrusted, would be if they committed, or were complicit in, this crime. "Benefit of Clergy" should be left in the Middle Ages, along with feudalism and other archaic ideas. This moment should be seen by all catholics as a chance to weed out an evil that has tainted the RCC for too long now. The longer the church waits to root out the evil, the more faithful will be driven away. Matthew 18:9 - And if your eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from you: it is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

• EphraimKibbey | Sep 25, 2011, 11:43 PM EDT

  Pt. I - Patrick Roberts, thanks for writing the article. I had not heard of Donohue. It is interesting that some commenters on here refer to him as right wing. I would have thought that this evil would have transended political partisanship. Also, some of the commenters here need to read the dictionary before posting. Homosexuals are adults who are sexually attracted to adults of the same sex. Pedophiles are adults who are sexually attracted to children. Priests who have intercourse with other priests could be called homosexuals. The priests and their enablers mentioned in this article and in Rolling Stone, are Pedophiles. Sex with anyone under the age of consent is legally called rape so they are also rapists.

• falconflash | Sep 25, 2011, 11:18 PM EDT

  single don, i wss referrring to jamthecat, not you. your letter is respectful toward the Church.

• SingleDonald | Sep 25, 2011, 11:13 PM EDT

  Both barneyjo & Eiriamach made some good points. It DOES seem like a witch hunt to bring accusations against people that are decades old! How can the allegations be either proven or disproven? That's why statutes of limitations exist, which were upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, a few years ago. Father Ritter, as I have previously mentioned, was guilty of offenses against minors. He was not a pedophile, as all of his targets were boys past puberty. His accuser was 26, posing as a 21-year old, in order to avail himself of the benefits of Covenant House. Vatican II did not act fast enough, in recognizing human sexuality as something other than sinful, or in the respect for women. In fact, some conservative Catholics still take Matthew, 5:28 literally, as well as the Confesasions of St. Augustine, in believing in the evil nature of anything sexual, outside of marriage. Progress for women has been slow, and long overdue. The basic respect men should have for women is not compromised by sexual fantasies, or consensual activities, outside of marriage. Neither is it hurt by women advancing in the Church; we may someday see female priests. Vatican II got the ball rolling on these matters, but still has a long way to go, 48 years later!

• jamthecat | Sep 25, 2011, 10:49 PM EDT

  1. The sexual molestation of a child is wrong, no matter who does it. Period. 2. The vast, vast, vast majority of pedophiles are heterosexual. So says the FBI and just about any police organization that keeps track of these things. 3. It was the church hierarchy refusing to deal with the issue of child rape and instead just reassigning priests to other parishes so they could keep molesting that made this a problem with the church. You can find pedophiles coaching basketball, swim teams and soccer practice. The difference is, when some jerk does something wrong with a kid in those areas, he's put in jail, not coddled and protected. 4. Jesus himself said you should not offend a child, so anyone who does or who defends someone who has is spitting in the face of Christ.

• falconflash | Sep 25, 2011, 10:00 PM EDT

  I meant to say homos were a CANCER, sorry for the mistake.....

• falconflash | Sep 25, 2011, 09:59 PM EDT

  The Church got burned by being kinder and gentler to the homos in its midst.......back to the old days we knew that homos were a caner upon any organization. The Church gave them entry, and now are paying the price. But someone once said the Church would survive and I beieve Him..............

• Collette2 | Sep 25, 2011, 09:42 PM EDT

  Ever hear of the sayng: the man does protest too much? I'll bet he's right up there in front with the maintaining of the secrecy of the confessional. As far as Pio is concerned, I leave my options open, Garanbandal's warning of the Bishop leading many to hell sounds spot on, preventing their priests from owning up to what they've done and covering up their crimes. Maybe Donohue has a brother a bishop.... or at least a priest.

• JudyJones | Sep 25, 2011, 09:08 PM EDT

  Thank you for writing this article. Judy Jones. SNAP USA

• eiriamach | Sep 25, 2011, 05:25 PM EDT

  The RC Church was "invaded by liberalism since Vatican II," according to PiperMac52. A massive delusion! Vatican II was an attempt by many, including some liberals, to bring RCC into the modern world: for example, to acknowledge the equal moral worth of women, to help the Church deal with human sexuality rather than simply ignoring the existence of it or demonizing it, to heal divisions among global Christian communities, and to provide spiritual resources to laity for their ministry of transforming secular work and social spheres into humane environments. The sexual abuse scandal could never have reached the global proportions it has reached if Vatican II reforms had been carried out. The John Jay Commission reduced the age of puberty in order to reduce the number of pre-pubescent "children" raped by priests. That ploy fools no one; a man who sexually exploits an 11-year-old is a predator and a pedophile, whether homosexual or heterosexual, as much as a man who rapes a younger child. It's amazing to realize, as Sabrina Erdely points out, that Monsignor William Lynn is the first RCC cleric prosecuted in the USA for covering up priests' sexual abuse (read Erdeley's article in 'Rolling Stone'). The only memory being "repressed" here is the Church's memory of its appalling guilt, which began with the conservative resistance to reform half a century ago and continues with Donohue's paltry attacks on the press for its scrutiny, which is the closest thing to justice the victims may ever have!

