We Need the Catholic League Now, More than Ever

As we contend with the growing hostility toward the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church we need the Catholic League.

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Catholic Online) - I have been reading another Annual report lately. This one details the vital work of a champion of and for the Catholic Church, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. I was recently honored with an invitation to join their Advisory Board.

At a time in my life when I join very few such Advisory Boards, I thought long and hard about it, prayerfully sought guidance and gladly accepted. This Report was sent to me for my review. The President of Catholic League, William A. Donohue, Ph.D., begins the Preface to this Report with these words:

"The breadth and depth of anti-Catholicism is a reality that all our annual reports cover, and this one is no exception. But because 2008 was an election year, and because inevitably there are matters that emerge during a presidential campaign that touch on our interests, we were drawn into more political issues than we normally are. So be it. We do not determine the nature of events; we largely react to them. Unlike partisan organizations, the Catholic League has no political party or slate of candidates that we endorse. If Republicans do something to offend us, we challenge them. Ditto for the Democrats.

"And in 2008, both parties did something to bruise Catholic sensibilities, and both triggered a strong reaction from the Catholic League. Remaining non-partisan allows us to maintain our objectivity--we don't ever want to be thought of as a group that is in someone's pocket. Indeed, we delight in being a very independent organization that is beholden to no one. Our only "agenda" is the defense of Catholics and the Catholic Church. We live in a time of militant atheism. From angry authors to coarse comedians, hatred against religion is in the air."

After reading those words I gave a hearty and audible "Amen" - even though I was alone in the room. I am deeply grateful for the work of the Catholic League in defending the Catholic Church and all of her sons and daughters at the beginning of a new missionary age. In the boardroom, the marketplace, at the movies, in the halls of political power, on the television, the internet or on the front page of newspapers, they are there to defend the rights of the Church to proclaim and live her liberating message. I am convinced that as our culture becomes increasingly hostile to the message of the Catholic Church we need this defender of the faith now, more than ever.

William A. "Bill" Donohue, Ph.D. is a pugilist who uses his words not his fists. He is the kind of man you want on your side in a real fight. And with the advance of the Culture of Death we who are engaged in building a new culture of life are in such a fight. St. Paul reminded the early Christians in Ephesus: "Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens."(Eph.:12)

They lived, as do we do, in a hostile culture. They were called, as are we, to transform it through the witness of both their words and their lives. St. Paul used the protections of the positive law of his own age to defend the right to proclaim the only message which liberates all men and women. So must we in an imploding Western culture. St. Paul used his Roman citizenship to further his ability to continue to preach the Gospel which itself brought about the very conversion of that empire. (See, Acts 25). We who live in the US and the West must use our positive law and the protections it offers to do the same. The Catholic League helps us to do so. Bill Donohue is a Champion of the Rights of Catholics and the Catholic Church.

I remember when I first met him; he seemed straight out of "Central Casting". I say that with respect and brotherly affection. I grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in an Irish (French) blue collar, Catholic family. As my dear mother was fond of saying, Bill has the "Map of Ireland" on his face. He is a scrappy looking fellow with a smile that transforms his entire face and a laugh that can fill the whole room. However, when you begin to discuss the current culture war, you know within minutes that he means business.

This is a layman absolutely committed to the mission of defending the Church, the Holy Father, the Clergy, the faithful and the Catholic mission. He is the kind of guy you always want on your side. Bill understands that "Catholic" is the noun and not an adjective. He is Catholic first, last and all in between. Not a "liberal", "conservative", not a "Democrat", or "Republican" or any partisan political label first with Catholic clothes then put on to make it all sound "religious", Bill Donohue is a Catholic and proud of it.

He understands that the Church is a mother and he does not take kindly to anyone speaking or acting against his mother. He is a very capable Chief executive, presiding over an organization and a staff which is extraordinarily effective in utilizing every avenue of the integrated media to defend the faith and the Church against all adversaries. Those adversaries include intolerant secularists, ill mannered and aggressive atheists or anti-Catholics, including the growing "fifth column" within the Church, those Catholics who reject the Magisterium of the Church and have become what I call "Anti-Catholic Catholics."

Bill Donohue is unafraid to speak out and, as they say, he calls it as he sees it. He even takes on other Christians when they injure the Catholic Church, as was evidenced by the extraordinary story of his contest with Pastor John Hagee in 2008; a contest which ended in a heartwarming and hopefully prophetic reconciliation. The details of the Hagee matter reveal that Bill Donohue also has a heart of Gold. He does not fight out of vindictiveness; he fights to defend the rights of the Church to engage the age with the Truth. He is a freedom fighter. He knows that in an age of lies, only the truth will set us all free and that truth has a human face, the face of Jesus Christ and the fullness of truth is found within the Catholic Church.

Bill Donohue holds an earned Ph.D. and is a scholar. His timeless work "Twilight of Liberty: The Legacy of the ACLU" exposed the dangers of that groups misuse of the Constitution. It helped many Constitutional Lawyers to frame a Public Interest law response which led to Christians using the Courts to protect their rights to proclaim the Gospel. I am one of them. In the early 1990's I helped to lead the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a group which stood against the ACLU often and still does. His Book helped me more than any to assist in the building of the organization by exposing the ACLU's lies and deception on so many of its projects.

Bill Donohue is more than a "street fighter" he is a "smart fighter". His adversaries often underestimate him and he uses that to his advantage like any good fighter. He is also a good steward, carefully selecting those causes and cases which will accomplish the most good in furthering the Catholic League's ongoing mission. As we contend with the growing hostility toward the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church we need the Catholic League now more than ever.

As with most "products", the first to market is the one which endures. This is true of the Catholic League. Many have tried to jump into their unique mission, some actually claiming the Leagues victories as their own. But, the Catholic League stands head and shoulders above any of them. And under the leadership of Bill Donohue they just keep fighting. Among the many colorful military leaders in US history, Ulysees S. Grant stands out. The official biography of General Grant on the Web page of the Whitehouse recounts this incident: "At Shiloh in April, Grant fought one of the bloodiest battles in the West and came out less well. President Lincoln fended off demands for his removal by saying, 'I can't spare this man--he fights.'"

When the history of the fight which accompanied this new missionary age is written the work of the Catholic league will be recounted. I can think of no better way of summarizing Bill Donohue than those two words, "He Fights!" and we should all thank the Lord that he does.

I commend the Annual Report of the Catholic League to all of our readers. It details their fine work and shows the real hostility that we face as Catholics. It can be obtained by visiting their site at http://www.catholicleague.org/. I also encourage you to regularly pray for and support their important work. We need the Catholic League, now, more than ever.

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