There’s really no other way to say it. Bill Donohue is a blowhard. The head of the Catholic League, he offers nothing of substance to any intellectual conversation on social or religious issues. His first instinct always seems to be to attack rather than follow the teachings of Jesus: “seek first to understand.” (OK. That was actually Stephen Covey’s habit number 5 in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but it sounds like something Jesus would have said.)
If Pope Francis were looking for a worldwide ambassador to represent the Roman Catholic faith, I’d bet my bottom dollar that Bill Donohue would not even make the the long list, much less the short one.
So it should come as no surprise that Bill Donohue has an opinion on Guinness — the formerly Irish beer that’s now based in Norwalk, Connecticut and London, England, not Ireland — dropping its sponsorship of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade over the historic event’s refusal to let gay people march openly.
“The parade is quintessentially Catholic, beginning with a Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” Donohue says in one of his many press statements.
Of course, the parade is not “quintessentially Catholic,” unless “quintessentially Catholic” means skipping work, going out to a bar and getting incredibly shit-faced, and at some point puking up green vomit hopefully in a restroom but likely on a Metro-North train back to Connecticut or on the subway headed toward the Bronx. (Hey, Uber, welcome to NYC!)
So no, the parade is not “quintessentially Catholic.”
“It is this Catholic element that angers those who are engaged in a bullying campaign against the St. Patrick’s Day parades. The bullies also have nothing but contempt for the constitutional rights of Irish Catholics.”
(Actually, if you want to play that game, um, no, I have nothing but contempt for those who survived decades of oppression, who then turn around and oppress others.)
So, therefore, since Guinness is the victim of bullying — you should boycott them? Is that the Catholic version of shaming the victim?
And what about the “constitutional rights” of a supposed Irish Catholic brand? If Hobby Lobby has “constitutional rights” to deny its employees contraception (they don’t but blowhard Bill thinks they do, because corporations are people, my friend,) then doesn’t Guinness have the “constitutional right” to deny financial support to a group that is violating its deeply held beliefs —  namely, that LGBT equality is important?
“I have had my last Guinness and Sam Adams. Heineken was always slop, so there is no sacrifice there,” Donohue continues. “I urge Catholics, and all those who believe in tolerance, diversity, and the First Amendment, to join with me in boycotting these brews.”
Yes, exactly.
If you believe in tolerance and diversity, by all means, rush out and boycott a brand that is taking steps to honor tolerance and diversity.
That’s the Catholic way, according to Bill Donohue, apparently the self-appointed (embarrassing) face of Irish-American Roman Catholics.
Image: Facebook
Previously:
Watch: Catholic League’s Bill Donohue Demonstrates Why The Pope Had To Tell Him To Shut Up
Bill Donohue: Obama’s IRS Targeted Catholic League Even Before He Became President
Bill Donohue Gay-Bashes Christine Quinn’s Wedding (WTF?)
Bill Donohue To Piers Morgan: ‘I Want The Law To Discriminate’ Against Gays