| U.S. News

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 ...