Is Bill Donohue bad for the Catholic Church?

[Aquinas62]

I agree… as Teddy Roosevelt once said:

**“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
**
“Citizenship in a Republic,”
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Bill Donohue is one that is in the arena… my hat is off to him.

 

[distracted]

The question is, is Donohue bad for the church.

As an outsider looking and listening in, my opinion is yes he is.

I’ve read a lot of his commentary and viewed many clips of him and listened to him on radio.

Nothing about him would ever make me want to find out more about Catholicism, if he was the only channel open to me.

.

if i depended on any human being whatsoever to be interested in - or stay in - the Catholic Church… i would not be Catholic…

considering the Catholics i’ve known I should have left a long time ago… Fortunately the Catholic Church has the Real Presence of Jesus… and all the angels and saints participate in the Mass…

*** i’m not giving that up for anyone or anything.***

 

[distracted]

a more importnat question is

Are YOU bad for the Catholic Church?

 

[Teelynn]

Does the catholic church not have any other organisations to speak up for it in the main stream media?

This was my first thought. Who else is busy defending the Catholic Church? Anyone? Not that I know of. The Catholic Church is the last best predjudice and target for the world at large, and almost no one publicly defends her.

It’s my feeling that it’s really pretty sad that one of the only public voices for the Catholic Church is Bill Donahue. Yes, he’s a little ruff around the edges, but sadly he’s the only “public defender” we have.

 

[Guyonthestreet]

a more importnat question is

Are YOU bad for the Catholic Church?

I’m not sure after tonight

I went to a catholic mass this evening,

In front of me were a group of teenagers who from even before the Mass started, were constantly nudging each other, one guy stroking the girls hair sat beside him, and talking amongst themselves throughout.

I gave it 5 minutes to see if they would settle but they didn’t.

So I leaned over them and told them I found them very distracting, so shut up and show some respect for where they are - or get out

They glanced at each other - then left - all except one.

This was maybe 10 minutes into the Mass.

I later felt a bit bad because they missed the Eucharist, the centre of the Mass, and it was my fault.

But I wont tolerate disorder in the ranks or disrespect.

Everyone else was just ignoring them.

I couldn’t.

 

[Teelynn]

I’m not sure after tonight

I went to a catholic mass this evening,

In front of me were a group of teenagers who from even before the Mass started, were constantly nudging each other, one guy stroking the girls hair sat beside him, and talking amongst themselves throughout.

I gave it 5 minutes to see if they would settle but they didn’t.

So I leaned over them and told them I found them very distracting, so shut up and show some respect for where they are - or get out

They glanced at each other - then left - all except one.

This was maybe 10 minutes into the Mass.

I later felt a bit bad because they missed the Eucharist, the centre of the Mass, and it was my fault.

But I wont tolerate disorder in the ranks or disrespect.

Everyone else was just ignoring them.

I couldn’t.

My first thought (I will start with that again) was GOOD FOR YOU!!! I’m not so sure about telling them to shut up or get out but that would have been my first inclination as well. They would have “missed Mass” anyway with the way they were carrying on, and causing other people around them to miss parts of it as well, so??? Don’t mean to derail the thread, so I will shut up now.

 

[adrift]

I’m not sure about that, but this radio exchange demonstrates why I believe he is not good for the Catholic church.

youtube.com/watch?v=dKLlxAgMO-w

youtube.com/watch?v=mvLPLGHD_OI

Comments like these give the impression of a situational ethic where the end (protecting or justifying his idea of the Catholic church) justifies the means. I don’t think that presents Catholicism in a good light or inclines people to give it the benefit of the doubt.

One final point for those favourably inclined toward Donohue: if the same approach were being used by someone with a different view of the Catholic church than yours, would you offer as charitable a reading of their efforts?

Wow I watched the first video with the slanted title Bill Donohue defends child abuse. He did not defend child abuse but he did point out the slanting of the charges. I would have liked to hear all of the exchange instead of this highly charged one. What comments were situation ethics. He clearly stated his abhorance of child abuse. Your comments make me wonder if you listened. I think those who dislike Donohue are those who wants the Church to be evil and do not wish to hear the truth.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Re Post 100:
Thanks, but I do know how to click on Quote. I often don’t do that because so many people already abuse that. Forum guidelines ask posters specifically not to continually paste whole quotes of previous posts, because of the space they take. I often cut-and-paste portions of posts into quotes, but in this case it was the whole flavor of the post that I was referencing.

Sorry you had to take a little extra time for that. I often have to myself. I think that just comes with the territory of being on a discussion forum.

There are many, many posters who repeatedly re-paste entire quotes, often without even commenting yay or nay. I choose not to contribute to lengthening threads.

 

[PPeterson]

And what about Christ calling people “hypocrites”, telling folks not to throw pearls before swine(people),

interesting you bring that passage up. I thought Christ was telling us not to turn our faith (pearls) into a futile exercise of engaging in worthless, go nowhere arguments with people who don’t care, aren’t really listening, and mostly just want to mock us (i.e. throwing the pearls before swine, who trample them underfoot). do we know of anyone who does something like that?

 

[miguel]

Is he bad for the Church? Not on the whole. I think he does some good, but I don’t like that he is so heavily relied upon by the MSMedia to rep for the right-teaching of the Church.