• Woodman | Sep 25, 2011, 04:56 PM EDT

  The rolling stone article is all over the place, taking things out of context and using them to prop up unrelated testimony. I guess no one remembers the defendants in the McMartin preschool trial. Found guilty but later exonerated. Accused pedophiles, even catholic priests, are entitled to fair trials and not the hysterics of media show trials where they are assumed guilty simply becuase they are priest. and "everyone Knows" it to be true.

• barneyjo | Sep 25, 2011, 04:54 PM EDT

  @PiperMac52 - the quotes from Saint Pio date from 1915. In light of the revalations from around the world, I am particularly struck by the quote; "The ingratitude and the sleep of my ministers increase the agony for me. They badly respond to my love! The greater torment for me is that these people add their contempt to their indifference and disbelief" Clearly Pio in describing his apparitions was clearly troubled by what Jesus related to him; a portent of that which has since come to pass!!" The media has had its role to play, in good ways and bad. Had it not been for the media, the plight of so many tortured souls, victims of priest predators would never have been made known. I for one believe that it is the will of God that the awfulness of what happened within the church be revealed. I continue to be a practicing Irish Catholic, and I for one am glad to know of what was done supposedly in *my name" to cover up these crimes. It allows me now to say with certainty and conviction, "NOT IN MY NAME!!"

• rugbyplayer | Sep 25, 2011, 04:47 PM EDT

  Bill Donohue and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York are both peas in the same rotten pod.

• PiperMac52 | Sep 25, 2011, 04:38 PM EDT

  I disagree. While I am an outspoken critic of the Church's handling of the sex abuse cases and have written to many Catholic publications in that regard, Donohue is right. In context there are legions of legal teams and "victims advocates" with an agenda to destroy the church. They hate what it stands for as the last bastion of Christian morality though in part invaded by liberalism since vatican II. The Jay Commission originally(later obscured fro PC reasons)stated in it's study that over 80% of cases involved post pubescent males(a homosexual problem). Michael S. Rose Book detailed the homosexual subculture allowed to thrive within. Approximately 3% of priests are involved with abuse yet "victims" are encouraged to come forth with "repressed" memories etc. Innocent priests are being accused 20/30 years after the fact on nothing else. Punish the guilty but don't allow a wholesale witch hunt with greed as a motivation to destroy the church.

• barneyjo | Sep 25, 2011, 04:25 PM EDT

  @ Mr Donahue - I would love to hear your views on the excerpt in this post from the writings of Pio, a beatified saint of our church (taken from his apparitions) "Jesus went away from that crowd of priests and with a great expression of disgust on his face, cried’: “Butchers!” Then He told me: “My Child, do not believe that my agony has been only three hours, no; actually I will be in agony till the end of the world because of the souls I love. During the time of the agony, my child, nobody can sleep. My soul goes looking for some drop of human pity, but they leave me alone under the weight of their indifference. The ingratitude and the sleep of my ministers increase the agony for me. They badly respond to my love! The greater torment for me is that these people add their contempt to their indifference and disbelief. How many times my wrath was to strike them like lightning, but I was stopped by the angels and the souls who love me"

• barneyjo | Sep 25, 2011, 04:24 PM EDT

  @ Mr Donahue - I would love to hear your views on the excerpt in this post from the writings of Pio, a beatified saint of our church (taken from his apparitions) "esus went away from that crowd of priests and with a great expression of disgust on his face, cried’: “Butchers!” Then He told me: “My Child, do not believe that my agony has been only three hours, no; actually I will be in agony till the end of the world because of the souls I love. During the time of the agony, my child, nobody can sleep. My soul goes looking for some drop of human pity, but they leave me alone under the weight of their indifference. The ingratitude and the sleep of my ministers increase the agony for me. They badly respond to my love! The greater torment for me is that these people add their contempt to their indifference and disbelief. How many times my wrath was to strike them like lightning, but I was stopped by the angels and the souls who love me"

• JohnE67 | Sep 25, 2011, 03:24 PM EDT

  Pittsburghkid says the church has a right to defend itself...they also have a duty to expel those who abuse the power and position granted them by the church...allow these perverts to be exposed and prosecuted, not moved, hidden and protected...all so the cycle of abuse can continue.

• JohnE67 | Sep 25, 2011, 03:19 PM EDT

  More bs from the church...how much evil has been done over history in the name of their god? He is not my God...

• snakehips | Sep 25, 2011, 02:47 PM EDT

  Who ordained this "Grand Looney"as The Spokesperson for the Catholic Church in America? This idiot gets press because he can outscream anyone he talks to. I am an American Catholic and this rabid dog doesn't represent me!

