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June 27, 1983

FOR: BILL BARR

FROM: MIKE UHLMANN

I'd like you to review the enclosed material from the Catholic League and consider the following:

(1) Arthur Schlesinger was right years ago when he described anti-Catholicism as the intellectual's counterpart to anti-Semitism among the masses.

(2) With the exception of outfits like the League, RC's tend to take abuse lying down. Their reasons for doing so derive from a long and complicated sociology, but it remains the case that little attention is paid to anti-Catholic libels.

(3) Much the same can be said about the snide and casual canards leveled at Protestant fundamentalists -- how fashionable it is, e.g., for a President of Yale to attack Falwell and Co. as if they were preparing thumbscrews and racks for non-believers.

(4) Nevertheless, anti-Catholic and anti-fundamentalist attacks are offensive not only to the targets but to the principle of religious tolerance which lies at the heart of our institutions. Such prejudice should be treated in the same manner as anti-Semitic and anti-black prejudice.

(5) All of which leads up to a proposal to which I'd like your reactions: why not have the President deliver a major address on religious and racial bigotry in the U.S.? He would begin by invoking Jeffers~n and Lincoln on the meaning of the Declaration, thence to a brief history of racial and religious bigotry in the U.S. He would then take particular note of a half-dozen or so recent examples of nastiness -- e.g., the resurgence of the Klan in some areas; the viciousness of the so-called "Posse Comitatus" group; some particularly dastardly piece of anti-Semitism; vicious anti-Catholic items taken from the League's files, etc.

The speech would be high-toned, but stern, and at times angry. Supplement to the Catholic League Newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 6 Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights CATHOLIC LEAGUE 1100 West Wells Street• Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233 • for Religious and Civil Rights

