HUFFINGTON POST BLOGGER DEFAMES CATHOLICISM
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a Huffington Post blog post by Michele Somerville about New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo:
Michele Somerville is not just another professed Catholic who has a pathological hatred of the Catholic Church: she is a liar. Regarding the first point, she says she likes Andrew Cuomo because he is just like his father—he's a "protest Catholic." By that she means someone who identifies himself as a Catholic, yet defies the teachings of the Church. In the case of Cuomo the elder, she cites his pro-abortion position. What she likes about Andrew Cuomo is more chic: "I love that my new governor stepped up to the altar of the Lord [last Sunday] with confidence and received the Sacrament of the Eucharist with his beloved [an unmarried woman with whom he lives] and three daughters in tow."
Speaking of the two Cuomos, Somerville says, "there is no other morally responsible way to be Roman Catholic." That's because she hates their religion, which she says is "propped up by corruption and tyranny," and was partly built by "hegemony and brutality."
Somerville also says the Catholic League "classifies men like Andrew Cuomo (who divorce and continue to receive the sacraments) 'self-excommunicated Catholics.'" Thus does she lie. On January 1, in a New York Daily News story, Frank Lombardi correctly said, "Even outspoken Catholic activist Bill Donohue of the Catholic League passed on a chance to decry what some religious conservatives would deem 'living in sin.' Donohue declined to be interviewed, saying through a spokesman, 'We're not one to pass judgment' on how people conduct their personal life 'or how people celebrate their religion.'" Somerville provided a link to this article in her piece, thus proving she is a liar.
Contact Huffington Post Managing Editor, Jai Singh: jai@huffingtonpost.com
Jeff Field
Director of Communications
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10123
212-371-3191
212-371-3394 (fax)
Director of Communications
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
450 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10123
212-371-3191
212-371-3394 (fax)
UPDATE
HUFFINGTON POST CORRECTS THE RECORD
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on developments subsequent to his news release earlier today [click here] criticizing Huffington Post blogger Michele Somerville:
When my complaint was brought to the attention of the Huffington Post, they responded professionally and removed the lie about me by Michele Somerville: not only did I not condemn New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for his personal lifestyle or religious convictions, I expressly declined not to express an opinion about this subject when asked by the New York Daily News; Somerville actually linked this news story to her article, thus proving that she knew what my position was. But that didn't stop her from intentionally misrepresenting me.
I am thankful to the religion editor at the Huffington Post for acting so quickly and fairly; she was the one who deleted what Somerville said about me. I am also thankful to our wonderful members who moved so judiciously, and with dispatch, to contact the Internet site.
Because of the heavy volume of responses they received, we are honoring their request not to post the personal e-mail address of the religion editor. But those who would like to convey their gratitude to her, can do so by contacting religion@huffingtonpost.com.