Is this the best voice we have? I truly hope not. I find his tone sarcastic and angry, and frankly the writing in many of his press releases could use some refining. And I say this not for purposes of style, but for purposes of clarity and persuasion (ie, evangelization!).

I agree with pretty much all the stands he takes. And I admire his spirit of tenacious defense. I also admire that he is throwing his life and his resources behind his mission.

But I think he imbues his defense of the Church with far too much of his own vitriol and sarcasm. His exposure in the world of media is too big for that. It’s time for him to step up to the next level – and to write and communicate as though he’s not simply defending, but teaching as well.

I agree. I cut him some slack on the anger though. It’s hard not to be affected by all the anti-Catholic hostility that he so diligently exposes and documents. In this he provides a very useful service to fellow Catholics IMO. I just hope he doesn’t go home and take it out on inanimate objects or worse. It’s a dirty job, but it’s good that a feisty Irishman is doing it.

 

[Brownginger]

As far as I know, the League is too focused on one man to be as effective as such an organization can be. For a long time it has been necessary for the Catholic Church in America to have a well-manned, principled network like the Jewish Anti-Defamation League has. It is active in every large locale and has dedicated, well-trained, speak-out (as opposed to “outspoken”) representatives to immediately defend against outrages occurring within their jurisdiction.

Having a single voice is appropriate in many cases; but it worries me that Mr. Donohue is getting older and may not be able to speak very much longer. It is also worrisome that too few Catholics are imbued with his fierce dedication and courage. If there were numerous chapters of the Catholic League – at least one in every state – many scandalous anti-Catholic statements and stories could be nipped in the bud. Please remember – Mr. Donohue cannot be heard on every issue that should be addressed. He must retain his air time for those great issues that appeal to networks.

One example locally is a priest accused of abuse of a minor 30 years ago and basically found guilty in the community newspaper. Letters to the editor serve to clarify some feelings; but if there were a Catholic League spokesman available to be heard and seen in the media – someone other than the Bishop, who, understandably, must appear to be concerned more for the possible victim than the reputation and career of the accused priest – we might see fewer phony claims.

A few years ago, I presented this suggestion to the Catholic League and heard nothing in reply. It would appear that the powers that be are satisfied with things the way they are. I hope that time does not run out on them and leave them without any voice.

 

[Guyonthestreet]

we might see fewer phony claims

Are there any figures for the claims that turn out to be phoney, and how do they compare to society at large?

A few years ago, I presented this suggestion to the Catholic League and heard nothing in reply. It would appear that the powers that be are satisfied with things the way they are

I fnd that curious.

Why do you think they never responded to you?

I would have throught you’d at least get an acknowledgement.

 

[convert_2000]

I have not read each and every post in this thread so forgive me if I’m repeating what’s already been expressed.

We are the church militant, not the church wishy washy. The National Catholic Reporter is not loyal to church teaching and would naturally attack anyone who defends the church’s teaching. Please see Karl Keating’s previous newsletter on catholic news outlets. catholic.com/newsletters/kke_030819.asp

 

[distracted]

***don’t know everything there is to know about Donahue… but what i know i like…

so its kinda almost like saying “Is Jesus good for the Church?”***

Jesus wasn’t too PC either…

 

[Aquinas62]

We are the church militant, not the church wishy washy. catholic.com/newsletters/kke_030819.asp

Well said!

 

[Guyonthestreet]

***don’t know everything there is to know about Donahue… but what i know i like…

so its kinda almost like saying “Is Jesus good for the Church?”***

Jesus wasn’t too PC either…

I don’t think comparing Jesus with Donohue relative to their perceived goodness for the Church is going to fly.

 

[manygift1spirit]

The “other” NCR weighs in about Donohue:

I want Bill Donohue’s Job

Writer Pat Archbold takes a different tact: Donohue “enjoys his job” (he means it as a compliment). Discuss.

 

[sidbrown]

***don’t know everything there is to know about Donahue… but what i know i like…

so its kinda almost like saying “Is Jesus good for the Church?”***

Jesus wasn’t too PC either…

Jesus was against a man leaving and abandoning his wife, was he not?

 

[Guyonthestreet]

The “other” NCR weighs in about Donohue:

I want Bill Donohue’s Job

Writer Pat Archbold takes a different tact: Donohue “enjoys his job” (he means it as a compliment). Discuss.

Great article. Made me smile

Donohue’s response to the NCR article:

ncronline.org/news/politics/catholic-league-president-responds-ncr-column

isn’t as witty or as humurous though.

 

[distracted]

I’m not sure after tonight

I went to a catholic mass this evening,

In front of me were a group of teenagers who from even before the Mass started, were constantly nudging each other, one guy stroking the girls hair sat beside him, and talking amongst themselves throughout.

I gave it 5 minutes to see if they would settle but they didn’t.

So I leaned over them and told them I found them very distracting, so shut up and show some respect for where they are - or get out

They glanced at each other - then left - all except one.

This was maybe 10 minutes into the Mass.

I later felt a bit bad because they missed the Eucharist, the centre of the Mass, and it was my fault.

But I wont tolerate disorder in the ranks or disrespect.

Everyone else was just ignoring them.

I couldn’t.

hmmm…

i’m not trying to be rude… but can’t help what i was thinking…

You told them to shut up?? literally?

you dont think thats Christian behavior do you?

also… when i am at Mass, i am so into the Presence of JEsus that … a firecracker going off in front of me probably wouldn’t disturb me…

just my thoughts…