Anti-Catholicism in the U.S.A. By Bill Lynch and Liam Quinlan

Among the many prejudices and bigo Anti-Catholicism, then, is a different The play was hailed by drama critic tries that are present in the culturally manifestation of social prejudice. Anti- Rex Reed in the New York Daily News and ethnically plural society of Amer Catholicism is ideological contempt for as a "masterpiece of wit." He sneeringly ica, there is one that is much older and the teachings, doctrines, and practices hinted that Catholics would find the much less obvious than the others. This of the Roman Catholic Church and her play offensive, "of course," but that it is the bigotry known as anti-Catholicism. adherents. It is subtle, usually concealed was recommended "for anyone with What is anti-Catholicism? Let us begin under other forms, and many Catholics either a mind, a funnybone, or both." by stating what it is not. It is not a form fail to recognize it because they tend to The clergy and religious, it seems, if bigotry that is manifested by obvious live in neighborhoods with predominantly make popular subjects for directors and socio-economic oppression, as is often Catholic populations and attend paroch- authors to use, speculating on the worst the case with racism. It is true that ial schools. side of human nature, and priests and many Catholics in America hold high Isthereevidencethatanti-Catholicism nuns are often cast in the role of either paying jobs, live in expensive and well exists in America? Are there certain incompetents, such as M* A *S*H's Fr. kept neighborhoods, and are among the signs by which we can read the hand- Mulcahy,orvillainstobehissedat,asin most highly educated citizens. There writing on the wall? the Jesuit missionaries of "Shogun." are many Catholics who hold govern All we have to do is look at certain Rock musicians find elements in Cath- ment offices and positions of influence seemingly unconnected events happen- olic practice good inspiration for satiri- and power in the business world. ing on the American scene, to see the cal songs, such as Billy Joel's fast-paced Some would look at these statistics, signs of the times. "Only the Good Die Young," and Frank and, on the face of things, declare that One of the more popular off-Broadway Zappa's "Catholic Girls." Obviously, those there is no such thing as anti-Catholicism plays in the last two years has been the who produce such songs are testifying in America. To do so is to display a naive Christopher Durangproduction, "Sister that they do not care if Catholics are understanding of the nature of preju Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You." offended by their so-called "entertain- dice. Socio-economic hardship is not the The play, an attempt at satire of the ment," and the fact that they find such a only criterion by which to detect dis beliefs and practices of the Roman wide receptive audience for it shows us crimination and bigotry. The favorable Catholic Church, features tasteless something of the ublic's attitude as colldi 10ns tha are enJoye y meri fiumor," cru e language, offensive re- ~ ell. ca's Catholics are also enjoyed by Amer marks on morality and sexuality, and Aside from cinema and television ica's Jews, but I don't think anyone sacrilegious parodies of the Nativity producers using Catholic practices in would be so blind as to state that there is and Death of Jesus on the cross, with a seamy stories to make a plot more color- no such thing as anti-Semitism in this crucified Barbie doll, that is supposed to ful, there are other people who find rid- country. pass as comedy. icule of Catholicism a lucrative business. AN ew York-based card company, calling itself "N unsense, Inc.", features women dressed up in traditional Catholic nun habits in various ridiculous and compromising positions, ranging from Bill Lynch (left) and Liam Quin the absurd to the obscene. In response to lan are associate editor and protests by Catholics against this sort of assistant features editor, respec humor, the people of "Nunsense, Inc." tively. of The Quandrangle, the student newspaper of Manhattan contended that Catholics who couldn't College in the Bronx, N. Y. Their find this card series funny must have article first appeared as a three some hangup with their own faith. part Quandrangle series in Feb An Oregon-based game company, ruary, 1983. Omnidome, Inc., has recently released a game patterned on a go-for-broke for mat dealing with the Catholic teachings of sin and grace. Entitled "Redemp tion," this game's object is to commit as many mortal sins as possible in a given their campaign against the Catholic Catholics in America dates further back time. Before time is called, you must get Church, particularly in their "Alberto" than the 1776 Declaration of Independ to a priest in confession in order to get to series. ence (Spanish missionaries came to heaven. There are "graces" and "indul "Alberto" reads like one of the poorer Florida with Ponce DeLeon in the 16th gences" made of yellow plastic chips and propaganda vehicles of traditional fun century), life for Catholics in the United "mortal sins" and "venial sins" made of damentalist diatribe. "Dr." Alberto Riv States has not always been a bed of red ones. Sin cards and grace cards are era claims to have been a Jesuit priest in roses. used also in the game, several with Spain who was part of the Vatican con America has always been a land where explicitly sexual acts described. spiracy to infiltrate and destroy all the the majority of the settlers are of Pro Such games, such plays, such movies Protestant churches of Europe and testant religious affiliation. The early and songs do well on the market. There America. The Roman Catholic institu Puritans and Pilgrims had a dream of is clearly good money in this sort of tion, according to Alberto, is the whore this new, unexplored continent as being "entertainment" at the expense of Roman of Revelation and the Pope is the anti the second Promised Land, a land God Catholic beliefs and practices. Christ. Roman Catholics are on the had ordained for the creation of a truly The news media, both the printed and highway to hell and only the true Bible Christian civilization free from the electronic word, have a tendency to sen believing Christians (whom Alberto has errors and abuses of European Chris sationalize issues the Catholic Church is happily joined) can be saved. tianity. The other Protestant sects that involved in. Certain issues in the news The officials of the Society of Jesus in settled here all shared this dream as today are constantly being identified as Madrid checked into their records to well. "Catholic" issues. find out who this supposed ex-Jesuit is Rarely do we hear about the large and what his case history might be. Like number of Americans opposed to abor the bogus ex-Jesuit of the Wavelength European background tion who belong to creeds other than the article, Fr. Alberto Rivera, S.J., is a Catholic faith, or no creed at all. Politi fabrication. The charlatan fundamen cians and scientists who are asked their The churches of Europe-the largest talist who goes by the same name was as and most powerful being the Roman views on the issue are almost always much aJesuitas Billy Graham and Oral Catholic Church-were involved in pol asked if they are Catholic. If they are, Roberts are. In response, Chick publica itics, wars and the possession of land and then they are evermore referred to as tions claimed that the Vatican had des wealth. In the Puritan eye, such deal such, as if to imply that the opinion of a troyed the records to conceal their dia Catholic doctor or politician is naturally bolical conspiracy. They continue to ings had tainted the Christian religion, against abortion and cannot be other and the hands of Christian leaders were distribute their literature (despite con stained with blood and sin. The rituals wise, so that opinion is not to be taken as demnations from various Protestant coming from an individual but from a and practices of these churches, espe churches) and have also put out a book cially the Roman Catholic Church, struck monolithic structure. that claims the assassination of Abra them as idolatrous and sorcerous ( due to The debate over tuition tax credits for ham Lincoln was done by a papal hit parents who send their children to pri man. the use of images and sacramental vate schools is often seen as a clear formulas). breach of separation of church and state. The Puritan ideology considered the The majority of private schools in this Who believes It? Pope to be the anti-Christ, the Beast of country are Catholic schools, so this too Rome warned about in the Book of Reve is often viewed in media coverage as the lation. The new Promised Land, if it was Catholic Church overstepping its consti We, as Catholics, might laugh at such to truly develop into the perfect Chris tutional boundaries. Catholic schools are literature and ask who could believe it. tian civilization, must suffer no contam still labelled as "elitist" and "racist," The next time Jehovah's Witnesses ring ination from the satanic and worldly despite the fact that a nationwide survey your doorbell, you will have your answer. Church of Rome with its pagan rites. found they offer education to minorities The Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as the The idea gradually developed that the and lower-income families, regardless Seventh-Day-Adventists, and other wide Pope was only waiting for his chance to of religious affiliation, that is superior spread religious groups, have one thing extend his domination to America as to public education. in common: they believe that the Catholic well as in Europe. Thus a peculiar para Church is evil and the enemy of God and noia became part of popular Protestant the truth. thought, which was that the Vatican Deceptive article Of course, a lot of mainstream Ameri was planning to launch an invasion. cans consider these organizations offbeat Catholic settlers were generally met anyway, and not to be taken seriously. with suspicion and hostility in the early In a less subtle manner, a college pub But a lot of people read contributing colonies. Many colonies refused them lication last spring printed an incoher columnist Alexander Cockburn of The . admittance, and in others Catholics suf ent, factually unfounded, libelous attack Village Voice and consider him an intel fered severe legal disabilities. During on the Roman Catholic Church, entitled ligent, sophisticated and avant garde the period of the American Revolution "A Dissenting Jesuit's View of the man. In a June, 1979, issue of The Voice, against England, any connection with Catholic Church." The magazine was Mr. Cockburn wrote how lovely it would European powers was suspect. There Wavelength of the University of Mass be to strangle the Pope as a symbol of fore Catholics, who owed their allegiance achusetts-Boston. The article was rife liberty triumphing over oppressive for to a foreign prince (for the Pope was with the most outrageous distortions ces in the world. then temporal ruler of the Papal States), and accusations, but the real surprise Here we have factual evidence of the were not the most popular of citizens. lay at the end, when it was admitted that unusual bigotry known as anti-Catho American democracy, once established, the priest who supposedly wrote the licism that exists in America. Catholics was often reflected in the structure of article, "Father Penn," was a fictitious often fail to recognize it because it is far many Protestant churches, where pas being. less obvious than the prejudices of racism tors and ministers were elected by the There are many publications that are and anti-Semitism. Yet it is not only congregation. This was the exact oppo privately-owned and make no bones about here, it appears to be quietly growing site of the Catholic churches, which had their feelings for Roman Catholicism. across the nation, especially since few an administration and clerical system The fundamentalist Christian booklets Catholics have raised a voice against it. which was obviously monarchical in of Chick Publications are notorious in Although the presence of Roman structure. Although there was susp1c10n and part of a Jesuit conspiracy. ships between Catholics and Protestants hostility towards Catholics in the young After the Civil War, Catholics were are better now than they have ever been United States, anti-Catholicism did not better accepted by their Protestant in history. really reach a substantial pitch until the neighbors, largely due to the loyalty However, there is another kind of mid-19th century. The waves of immi they had shown during the war. The anti-Catholicism present in American grants in the 1840's and '50's spurred on fanatics and extremists, of course, lin society that has nothing at all to do with fears of Yankee elites about the large gered on, but N ativist prejudice did not the Nativist history. Call it "new wave" numbers of Germans and Irish who surface strongly again until the early anti-Catholicism if you will, the present were swarming into the country. A move 20th century, when a Catholic candidate form of the old prejudice is much more ment called Nativism was born, which ran for President of the United States. subtle than the ravings of demagogues, wanted to preserve and safeguard the It was the 1928 presidential election: much more acceptable than storming United States against foreign conspira Alfred E. Smith, presidential candidate, mobs, and much more sophisticated than tors. Political parties sprang up such as was a New Yorker, a Democrat, and a paranoid literature. the Know-Nothings that were rabidly Roman Catholic. It was his religious It is the anti-Catholicism that comes anti-Catholic. The work of these fanati affiliation that brought out a storm of from the secular, intellectual and lib cal groups consisted of spreading para press attacks and stirred virulent anti eral mentality that has become domi noia and panic among Americans as to Catholic sentiment. To many non-Catholic nant in American culture today. And it the presence of Catholics as spies and Americans, the idea of aCatholic in the is much more dangerous and likely to threats to national security. White House was synonymous with long grow because it wears such a charming In the 1840's, Pope Pius IX, as ages range rule from the Vatican. When exterior. ture of goodwill and friendship to the Smith lost the election to Herbert Hoover, the general consensus was that he did so young government of the United States, The acceptable bigotry sent a block of marble for the construc because of his creed. tion of the Washington Monument. A Toaemost=ra=cce----.-c"'"'1s,.....-,cs=en=sc-ce,----,,.o,.._,c-cu.,.-,m=o=r,------frenzied mob threw the block into the even in his unjust defeat, Smith said he Modern anti-Catholicism in America Potomac River as a gesture of contempt contemplated sending a one-word tele has been dubbed by sociologist Fr. and distrust. In 1844, in the city of Phi gram to Pope Benedict XV: "Unpack!" Andrew Greeley as the "acceptable big ladelphia, a Protestant mob attacked otry" ai:nong our country's intellectuals the Catholic section of the city and burned The Kennedy campaign because it does not have the same results down two churches and one school in the of economic hardship and social oppres- course of several anti-Catholic riots. sion as does the bigotry of racism.Unlike Earlier, in the Charlestown section of In 1960, John F. Kennedy faced the the naive Nativist hatred and suspicion Boston, another N ativist Protestant mob same kind of suspicion in his campaign of the 19th century, much of the anti- stormed and burned down an Ursuline for president. For the first time in Catholicism of today is an animosity convent and school. American history, a presidential candi- toward certain moral teachings of the date had to face a body of ministers to Roman Catholic Church on the part of Nativist preachers answer their questions about how he leaders of the intelligentsia. would deal with separation of church The values of American society have and state. The meeting was held in undergone some drastic changes in the Many times these mobs were whipped Houston, Texas, and 150 clergymen of past 20 years. There has been a shift into fury by the preaching of Nativist variousProtestantdenominationsquizzed from the traditional Protestant ethic to and fundamentalist polemicists. One such Kennedy. The confrontation went well a more secularized humanistic outlook. anti-Catholic demagogue was the Rev. for Kennedy, obviously, because he won Popular attitudes toward certain moral Lyman Beecher, father of author Har- the election. However, Kennedy was issues are very different now from what riet Beecher Stowe of Uncle Tom's Cabin still careful not to be too friendly with they used to be. In the pendulum swing fame. (His was the sermon that sparked Catholic prelates, lest accusations be of general opinion, the Catholic Church the mob to storm the Ursuline convent raised against him. has been left in the position ofrepresent- in Boston.) Samuel F.B. Morse, inventor Many optimistic voices claimed that ing values and obligations which are of the telegraph, was convinced that since a Roman Catholic could be elected considered outmoded and archaic by the CatheJ.ie--el'ganizati6flS-Sttet1-a&1~~,etE~- -ei"elooen-1;;--,ftft~::ra-t;flm-icis-m--must-be-g~+.·-nn------for the Propagation of the Faith were from American society. Many would The Catholic Church has been adam- planning to take over the Mississippi echo this with the more recent example ant in its official position on the issues of Valley for the Pope's new headquarters. of Pope John Paul II being greeted so divorce, abortion and birth control. While Catholic clergy and societies, first and favorably in this country during his widespread American opinion has shifted foremost the Jesuits, were constantlj 1979 visit, even to being welcomed at the to the more liberal interpretation of the under the surveillance of Nativists and White House by President Carter. morality of these issues, the Catholic fundamentalists as being agents of Rome In truth, the N ativist kind of anti- Church has retained its traditional out to undermine the American govern- Catholicism is largely dead. There are, stance. Since the Church has been out- ment and place the country under papal of course, odd outbreaks of it, such as in spoken in its position on these issues, the domination. the "Alberto" fundamentalist comic media and public opinion have come to The Ku Klux Klan harrassed Cathol- books, or in the 1978 declaration of the identify these issues as "Catholic issues." ics as well as Jews and blacks. A pie- Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Theresultisaconflictofvalueemphasis thora of unfounded, sensationalistic that the Pope is the anti-Christ. How- between the secular, "enlightened" out- literature penned by fanatical evange- ever, mainstream American Protestant- look and the teachings of the Roman lists popped up all during the 19th cen- ism is much more tolerant, friendly and Catholic Church on several highly con- tury claiming to expose the "truth" cooperative with the Catholic Church troversial moral issues. This is not to lay behind the Catholic Church in America. today. Partially due to Catholics assimi- at the door of secular humanists all Books such as "Maria Monk" claimed lating more with American culture, blame for anti-Catholicism. Secular sexual atrocities went on behind con- partially due to the changes in the post- humanism in and of itself is no threat to vent walls. Fifty Years in the Church of Second Vatican Council Church, and Catholicism. Active, compassionate Rome claimed the Civil War and the also in part due to the ecumenical move- humanism is a common denominator assassination of President Lincoln were ment of the late '50s and '60s, relation- between Catholics and humanists that safeguards mutual respect among per makes up contemporary anti-Catholicism. Clearly, you would not ridicule your sons of integrity. There is another source from which it parents in front of strangers unless there However, there is an undeniable ten springs, far more vehement and vitrio was something seriously lacking in your sion between "pop" secularity and lic. This is anti-Catholicism that comes upbringing and manners. In the same organized religion. The Catholic Church, from people who are of the Roman way, ridicule of Catholicism by these due to its long history, impressive size, Catholic background themselves. present sensationalists has crossed the accumulated property holdings, and This may strike some as surprising line between what is no-harm-intended unflinching moral stance, is the most and paradoxical, but the facts are pain humor and repugnant trash, especially conspicuous example of organized reli fully obvious. One need only look at the since widespread publicity and lucra gion. To the detractors of organized people who were mentioned earlier in tive interests are introduced. religion, the Catholic Church is an connection with productions offensive to Harmless, inside jokes don't bring in available and handy scapegoat. Catholics: Christopher Durang ("Sister cash-paying customers; obviously, there In addition, the authoritarian struc Mary Ignatius"), Billy Joel ("Only the fore, fear of being offensive is submerged ture of the Church irks the progressivist Good Die Young"), Omnidome's game under making a quick buck. mentality, which places a high premium "Redemption," and the originators of These sophisticated and "enlightened" on individualistic opinion and dissent. the card series Nunsense, Inc. All these ones, for all their alleged broadminded Anti-authoritarianism sees the Church people are of Catholic background. ness in respect to Catholic ridicule, dis as a medieval structure; a mentally and play a persistent myopia by implying emotionally oppressive institution that that all Catholics should immediately warps its members with guilt and fear. Some joke identify with their taste in humor. To Many organizations in America, noted think that Catholics who find such things for their liberal and secular modes of Perhaps we can sum up the reasoning offensive are reactionary and dullwitted thought, are imbued with this underly of these people in the words of Dan Gog is to hypocritically deny them the right ing bias that reveals itself at times in gin, a member of the Nunsense card to dissent-a right which is apparently ug-ly outbursts. - company, who corresponded with us reserved only unto themselves. In 1972, the Xerox Corporation pub These little-recognized, subtle, and after inquiries into the nature of the up-to-now generally acceptable mani lished a booklet for high school students card series. entitled, "Population Control? Whose "The Nunsense greeting card line festations of a snivelling little bias should Right to Live?" This booklet was the started out as a joke between four peo not leave Catholics in a downtrodden or work of two independent university pro ple, all Catholic, all taught by nuns, pok despairing state of mind. There are fessors who implied that the teaching of ing fun at the old days," said Mr. Gog many signs in American society today Pope Paul VI on birth control sanc gin, who was generous enough to send us that lead one to believe that Catholicism, tioned the starvation of millions, and some samples of the N unsense card line. for so long a sleeping giant in the face of suggested that he be brought before a In response to our negative reaction to thinly veneered prejudice, is beginning world court to face trial for crimes his wares, Mr. Goggin wrote us the to rise from its slumber. against humanity. following: "Anyone who cannot enjoy humor Catholic response Defamatory cartoons about themselves is in big trouble." Since when is ridiculing nuns laughing at our selves, lay people? "We find our biggest The sneering diatribes of anti-Catholic In 1977, the Chicago chapter of the problem with people who are seriously intelligentsia and embittered apostates Planned Parenthood Federation sent a questioning their own faith or are afraid have found the gauntlet picked up by mailing to college newspapers all over to question it because they fear what organizations such as the Catholic League the country that featured a comic strip answers may come to them." for Religious and Civil Rights. Fighting of a Roman Catholic bishop who is mak Such blanket statements thoroughly American bigotry on all fronts (includ ing a confident speech of how legalized skirt the issue, as is common among ing anti-Semitism and racism) and abortion will not prevail in this country. producers of such material. Rather than working side by side with the Anti The strip progresses to show the bishop face the possibility that they have sunk Defamation League of B'nai B'rith and going from holding a Bible and crozier beneath professional and tasteful stand the National Conference of Christians to his breast, to holding a matchbook ards, they prefer to place the blame on and Jews, the Catholic League has and gasoline can, concluding with the those who find offense with such attempts emerged as an important group of con statement that the faithful will be out at humor. cerned citizens seeking to rid this great burning down the abortion clinics. Such remarks are symptomatic of the country of the ugly sins of prejudice. This secularized, anti-religious atti prevalent attitude among people of Contrary to accusations that the League tude is not found only among the middle Catholic background who ridicule their is made up of pro-Catholic fanatics, aged intelligentsia of our country. The own church as if they are demonstrating League members have marched against presence of anti-Catholicism is found an avant-garde broadmindedness by the Ku Klux Klan and protested anti also on college campuses. In certain being able to laugh at their own religion. Jewish propaganda in the course of medical and law schools, applicants are They feel Catholics who cannot join their campaign against anti-Catholicism. questioned on moral issues that are de them in such mirth are prudish and The existence of any form of bigotry in cisive for acceptance to such schools. insecure in their faith. After all, they American culture stands as an indict These questions deal specifically with argue, they are Catholics themselves ment against the ideals of our Constitu the moral issues of abortion and divorce, and aren't offended. Why should you be? tion. However, as long as we have the and the only acceptable answer is one in There is a fine line between laughing right to freedom of speech-and as long favor of both. Naturally, Catholics who with one's faith and laughing at it. as groups that suffer prejudice, Cathol are opposed to such things as abortion There are some harmless good-natured ics, Jews, or any ethnic groups-exercise and divorce cannot opt for "conscien puns Catholics make among themselves that right, and work towards ridding tious objection," and invariably must about elements of their faith, but these our land of such bigotries, then we all either respond in the affirmative or are "inside jokes"-made in much the have the opportunity to make this coun suffer the consequences. same way family members might make try what our Pledge of Allegiance holds These manifestations, however, are friendly jokes about each other at a before us: one country, indivisible, with but one side of the two-faced coin that communal gathering. liberty and justice for all. CATHOLIC LEAGUE NEWSLETTER Vol. 10, No. 6 June, 1983

