I would have been less surprised if PZ Myers had e-mailed me. But there it was Friday: A message from Catholic League President Bill Donahue. He’d come across the post I wrote about Jews controlling Hollywood, and he wanted to clarify my characterization of a comment he made years ago on “Scarborough Country.”
(It’s still a gem. If you’re not familiar, Donahue said, “Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular … I like families. I like children. They like abortions.”)
In his e-mail, Donahue wrote:
Hey, Brad, give me a break. I never objected to Jews having such a prominent role in Hollywood—they made the most respectful movies about Catholics at one time. My complaint is simply that today, and for quite a while now, the secular mindset which permeates Hollywood has become increasingly hostile to Catholicism. Secular Jews, obviously, play a big role in that. Non-Jewish producers, writers, directors, studio personnel, et al. who entertain a secular bent are just as guilty. It’s the mindset, not the ancestry that counts.
Fair enough. I was just glad Donahue didn’t do to me what he did to those two Jews on “South Park’s” Easter special a year ago (after the jump). Oddly, Donahue’s personal e-mail left me feeling a bit guilty for past criticisms I’ve directed at the Catholic League.
In general, I think the Catholic League, much like the Anti-Defamation League at times, draws wider attention to obscure offenses. Though while think it was foolish to get involved in the PZ Myers affair—that was when the rabid atheist professor desecrated a communion wafer—I did like when Donahue told Mike Huckabee to stop selling his Christian creds like a car salesman. And I understand the point he is making about Hollywood’s secular values. It’s an opinion shared by many conservative Christians, not to mention Muslims, Orthodox Jews, Mormons and others.
I don’t agree, but it’s a sincere perspective.
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