The Catholic League Has a Batshit Response to South Park's Episode About Priest Abuse

[Pope George Ringo II]

Wednesday night's episode of South Park took on the systematic cover up of child molestation in the Catholic Church. When Butters develops a friendship with Father Maxi from the local church and goes missing, the Cardinals from Denver assume it's another abusive scandal and travel to South Park to cover it up.

In response, the Catholic League—a religious advocacy group—has released a baffling statement about the episode, calling the South Park creators "cowards." As a statement from the organization's president Bill Donohue reads:

The October 3rd episode of “South Park,” titled “A Boy and a Priest,” portrayed molesting priests as pedophiles. This is factually inaccurate: almost all the molesters—8 in 10—have been homosexuals. Therefore, the cartoon-victim characters should have been depicted as adolescents, not kids. In Hollywood, the creators of “South Park,” Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are seen as courageous. They are really cowards. It takes courage to tell the truth.

This is absolutely absurd. The disgusting and blatant homophobia of the statement aside, Donohue is simply saying, "actually, our priests are rapists, not pedophiles."

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a23609692/catholic-league-south-park-priest-pedophilia-response/

I'm not saying reality has an anti-religion bias. But religion sure has an anti-reality bias.

[Squinch]

1. The Catholic League is literally one guy in his basement. It has always been that one

guy, and yet publications and people quote that asshole as if he means something.

We never wise up.

[DBoon]

2. When the pope makes a statement

it says something about the position of the catholic church

When Bill Donahue says something it is his opinion.

[Squinch]

3. Exactly. I think I'm going to call myself the League of Decency and see if anything catches on.

[DBoon]

5. I think I will call myself the League of Satan

and always make a point of contradicting Bill Donahue

[Squinch]

6. And we can both say the same things. That ought to make a few heads explode!

I think this is a plan!!!

[Pope George Ringo II]

4. Maybe we're just waiting for the moderates to speak out against the extremists?

Although, they may be a little more than one guy in his basement, who doesn't appear to be driving off like-minded followers:

Association with the Catholic Church
The League is not part of the Archdiocese of New York, though it does rent an office on the same floor as the headquarters of the Archdiocese.[1] According to a New York Times interviewer, the organization "maintains close ties to the [archdiocesan] leadership. Several bishops make personal donations. Cardinal O'Connor spoke at the group's 25th anniversary reception in 1998 and vacated part of his suite for its expanding operations, said Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York."[1] The League includes on its website endorsements from such prominent clerics as Cardinal Edward Egan (former Archbishop of New York), Cardinal Roger Mahony (former Archbishop of Los Angeles), Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, and Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore, as well as Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., all of whom have endorsed the League's activities and exhorted Catholics to become members.[3]

Membership
The New York Times reported that the Catholic League had 11,000 members when Donohue took over the group in 1993. By 1999, membership had grown to 350,000, two-thirds of whom were paying members.[1] This is the last estimate of overall membership that the League made. The League's 2003 statement claimed 15,000 members in Nassau and Suffolk counties of New York alone.[11] Annual donations entitle members to home delivery of the print version of Catalyst, the group's monthly journal, which is also available for free on the Catholic League's website.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_League_(U.S.)

[Squinch]

8. "Estimate of membership that the League made." "The League's statement claimed 15K members."

Well, the League of Decency estimates that it has A MILLION members. And the League of Satan has EVEN MORE by its own estimation!!!

Yeah, Donohue might get endorsements from the pedo-pushers, but he's the Catholic League. He probably wrote that entry himself, and if you notice, all estimates of his membership come from Donohue and then are reported by publications and then those reported estimates are quoted as if they come from the publication. It's an old trick.

[Pope George Ringo II]

9. It's entirely possible he's exaggerating somewhat.

I'd hate to suggest that anybody in an organization with that name is entirely in touch with reality. But he does somehow manage to pay for that office, and that list of clergy isn't going to speak to one guy. There's something there.

[Squinch]

10. Ok. Its one guy and a goldfish.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Beat me to it-- I don't know why anyone quotes The Catholic League...

They never quote the Knights of Columbus.

[trotsky]

11. The Catholic League

https://www.catholicleague.org/about-us/

The Catholic League is the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization. Founded in 1973 by the late Father Virgil C. Blum, S.J., the Catholic League defends the right of Catholics – lay and clergy alike – to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination.

They have the full support of many prominent church leaders:

…I appreciate Dr. Donohue and the work done by The Catholic League. I look forward to the day when the work done by the Catholic League is no longer necessary. Sadly, as recent events have proven once again, that day still seems far in the future.”
— Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York

“The Catholic League has the courage to speak up candidly and forcefully for the Church when circumstances call for fighting the good fight. The League should be on every Catholic’s short list of essential organizations to support.”
— Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia

“I am privileged to support the Catholic League. The work of the Catholic League is invaluable and its accomplishments over the years are unparalleled.”
— Cardinal Edwin O’Brien
Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order (Knights) of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

“The Catholic League has done much to ensure that the Church’s positions are presented clearly and fairly. Too often those who do not understand the Church or Her teachings are the interpreters of the doctrines and events in the life of the Church. The work of the League is important in the mission of the Church which must teach the hard truths of the Gospel in season and out of season.”
— Seán Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Boston

It's hardly "one guy in his basement." The last official membership count was over 350,000.

[Squinch]

12. You're a little late to the party. We already had this conversation above.

[trotsky]

13. No you didn't.

The individuals offering statements of support are high-ranking church officials. I realize you want to believe it's a fringe nut acting alone, but that's simply not true.

[Squinch]

14. Have a lovely day.

[trotsky]

15. Yeah, not surprised you are willing to ignore evidence that doesn't support your beliefs.

Fortunately the facts don't care about your beliefs.

[Squinch]

16. Or not.