University of Illinois sponsors inside ... anti-Catholic 'art' exhibition A student newspaper at a New York state university has apologized for pub The Catholic League has urged the Despite protests by the Catholic lishing a blasphemous cartoon which University of Illinois, Chicago Circle League, the University Newman Center substituted a nude woman for the Lord campus, to withdraw its sponsorship of and hundreds of Chicago-area Cathol in a depiction of The Last Supper (page an exhibition of anti-Catholic paintings ics, University spokesmen insist that 2). titled "Lady of Babylon" by Douglas they are obliged, under the First Amend Van Dyke. ment's guarantee of freedom of expres Of the 40 paintings in the exhibit, 34 sion, to provide a public forum for Van * * * have been described as blatantly anti Dyke's anti-Catholic exhibition. On page 3 is a report of the Missouri Catholic. Among the images in the dis As Schwartz explained to Langen legislature's efforts to ensure that state play are the pope as the devil, priests as berg, however, the issue is not free taxes will no longer be use to subsidize Nazis, Christ on a cross with the head of dom of expression. "No one denies the anti-Catholic theatrical productions. a pig, the Blessed Virgin Mary on a right of Van Dyke and those of his stripe toilet seat, and the Blessed Sacrament in to parade their various prejudices," said * * * various disgusting situations. The title Schwartz. "We recognize that part of This month's Docket column, on page and content of the exhibit are purport the price of living in a free society is that 4, summarizes recent Senate testimony edly derived from Van Dyke's interpre we have to suffer would-be storm troop by League General Counsel Patrick tation of the biblical book of Revelation. ers marching through Skokie, racial Monaghan on the right of public high epithets scrawled on walls, and similar school students to meet voluntarily for 'Hateful' paintings public expressions of incivility." prayer and religious discussion on school In a letter to Chancellor Donald Lan The real issue, said Schwartz, is property during off-school hours. genberg, the Catholic League's director whether Van Dyke's incivility is to of public affairs, Michael Schwartz, receive the "endorsement, approbation, * * * said the League is "outraged because the protection and sponsorship of a univer In a guest column on page 5, Marilyn paintings are so grossly hateful toward sity supported by the public for the wel Lundy, president of Citizens for Educa the Catholic Church" and "embarassed fare of the public." tional Freedom and a member of the because the University's sponsorship of No right League's Board of Directors, advocates the exhibit is so clearly contrary to the educational reforms which would res public interest, intellectual integrity, Elaborating on the meaning of the tore "true educational freedom and jus and even common decency." First Amendment, Schwartz advised tice in America." Langen berg that Van Dyke has abso lutely no claim of right to have "his * * * daubings" displayed under the auspices ---~---w,spapers across the country have of the University of Illinois. "The selec received copies of a new Catholic League tion of this exhibition is a matter at the publication which documents the insti discretion of University officials, and tutional anti-Catholicism of a major ultimately of you, as chief administra American newspaper, The Boston Globe. tive officer of the University," he said. See the article on page 6. Schwartz said Langenberg, by per mitting the exhibition to be sponsored * * * by the University, has "shown a con Newsday, the leading daily paper on temptuous disregard for the sensibili Long Island, provides selective cover ties of the Catholic citizens of Illinois age of religious prejudice in political and all others who are disgusted by such campaigns, according to a comprehen religious bigotry, and you have commit sive report prepared and distributed by ted the state of Illinois to a policy of con the League's Long Island Chapter (page doning and encouraging the public 7). expression of anti-Catholic hatred." Schwartz told Langenberg that he * * * could permit the exhibition to remain on In his regular column on page 8, campus and thus ratify a dishonorable A central image from one of Van Dyke's and irresponsible decision, or he could League President Rev. Virgil C. Blum, paintings is the figure of Christ on the S.J., discusses the failure of Catholic have the paintings removed from the cross with the head of a pig. Other exam University, thus taking a step toward voters to cast their ballots on the basis of ples of his work are shown on page 2. the candidates' positions on vital issues. decency and integrity.