• AngelPrecious | Sep 25, 2011, 01:22 PM EDT

  Yeah Bob Werner, sad that liberals like Dowd and Maththews are being exposed for their liberal bias that goes against Church teachings. They are NOT articulate messengers of the truth in ANY respect. @keneconnor, excellent points!

• keneconnor | Sep 25, 2011, 01:21 PM EDT

  The liberals are apoplectic about abuse in the church from 40 years ago (but tellingly they don't care about abuse anywhere else like in government schools) the way that Democrats were worried about a petty burglary in Watergate or the way the Republicans were worried about perjury in Bill Clinton's impeachment. It is hysterical to see them obsess over it while the unborn are slaughtered in utero, AIDS continues to spread and Christian marriage is destroyed. Maureen Dowd is an angry unhappy, hateful liberal. I will be happy to read about the NYT's impending bankruptcy.

• Bob Werner | Sep 25, 2011, 12:20 PM EDT

  It is a sad commentary to learn that Ms. Dowd, and Mr. Matthews are the messengers being "shot" for their keen articulation of the horrific crimes against children, teens, and adults....an articulation to bring forth justice and safety. Thankfully this is not the Middle Ages...Ms. Dowd, Mr. Matthew's would be burned at the stake. Clergy present of course for their final rites.

• joanxis | Sep 25, 2011, 11:49 AM EDT

  Amen to that 1IrishMedic. I've felt that way about him for years.

• falconflash | Sep 25, 2011, 11:40 AM EDT

  No, I like Bill. Mutts like O'Dowd and Matthews know of the evils of abortion but would never go there --- they'd be fired in a heart beat..... Life is a gift from God, only God can give life and only God can take it away. It is the issue of our day, and all the liberals want the Church destroyed because they know how the Church supports the infant in the womb, O'Dowd and Matthews in particular, and liberals in general can't bring themselves to address the issue....much, much easier and cool to point out the Church's mistakes rather than its overall goodness.

• 1IrishMedic | Sep 25, 2011, 11:22 AM EDT

  This man is a disgrace to the Irish, he is nothing but a bigot, right wing conservative, and for all is "christian love" is a fool and his best punishment would be for the media to ignore this ignoramus.

• PhlutiePhan | Sep 25, 2011, 11:14 AM EDT

  Even in your article, you do not accuse William Donohue of "covering up". You accuse him of the "method" in his so-called "madness". Lady Justice is "blind". An emotionally charged attack with pictures is not conducive to "blind justice". Maureen Dowd and Chris Mathews have their own no not hidden agenda of "bringing down the Church". Many American Catholic bishops are complicit in rejecting the Gospel and preaching an agenda of the "social justice" of "Uncle Joe" Bernardin. His liefestyle is well known through the writings of Malachi Martin. He has many hierarchical disciples. You do the math. By the way, "Tail gunner Joe" was never proved false in any of his so called wild accusations. The media crucified him and now William Donohue is another target. A "picture says a thousand words" and your picture of Mr. Donohue states more words than that.

• DonnaWho | Sep 25, 2011, 11:08 AM EDT

  Poor Bill. Bless him and do not curse him. Bless our bishops and do good to our priests. If you think LBGTs should have all the promotion they are finally getting, you should thank our church. The dots are easily connected. And Bill makes a fine living doing what he does.

• keneconnor | Sep 25, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

  I agree no one should get in the way of the liberal lynch mob: any who accuses the church of anything from 40 years ago is correct. No exceptions! There will be no defenses that we will consider and we will summarily execute anyone accused. Not only are we Irish now flat broke again but we have given up the only thing that ever really mattered: His church and our faith to chase money. Shame on us.

• eileenkny | Sep 25, 2011, 10:35 AM EDT

  Mr. Donohue should not be allowed to say anything against a victim of priestly pedophilia. Where's the quality control? He is NOT the voice of my Roman Catholic Church!!

• jamthecat | Sep 25, 2011, 10:27 AM EDT

  You expect the devil to stop making mischief just because he's asked to?

• miketolan | Sep 25, 2011, 10:01 AM EDT

  Hope there is a special section in hell for this piece of garbage. Donohue is nothing but a high paid lapdog for the church who will do their bidding no matter how repulsive the task.

• Springfield9 | Sep 25, 2011, 09:48 AM EDT

  Well, Donohue has a position. Dowd, always has a left leaning, warped position and Chris Matthews is waiting for the Mother Ship to take him home. The bottom line is this - there are/were Priests who preyed on boys. Legitimate members of the Orders of Brotherhood are leaving because many Monasteries and Friaries are homes for the Village People. I have a (former) Franciscan renting from me while he transits to "civilain" over this. So all this chatter is worth nothing more than a bleating sheep off in the distance.