Catholic League (U.S.)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is a New York City-based organization of American Roman Catholics with the mission of "defending the civil and religious rights of Catholics to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination." Founded in 1973 by Jesuit Father Virgil C. Blum SJ, it is a lay group funded by individual donations and is outside the control of the Church. Its efforts are coordinated by a Board of Directors under its president, William A. Donohue, who has guided the League towards conservative and traditionalist cultural activism in the manner of groups like the Christian Coalition.
The Catholic League is registered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. In 2005, according to IRS 990 forms on file at Guidestar.com, the Catholic League took in approximately $2.69M in contributions. Donohue was paid $334,143 in salary and benefits.
The Catholic League focuses on highlighting defamation or discrimination rooted in anti-Catholic attitudes. To accomplish this the organization issues press releases to the print, television, radio and internet media, contacts individuals or leaders responsible for anti-Catholicism, organizes boycotts and demonstrations of groups responsible for anti-Catholic activities. The League issues a journal, Catalyst, as well as reports, such as "Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust", books/brochures and an annual Report on Anti-Catholicism.
The group is most noted for vocal opposition to movies like The Last Temptation of Christ, Priest, and Dogma.
Though the Catholic League's is vocal on issues of faith, morality, charity, abortion and marriage which reflect official teachings of the Catholic Church, it is often criticized for targeting American liberals while promoting stands that run counter to Catholic teachings on capital punishment, the Iraq War, immigration policy, and income redistribution.
[edit] Board of Advisors
An array of prominent lay Catholics serve on the Catholic League's Board of Advisors: L. Brent Bozell III, Gerard Bradley, Judie Brown, Linda Chavez, William Dannemeyer, Robert Destro, Dinesh D'Souza, Ezola Foster, Laura Garcia, Robert George, Mary Ann Glendon, Dolores Grier, Alan Keyes, Stephen Krason, Tom Monaghan, Michael Novak, Kate O'Beirne, Thomas Reeves, Patrick Riley, Robert Royal, Russell Shaw, Bill Simon, Paul Vitz and George Weigel.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Catholic League
- GuideStar.org Clearinghouse for information on nonprofit organizations, including the Catholic League.
- Pro-choice Messages on Indybay.org Anger Catholic League
- docs/warning.htm Anti-Catholic Comments By John Edwards Presidential Campaign Staffers