1 -·------1

The Blessed Sacrament floats in a toilet Christians blamed bowl in a painting from the exhibit spon sored by the University of Illinois for Holocaust Chicago Circle campus. The Catholic League has refuted a recent Des Moines Register column by Donald Kaul which blamed Christianity for the Nazi Holocaust. Ruminating on the Holocaust in his April 17 column, Kaul said he was reminded of Pope John Paul II's state ment that atheism is the chief cause of evil today. "What can he have been thinking of?" asked Kaul, who then asserted "that the two great sources of evil in the modern world are love of God and love of country ... "

Christianity maligned

In what the League described as the epitome of witlessness or malice, Kaul then went on to say: "I do not think that Germans killed Jews in spite of the fact that they, the Germans, were Christians, -Protests spur reforms at student paper but because they were." (Kaul's italics) In reply, League Director of Publica Anthony Mangano, president of the fact, a responsibility not to print it." tions Orlan Love wrote: "Even someone League's Westchester Chapter, has been Schwartz told those at the meeting as unfamiliar with Christianity as Kaul instrumer,tal in eliciting assurances that The Load has already printed six seems to be should know that Christians that The Load, student newspaper of the letters to the editor complaining about regard racism and murder as grievous State University of New York at Pur the cartoon, as well as an apology from sins, and that Nazism, which was founded chase, will not repeat its earlier mistake the cartoonist, student Eileen Arnow, on the premise that the state takes of publishing material which gratui and the paper's own apology, which precedence over the laws of God, is tously offends the religious sensibilities stated in part: "To those who questioned clearly antithetical to Christianity." of many of its readers. our judgment and our taste, we apolog Last Nov. 17 The Load published a ize to whomever we've offended ... " blasphemous cartoon rendering of The Moreover, said Schwartz, the letters Atheism fuels holocausts Last Supper in which Christ was replaced of protest prompted The Load to reex by a nude woman saying, "Take, eat, this amine its editorial policy. He said the is my body." paper is expanding and reorganizing its Noting Kaul's apparent pique at the The cartoon prompted a barrage of editorial board and that it plans to add a Pope's statement on atheism, Love con protest letters from, among many others, faculty adviser who "would question us tinued: "Someone as familiar with athe Mangano, State Senator Joseph Pisani, and force us to be responsible and aware ism as Kaul seems to be should know Margaret Gilmore of the National Con about what we print." To illustrate that that atheism fueled the Nazi Holocaust, ference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ), The Load has learned its lesson, Schwartz just as it is fueling the abortion holo the Post Roads Area Council of Priests, said "in the Dec. 22 issue we refused to caust in the United States today." and Sister Brigid Driscoll, president of print two articles which made fun of the Love then quoted Rev. James T. Burt Marymount College in Tarrytown. origins of Christmas and Chanukah." chaell, C.S.C.,who observed in his book At the urging of the NCCJ's Gilmore, Rachel Weeping and Other Essays on U niveristy President Sheldon Grebstein Abortion that "the putrid decay in the hosted a Jan. 31 meeting at which issues open pits at Babi Yar and the sacrificial raised by The Load publication were New course suggested smoke that rose from Auschwitz were discussed. In attendance were univer the effluvia of a spirit that now leaves sity officials, members of The Load staff Several students at the meeting like offerings in the pails of Pre-Term and such local religious leaders as Gil expressed regret that our society has and the incinerators of the Center for more, Mangano, Sister Driscoll, Sister produced a generation so bereft not only Reproductive and Sexual Health." Mary Dympna Haber of St. Joseph's of personal values but also of respect and Rectory in Bronxville, and Rev. Thomas understanding for the values and beliefs J. McCaffrey, secretary of the Post Roads of others. Liz Gross, president of the A different spirit Area Council. Student Senate, suggested that a course The meeting began with a statement or seminar be instituted to foster under of apology from Load Editor David standing and respect for the right of Although nominal, former and failed Schwartz. Noting that freedom of ex people to hold religious beliefs and Christians may have participated in the pression is not an issue, Schwartz said: values without being ridiculed or defamed. Nazi Holocaust and may be participat "What is at issue is a serious lapse in Schwartz later wrote to Mangano and ing in the abortion holocaust, Christian judgment on my part about the effects of to the other religious leaders present at ity is not the spirit to which Burtchaell a cartoon. A newspaper has no business the meeting, thanking them for their refers, said Love, concluding: publishing what is needlessly offen concern. "The whole incident was a val "I do not think that Americans kill sive .. .If something is offensive, and has uable education for me, and I believe (it) their unborn babies in spite of the fact little other value, then we lose no free has been responsible for improving the that they, the Americans, are atheists, dom by not printing it, and we have, in quality of the paper," he said. but because they are." 2 Missouri moves to halt theater funding

