Link to original article. (http://crooksandliars.com/2007/04/05/a-catholic-priest-stands-tall-against-bill-donohue)

"Jeff Gatlain, a Catholic priest in KY, goes public in his criticisms of Bill Donohue on C&L. I asked for someone in the Catholic community to speak out against his violent hate speech after his attacks of "Cavallaro" on Anderson Cooper last week and Jeff came forward. That's a big step for him to take.

"As a Christian, a Catholic Priest, I stand in opposition to any and all hateful speech used by anyone, especially when they do so in the name of Jesus.

I do not believe that one can claim to be a disciple of Jesus and at the same time deride, mock, insult, or threaten violence against another person.

Mr. Donohue clearly makes hateful remarks as well as violent comments towards Mr. Cavallaro and as such he insults God, his fellow Catholics and humanity for that point.

Proclaiming the Salvation of Jesus means that we are to refrain from such vile speech.

One cannot preach the love of Jesus while cursing one's neighbor. The two cannot co-exist.

To continually use hateful, crude, violent language is indicative of what dwells within one's heart. Mr. Donohue speaks only for himself and not the Catholic Church." "

Link to original article. (http://crooksandliars.com/2007/04/05/a-catholic-priest-stands-tall-against-bill-donohue)


IMO: Christians should counter the secular mockery of Jesus and the Christian faith with a response that reflects "controlled" opposition that is firm yet without having to resort to hate speech, name-calling, threats etc.

In this specific case of the "Chocolate Jesus" - the guy who formed it has every right to his own "expression" much like previous people who have displayed their exhibits that mock our Lord and Saviour. While we know how it will eventually end up (in the end) for those who mock and ridicule The New Testament Jesus, we should still have a voice of concern in matters such as this one.

(excerpt from the article)


COOPER: Bill, you call this exhibit hate speech. You said it's -- quote -- "one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever."

What specifically offends you about it?

WILLIAM DONAHUE, PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC LEAGUE: Well, of course, asking the public to come in and eat Jesus, with his genitals exposed, during Holy Week I think would be self-explanatory.

If we took an image of this artist's mother, and made her out in chocolate, with her genitals exposed, of course, to be equal, and then asked the public to eat her on Mother's Day, yes, he might have a problem. Maybe he wouldn't.

But you know what bothers me? It's not even the artist. I mean, we have a lot of these loser artists down in SoHo and around the country. What bothers me is that this guy Knowles, who is an artist in residence, the owner, the president and CEO of an establishmentarian site, the Roger Smith Hotel, 47th and Lexington, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, that is what bothers me, because now we have the establishment kicking in.

And to put this out during Holy Week, on street level, when kids can walk in off the street, these people are morally bankrupt. And my goal is to make them financially bankrupt.

COOPER: Cosimo, do you understand the outrage this has caused? I mean, do you think it's overreaction? Do you get it?...

In this specific case of the "Chocolate Jesus"... we should still have a voice of concern in matters such as this one.I'd raise concern because that guy is a moron and he makes an easy target for Christians to point to and say, "See? Atheists are disgusting blasphemers!" He is a rabble-rouser and desperate for attention, apparently, which is all the more reason to leave him alone in his own misery.

I'd raise concern because that guy is a moron and he makes an easy target for Christians to point to and say, "See? Atheists are disgusting blasphemers!" He is a rabble-rouser and desperate for attention, apparently, which is all the more reason to leave him alone in his own misery.

I believe the actual concern was that this guy's "Chocolate Jesus" was being displayed out in public view where kids could see it and where it was, of course, offensive to those of the Christian faith. If he had set it up in the privacy of his own home and not publicized to be shown for public viewing and eating, as in Communion, that would be a different story and good reason then to "leave him alone" as you mentioned.