In the wake of the "Sister Mary Igna to halt funding to the Theatre Project Opposition to the Senate appropria tius" controversy in St. Louis, the Mis Company-a refusal they described as tions bill has come, predictably, from souri legislature is taking steps to ensure "pretty arrogant." Fontaine Syer, artistic director of the that state tax funds will no longer be State aid and facilities, they said, Theatre Project Company, and from the used to subsidize theatrical productions should not be used to assist plays that St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which consist which vilify and ridicule religion. are anti-religious, just as state aid ently defended the anti-Catholic play Last year the Missouri Council on the should not be used to promote religion. throughout the recent controversy. Arts allocated $12,000 to the Theatre Syer described the Senate Appropria Project Company of St. Louis, which University may be next tions Committee's action as "an ominous expressed its gratitude to taxpayers by Sen. Webster said that the University omen," and the Post-Dispatch, in a May producing the virulently anti-Catholic of Missouri-St. Louis, which went out 10 editorial entitled "Senator Dirck's play "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It of its way to host productions of "Sister Shabby Revenge," which was sprinkled All For You." Mary Ignatius," might also suffer budget with words such as "spiteful," "vindic Neither the theater company nor the restrictions. "We want to send them a tive," "perverse" and "extremist," per arts council expressed the slightest message to be careful who they do busi sisted in its allegation that St. Louis remorse for the abuse of public funds, ness with," he said. Archbishop John L. May is pulling leaving the legislature with only one Resentment of the Theatre Project Senator Dirck's strings. way to protect the religious freedom Company's abuse of public funds appears Noonan comments rights of Missourians. to be widespread. On April 28 the Mis Theater funding ban souri House, by a 98 to 46 vote, rejected According to Frances Noonan, presi an effort to increase the arts council's dent of the League's St. Louis Chapter: On May 7 the Senate Appropriation budget. A legislator from Springfield "The Missouri State Legislature is per Committee, under the leadership of polled his constituents about which of 13 fectly capable of determining how state Chairman Edward Dirck, submitted an state programs should be the first to revenues should be allocated. State appropriation bill which cut $60,000 suffer budget cuts, and 90 percent of revenues are far exceeded by demands from the Missouri Arts Council's annual them responded that the Missouri Council for funding, and I am confident that the budget. The committee also added lan on the Arts should be first. And Rep. legislature will do its best in setting guage to the bill which would prohibit William R. O'Toole of St. Louis reported priorities." arts council funding to theater projects that he has received numerous com in general. plaints from constituents about state Sen. Dirck and Sen. Richard Webster, funding of a theater group which would Time discounts the senate minority leader, said the ban produce an anti-Catholic or anti-rel on funding theater projects stemmed igious play. Reagan's essay from the Missouri Arts Council's refusal Time magazine's May 9 report of President Ronald Reagan's recent anti abortion essay (see accompanying arti League lauds Reagan's pro-life essay cle) was so obviously biased that it may help to dispel the myth of media neutral ity, the Catholic League said in a letter The Catholic League has commended black brothers and sisters; but that min to Time. President Ronald Reagan for giving the ority persisted in their vision and finally Time began its article with an attempt pro-life movement much-needed encour prevailed." to discount the President's commitment agement with his recent anti-abortion The President reaffirmed his pledge to the pro-life cause. According to Time, essay published in the Spring, 1983 edi of support for all pending human life Reagan "pays lip service" to the right to ti@_of The Human Life Review. legislation. "My administration," he said, life, while his Administration works "Make no mistake, abortion on demand "is dedicated to the preservation of "only half-heartedly" to end abortion. is not a right guaranteed by the Consti America as a free land, and there is no The essay, which Time described var tution," the President wrote in his essay cause more important for preserving iously as "rambling but passionate," entitled "Abortion and the Conscience of that freedom than affirming the trans filled with "high-pitched earnestness," the Nation." cendent right to life of all human beings, and "harrowingly explicit," was little The Supreme Court's verdict against the right without which no other rights more than an empty gesture to "far the pre born "has by no means settled the have any meaning." right special interest groups," the news debate," he said, noting that Roe v. Wade In a letter to President Reagan, League magazine said. remains "a continuing prod to the con President Rev. Virgil C. Blum, S.J., After pointing out the article's obvious science of the nation." observed that when condemnation of the bias, League Director of Communica Encouraging pro-lifers to remain Supreme Court's abortion decision issues tions Stephen Settle said he was pleased steadfast, President Reagan reminded from the President of the United States, that Time quoted the following "har them: "This is not the first time our the head of a co-equal branch of govern rowingly explicit" passage from the country has been divided by a court ment, pressure on the Court to correct President's essay: "The abortionist who decree that denied the value of certain its past abuse of power grows immeasur reassembles the arms and legs of a tiny human lives. The Dred Scott decision of ably. baby to make sure all its parts have been 1857 was not overturned in a day, or a "It is my cherished hope," wrote torn from its mother's body can hardly year, or even a decade. At first, only a Father Blum, "that in the not-too-distant doubt that it is a human being." minority of Americans recognized and future history will record that your "Such is the nature of blunt truth," deplored the moral crisis brought about essay gave the American people the said Settle. "Abortion kills babies in the by denying the full humanity of our impetus they needed to redress one of womb. Mr. Reagan's 'high-pitched ear the greatest evils ever to befall mankind." nestness' reflects this reality."

3 616D~~~,~:k~~=~-speech' includes free expression of faith --. General Counsel In the recent Lubbock Independent in school. In fact, if anything, the First with the people freely proclaiming their School District case, the U.S. Supreme Amendment would mandate opportuni faith in God. The abortion ethic is Court declared unconstitutional a school ties for such openness in furtherance of a incompatible with free speech. Evil policy that allowed students to meet true pluralism in American society. does not care for public exposition. voluntarily to pray. Likewise in the Any arguments implying the uncon A government by judiciary which is Brandon case, the Court let stand an stitutionality of something so moderate, based on the notion that man is a mea appeals court ruling that "nothing could so fair, so just and so simple as "equal sure of all things, like Poland's govern be more dangerous" than an adolescent access" for religious speech are mere ment by martial law based on the same seeing the football captain, the student exercises in a form of popularly prac premise, has an eroding base of moral body president or "the leading actress in ticed deceit. This deceit, coming from legitimacy. a dramatic production participating in persons committed to secularizing socie communal prayer meetings in the 'cap ty, takes the form of a statement, "It's in Free expre11lon of faith tive audience' setting of a school..." the Constitution," rather than an honest And here, as there, it will be the free Senators Jeremiah Denton and Mark statement, "we don't want anything to expression of faith in God, freely pro Hatfield have introduced in Congress an do with God." Such "Constitutionalism" claimed and lived, that will reform and "Equal Access" Bill which would pro is totally spurious. redeem society. Believers know that hibit any school which received federal Rellglous suppre11lon Rome once fell about them, but they funds from discriminating against indi stood, and God was with them. viduals or groups for religious speech. Prohibition of school children's volun For Congress, the question now is Those policies which the school extended tary prayer is religious suppression. whether it will use its rightful power to to extra curricular non-religious groups Enforcement of such a prohibition or a uphold the natural rights of citizens to would have to be extended to religious position that religious speech is prohi acknowledge their Creator. It was that groups as well. bited or confined to churches or syn same power that enabled Congress in agogues is in fact to equate America's the 1860's to repeatedly ignore the Dred ACLU argument First Amendment rights to the Soviet Scott decision in which the Supreme Union's guarantees of freedom of religion. Court held that blacks were "beings of Although the American Civil Liber In analyzing the Court's present an inferior order" who could never be ties Union contends religious speech attempt to outlaw the voluntary prayer citizens under the Constitution. does not have the constitutional protec of public school students, one cannot The failure of Congress to act in this tions of other speech, there is absolutely escape the apparent connection between matter could well mean the undermin nothing in the First Amendment to the the Court's attack on religious speech ing of our government. Nations have United States Constitution that would and its earlier creation, by judicial fiat, often abolished God, Who has fortunately in any way prohibit or interfere with the of a "right" to kill unborn children. shown Himself more tolerant in His "Equal Access" concept for human A court that legalized killing under response. But we dare not be presump beings to freely express their religious stmidably would not be comfortable tuous of grace. commitment while on school property or League backs voluntary prayer

The Catholic League has testified in Monaghan said the proposed legisla support of proposed U.S. Senate legisla tion is needed to reverse the pernicious tion that would permit students to hold effects of recent federal court decisions out-of-class religious discussions in pub in the Brandon and Lubbock Independ lic high schools. ent School District cases. The bill, introduced by Sen. Mark In Brandon, Catholic League attor Hatfield and 14 other senators, would neys represented a group of high school require secondary schools permitting students from Guilderland, N.Y. The students to meet during non-instruc Students for Voluntary Prayer, as they tional periods of the school day to also were known, wanted to meet voluntarily permit such student meetings with reli for prayer during off-school hours in an gious content. unused classroom. In late 1981, how Not only would the bill prohibit school ever, the U.S. Supreme Court announced or state officials from influencing the that it would let stand an appeals court form or content of any prayer or other ruling that denied the students' right to religious activity; it would also ban the pray on school property. officials from forcing any students to In the Lubbock case, in which the participate in such activity. League submitted a friend-of-the-court In supporting the proposed bill, brief, the Supreme Court ruled earlier League General Counsel Patrick this year that a school policy allowing Monaghan, at an April 28 meeting of the students to meet voluntarily to pray is Kenneth Collins of Chaminade High Senate Judiciary Committee, said that unconstitutional. School receives "The Most Outstanding government prohibition of religious (Monaghan's testimony before the Catholic League Student Award" from meetings such as those specified in the Senate Judiciary Committee is sum Long Island Chapter President William bill violates the free speech, free assem marized in this month's Docket column Lindner at the Chapter's fourth annual bly and religious freedom rights of high on page 4.) communion breakfast. school students.

4 Report highlights the need for educational reforms By Marilyn Lundy The National Commission on Excel story that public schools are the magic their rights and to shop for quality edu lence in Education has just concluded a backbone of democracy, a guarantee of cation in nongovernment schools or in study on public education in the United quality education for all children, and another school district. States. Fortunately for the nation, it has the integrating social force necessary Hopefully, now that the truth has had the perspicacity to speak bluntly for the betterment of the nation. Thus it gained respectability, the problem can as did the boy in the fable of "The was our first responsibility to provide a be more honestly addressed and true Emperor's New Clothes." good government school system for all reform sought.We applaud the members The commission has basically stated children, and then if any person or of the commission, but we beg them not that our education system has suffered group wanted something different, they to go back to the same magic clothes such a decline over the past 20 years so must expect to pay for it. salesmen for all their answers. Reform as to be a threat to the development and is not more of the same-more money security of the nation, and to such a and more days in the same government degree that if this decline had been System violates freedoms assigned schools. (The average per pupil imposed by an unfriendly foreign power, public school cost was $911 in 1970, as we might well consider it an act of war. The problem is that this monolithic compared to $2,553 in 1980-which public school system has been failing equates to a 280 percent increase in cost before our very eyes, and in the process while the number of students Fable recalled has mired our children and our nation in decreased 11 percent and teachers mediocrity. The truth is that the cause of increased by 5 percent.) If we remember the fable of "The our educational malaise is sewn into the Emperor's New Clothes," the emperor very fabric of the system because the Reforms needed bought from a tailor, at a very high system itself violates the basic princi ples of democracy and freedom: l)the Reform is recognizing that public price, clothes made from magic cloth educajion must encompass the educa which, according to the slick salesman, basic human right of parents to choose their children's schools; 2) the free tion of every child, regardless of the was invisible to all except the pure in school attended. heart. Afraid of being marked as market system; 3) religious and civil rights; and 4) social justice. Reform is promoting the primary unworthy, the emperor, his courtiers rights and responsibilities of parents and all his loyal subjects raved about the And the added tragedy is that the children most adversely affected by this (not government) in education. beauty and style of the clothes-except Reform is allowing the poor, as well as the boy who had the integrity to say it malaise are those of minority and lower income families-children who most need the wealthy, to choose a public or non "like it was." public, a secular or God-oriented school. For many years we have been sold the excellence in education, yet children whose parents are least able to exercise Reform is encouraging freedom, diversity and consumer choice, not con formity and monopoly. The figures show that where there is freedom, diversity and consumer choice, there is higher Anniversary commendations continue achievement and greater accountability at a far lower cost. The Catholic League has received dom rights of Catholics and others," many commendations and congratula wrote the Very Rev. Joseph J. Labaj, Financial reform tions in recognition of its tenth anniver S.J., Provincial, the Wisconsin Province, The first step in educational reform sary, among which are the following: the Society of Jesus. then must be a reform in all educational "The service which the Catholic Lea Sir Alfred K. Blasco, vice governor financing so that there is justice in the gue ... has given during the past decade general of the Equestrian Order of the collection_of _e_ducationaUaxes and jus - well- deserves-pal'ticular- reeogni tion-,'-! Holy Sepul-chre of-Jerusalem-;-wrote. tice and freedom in their distribution. It wrote Apostolic Delegate Pio Laghi. Commendations to the Catholic League is the consumer power of the people, and "Congratulations on reaching this for its dedication to the principles of especially parents, along with the good significant milestone in the history of religious freedom as set forth in the Bill intentions of the educational establish your organization," said President of Rights and as articulated by Pope ment, that will renew education in the Ronald Reagan. "You have my best John Paul II in his letter to the signator United States. wishes for continued success in the nations of the Helsinki Accords." We urge all "loyal subjects" to work future." "The 1.4 million members of the Knights diligently to provide the "emperor" Very Reverend Pedro Arrupe, S.J., of Columbus and their families join with (U.S. education) with new clothes vis Father General of the Society of Jesus, me in offering warm congratulations ible to all. And we urge all the emperor's wrote: "We at the Curia of the Society of and best wishes to the Catholic League courtiers, tailors and salesmen to care Jesus certainly share your concern about on the occasion of its 10th anniversary not only for their vested interests, but the rights of Catholics in the United celebration," said Virgil C. Dechant, the for the education of all children, for the States in general, and especially as these Supreme Knight. primary rights of all parents and for apply to the question of Catholic educa "In the struggle for dignity and true educational freedom and justice in tion. And, of course, we share your con decency," wrote U.S. Congressman America. cern about the trend toward arbitrary Henry Hyde, "the Catholic League for destruction of the unwanted, be they Religious and Civil Rights plays an (Marilyn Lundy is president of Citi unborn children, the old, the insane, or indispensable role .. .lt is not censorship zens for Educational Freedom and a anyone else that those in power might to combat bigotry - it is an essential member ofthe Catholic League's Board of want to put away." element of self-respect. I salute Father Directors. Reprinted with permission of "Congratulations on your 10 years of Virgil Blum and his organization. I am Our Sunday Visitor.) service in support of the religious free- continued on page 6 ... 5 ------·--· -- ...

Booklet spotlights Globe's bias

In a predominantly Catholic major customs." A characteristic anti-Catholic metropolitan area, the dominant news technique is the lionization of ex-Catholics: medium carries on a systematic deni Essentially, the same article appears gration of Catholicism. week after week, a portrait of an This paradox is documented and ana attractive, prominent personality who lyzed in Keeping Catholics in Their has supposedly happily and whole Place: The Boswn Globe's Cultural Imper heartedly rejected the stifling prison ialism by Robert P. Largess, which has of traditional Catholic superstitions just been published by the Catholic and morals and found fulfillment, espe League. ecially sexual fulfillment, in the liber After examining the Boston Globe's ation. coverage of Catholics and Catholicism On occasion, the Globe goes beyond from 1979 to 1981, Largess concludes ridicule, making direct attacks on the The Boston Globe's that "the Globe's coverage and depiction religious beliefs of Catholics, as in a Cultural Imperialism of Catholics today is simply a continua Holy Saturday, 1980 editorial which tion of the cultural pressures New Eng recommended downplaying the Resur By Robert P. Largess land society has brought to bear on rection of Jesus in favor of a "spiritual, Catholics for a century." perhaps psychological" interpretation A prime example cited by Largess is of that central event in Christian belief. A Catholic League Publication the Globe's response to a pastoral state Largess notes that "the Globe's war ment on abortion issued by Boston's with Catholicism has both a philosophi Humberto Cardinal Medeiros in Sep cal and political-economic aspect, but it Booklet notice tember, 1980, shortly before the prim cannot be reduced to either. Rather, it is To all those members whose special ary elections. In an 18-day period, the a "cultural conflict" between a domi contributions financed the publication Globe carried 38 articles and editorials nant minority in New England and the of new booklets on The Boston Globe's on this incident, nearly all opposing the Catholic majority which threatens its anti-Catholicism and on the recent "Sis Cardinal's views on abortion, his right to hegemony in the major institutions of ter Mary Ignatius" controversy in St. speak out, or both. The Globe's coverage the society of that region. The result is Louis, the Catholic League would like to of this issue, says Largess, was not the daily re-creation of a "climate of express its gratitude. Thanks not only reporting so much as it was "a campaign verbal, psychological violence against for the contributions but for your patience to propagandize ... views hostile to the Catholics" who are made to feel that in awaiting delivery of the promised Cardinal and his stand, and to create by their Faith is "evil, false and contempti books. innuendo and smear an atmosphere .. .in ble." By now, donors to the special appeal which the Cardinal's action is seen as Largess is a teacher in the Boston should have received their copies of immoral, possibly illegal, and certainly Public Schools and vice-president of the Keeping Catholics in Their Place: The highly dangerous." Massachusetts Chapter of the Catholic Boston Globe's Cultural Imperialism. (If The Globe's anti-Catholic prejudice is League. you have not, please notify League by no means limited to political controv The 75-page book is available at $2.00 Director of Publications Orlan Love.) ersy. Largess charges Globe writers per copy from the Catholic League for The second book, Kicking the Habit: A with "frequent use of direct ridicule Religious and Civil Rights, 1100 West City Confronts Religious Prejudice, is against Catholics, their beliefs and their Wells St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53233. now in the final stages of production, and it will soon be in the mail to those who contributed to the special fund. Anniversary commendations (continued from page 5) "As an organization deeply involved a proud supporter." Catholic League has been the standard in the struggle against bigotry and reli According to Dr. Bernard Nathanson, bearer, often the only one, for the free gious prejudice and committed to inter the author of Aborting America: "The dom of religion guaranteed all Ameri religious cooperation and dialogue, the Catholic League is a remarkable civil cans under the First Amendment to the American Jewish Committee congratu rights organization that was long Constitution," said Richard McMunn, lates the Catholic League ... on the occa overdue. Anti-Catholicism was a basic editor, Our Sunday Visitor. sion of its 10th anniversary," wrote component of the pro-abortion move "The Catholic League has done more Maynard I Wishner, AJC president. ment and remains to this day part of its than any other organization to alert the "In combating the evil of anti-Ca stock in trade. Your efforts are truly American people of all faiths to threats tholicism, the Catholic League is not needed now more than ever before." that would undermine the precious only being truly Catholic but also truly Mother Angelica, foundress of the value of human freedom and human American," said Father Sean McMa Eternal Word Television Network, wrote: life," said Ann O'Donnell, former vice n us, national director of the Irish "It is essential that the Catholic Church president of the National Right to Life National Caucus. have a vehicle of expression that reaches Committee. "I salute and applaud the League on the entire nation.We need to teach those "We at the National Catholic Educa this, the tenth anniversary of its exist who question, inform those who doubt, tion Association (NCEA) office are ence, and commend you and urge you to and stand tall before those who tear deeply grateful for all the work the continue the tasks you have undertaken. down and misrepresent the truths we Catholic League has done, and we hope We have all been the beneficiaries of hold so dear." that it will grow and prosper in the your efforts," wrote Eugene W. Linse, "In fighting for religious freedom years ahead," wrote Msgr.John Meyers, executive secretary of the Lutheran rights in a politically secular society, the president of the NCEA. Church-Missouri Synod.

6 Newsday charged with inconsistent and unfair coverage

Newsday, the leading daily newspaper of his remark. According to the League chapter's on Long Island, is inconsistent and Both the Long Island Chapter and the analysis of that article, Newsday gave unfair in its coverage of religious preju Knights of Columbus promptly reported "disproportionate coverage" to Mrazek's dice in political campaigns, according to Mrazek's slur to Newsday, which said undocumented allegation that Le Bou a recent report prepared and distrib on Oct. 30 that it would not report the tillier had engaged in ethnic slurs "and uted to local news media by the Catholic incident because such coverage might gave meaningless coverage to a con League's Long Island Chapter. influence the outcome of the Nov. 3 election. firmed episode of anti-Catholicism by a The extensively documented report is On the very day before the election, prominent politician." the result of five months' study by a however, Newsday published a half committee established to evaluate evi page article publicizing the charges of dence pertaining to Newsday's cover Barbara Blumberg, a candidate for the Disparate treatment age, or lack of coverage, of a series of North Hempstead Town Council, that religious and ethnic slurs in two recent her opponent had distributed anti-Semitic Although Newsday devoted about 90 Long Island political campaigns. literature. lines to Mrazek'E charges (which the Chapter leaders then protested News chapter later asce1 t.ained to be without day's apparently two-faced approach to foundation), it devoted just eight lines to Anti-Catholic slur coverage of religious prejudice to the Mrazek's earlier slur, and half of those paper's director of communications, lines contained Mrazek ·s denial that the Sam Ruinsky, who said he would refer remark had been anti-Catholic. The slur The slurs began Oct. 27, 1981, when the complaint to all Newsday editors. was not quoted, and the story gave read Robert J. Mrazek, then minority leader ers no basis for judging the anti-Catholic of the Suffolk County Legislature, made nature of Mrazek's statement. the following statement at a legislative No improvement On Oct. 30, 1982, the Long Island session: "Someone suggested that if a Chapter.issued a press release to News certain priest in the Archdiocese of day detailing the anti-Catholic nature of Rockville Centre told certain members "The implication," said Chapter Vice Mrazek's slur and demonstrating that of(the Right to Life) party to drink Kool President Frank Russo, "was that cov Mrazek's "ethnic slur" allegations against Aid, that they would drink Kool-Aid." erage would be fairer in the future." Le Boutillier were unfounded. Mrazek's slur-which strongly implied Such, however, was not to be the case. Newsday Editor Anthony Marro that Catholics are as fanatically subser A year later (Oct. 28 and 29) Newsday agreed that the League report was vient to their leaders as were the victims published a lengthy article on religious newsworthy but expressed concern "over of the Jones town tragedy-was officially and ethnic slurs and alleged slurs in the the timing"-that is, its nearness to the recorded by the County Clerk's office, U.S. congressional race between chal election. and Mrazek himself at the time pri lenger Mrazek (the eventual winner) vately acknowledged the offensive nature and incumbent John Le Boutillier. Still no coverage

Chapter announces winning essayists Russo then reminded Marro that Newsday had published Blumberg's The Catholic League's Brooklyn-Queens the student to be a better person." charge of anti-Semitism the day before Chapter has announced the winners of Third prize went to Kerry Hickey, a the election, that the timing in this its junior high essay contest on Tuition seventh grader from St. Francis de instance stemmed from Newsday's Oct. Tax Credits and the First Amendment. Sales in Belle Harbor. No matter what 28 and 29 stories, and that publication of Top prize went to John Sondey, an opponents of tuition tax credits may say, the League report would clarify misre eighth grader at St. Anthony-St. Al she wrote, "People are denied the right presentations and false allegations of phonsus in Greenpoint, who wrote that to attend Catholic schools because the vital interest to Long Island voters. public financial support should be avail ~ernment says it's u__ru:_ons.ti..tutio.nal to -Again, Newsday refused to cover the able to "parents wno want t eir children provide tax credits help. Many families story, prompting the chapter to con in parochial schools for the sake of hav can't afford to follow their choice with clude in its recently released report: ing religious experiences not permitted out that help." "Charges of anti-Semitism are re in public schools." Fourth-place winner Richard Wyatt, ported promptly, and covered fully, as Second place winner Proculo Arzaga, an eighth grader at St. Fortunata's in they properly should be (while) charges also an eighth grader at St. Anthony-St. East New York, focused on the quality of anti-Catholicism are not reported at Alphonsus, said there is no reason for of education in private schools in his all ... or are reported in such a way that discrimination against families who essay. Referring to the student-teacher the charges appear unsubstantiated or send their children to non-public schools relationships he observes in his own trivial." in order to have their faith reinforced. school, he wrote: "Teachers care more The Chapter said it is unclear "whether Appreciation of religion, he said, "helps about what the kids know. They care the difference in treatment is attributa about their lives now and their future. ble to an insensitivity to the issue of anti Catholic League Newsletter is published by Kids who realize that know they can get Catholicism ... or to a reluctance to pub the Catholic League for Religious and Civil a better education in Catholic schools." lish something potentially harmful to a Rights, 1100 W. Wells St., Mil., Wis. 53233. The winning essayists were honored James Hitchcock ...... Chairman candidate it has endorsed (Mrazek). Virgil C Blum, S.J ...... •...... President at a communion breakfast at Stella What is clear is that the inconsistent John Hansen ...... Treasurer Maris High in. Rockaway Beach, where coverage cannot be attributed to any Ann Brosnan ...... Secretary they heard Msgr. Vincent Breen, super lack of awareness of the facts, since Orlan Love ...... Director of Publications intendent of the diocesan office of Catholic these were carefully and completely Annual membership dues: $15 education, describe contributions of lay brought to Newsday's attention in a Contributions are tax deductible. leaders to the American Church. timely fashion."

7 The President's Desk by Virgil C. Blum, S.J.

Catholic voters and the issues

Although the Wisconsin Democratic half of the total electoral votes.Nothing Party had adopted planks in convention seems to deter the majority of Catholics supporting abortion and abortion fund from voting the Democratic ticket. Not ing and opposing tax assistance for pri even life and death issues. A 1974 study Some time ago the Catholic League vate school parents, Catholics gave their by the National Opinion Research Cen for Religious and Civil Rights mailed to overwhelming support at the polls to ter reported that "neither suburbaniza its members an article by pro-life presi help elect as governor an Irish Catholic tion nor economic and educational advance dential candidate Ellen McCormack Democratic candidate who is strongly men t seems to have had much impact on entitled "Abortion Politics: A Catholic committed to abortion and strongly Catholic loyalty to the Democratic Party." Problem." Mrs. McCormack's analysis opposed to tuition tax credits for private As long as this party loyalty endures, revealed that virtually all Democrats in school parents. the Democratic Party will persist in the U.S. Congress regularly vote pro-ab rejecting the Catholic agenda, in sup ortion. National politics porting abortions and abortion funding, This revelation prompted a storm of and in penalizing Catholic school par protest. How could Democrats-most of The same Catholic voting behavior ents for sending their children to God whom are elected by Catholics concen occurs at the national level of politics. In centered schools. trated in the big cities-vote to support a crucial pro-life vote in the Senate in There is, however, evidence that young the killing of unborn children? 1982 that lost 47 to 46, of the 26 senators er Catholics are repudiating the sim I told my inquirers that the answer in the 13 states in which Catholics are plistic party loyalty of their parents. A was not all that complicated. I gave two most heavily concentrated all 15 Demo recent Gallup Poll revealed that, while reasons. First, Catholics have in the past crats voted pro-abortion. In other words, 58 percent of Catholics over 50 years of overwhelmingly voted Democratic. Poor in an area of the country where between age identify themselves as Democrats, immigrant Catholics were welcomed by 35 to 40 percent of the people are Cathol only 39 percent of Catholics under 30 the Democratic Party, often given jobs, ics, all Democratic senators voted to years of age so identify themselves. and provided welfare programs. support the killing of unborn children. If this trend continues, the Demo In a crucial vote on a tuition tax credit cratic Party will no longer be able to Party loyalty bill in 1978, 43 of 62 Democratic sena take Catholics for granted: It will have tors voted against giving this minimum to pay attention to Catholic values and Catholic loyalty to the Democratic assistance to private school parents. interests, if it is to continue to get the Party continues to this day. Catholics The 13 states in which the Catholic Catholic vote. cast more than 75 percent of their votes population is concentrated control one- for Kennedy and Johnson, and they cast nearly 50 percent of their votes for McGovern and Carter who lost in land Action Line slide votes to their Republican opponents. The second and more important rea son is that even today most Catholics do UIC needs a new chancellor not vote on the basis of the economic, The University of Illinois at Chicago's university. social or moral positions of the candi sponsorship of an exhibit of explicitly If he had invited the Ku Klux Klan dates, but rather on the basis of the reli and obscenely anti-Catholic paintings is onto campus, under official University gion, ethnicity or party affiliation of the surely one of the most brazen acts of sponsorship, to spew its race-hatred, candidates. That is, they do not vote the official anti-Catholicism in recent there is no doubt that by now he would issues; they vote appearances and alle memory. be ex-Chancellor Lang erg. giances. Chancellor Donald Langenberg had A man who condones and extends the power to prevent that exhibit from formal public approbation to religious Taken for granted being invited onto the campus. bigotry has no place at the head of a state Once the exhibit opened and it became university. For this reason, the Democratic Party apparent that the Catholic community Illinois' Governor James Thompson can and does take Catholics for granted. was deeply offended, Chancellor Lan has the power to remove Chancellor So, even if Democratic candidates sup genberg had the power to close it. Langen berg from that position. port the killing of unborn children ( a At a minimum, Chancellor Langen Write to Governor Thompson and urge disqualifying political stance}, or oppose berg had the power to apologize. him to restore the integrity of his state's a fair tax break for private school par But Chancellor Langenberg did not university system by replacing Chancel ents, Catholics will, overwhelmingly, have the honor to do any of these things. lor Langen berg with a more responsible vote for them-notwithstanding that Instead, he treated the reasonable and administrator. Republican candidates may as strongly respectful protests of Catholics with It is time Donald Langen berg learned support other social programs that are contempt, and persisted in committing that publicly insulting the Catholic Faith consistent with Catholic moral and the full prestige of his institution behind is not acceptable behavior. social values. a disgusting display of hatred. Send your letter to: The Democratic Party's understand Chancellor Langenberg has insulted Hon. James Thompson ing of Catholic voting behavior was the Catholics of Illinois and the nation. Governor of Illinois recently clearly demonstrated in Wis He has abused a public trust. He has State Capitol Complex consin, which is 34 percent Catholic. disgraced the reputation of a state Springfield, Illinois 62706 8