Leading Catholic Group Says Human Rights Campaign ‘Disrespects Human Rights’

The Catholic League today is attacking the Human Rights Campaign, claiming the nation’s top LGBT rights organization “often disrespects the human rights of those with whom it disagrees.”

Bill Donohue is a one-man band whose organization, the Catholic League, is so tightly wound with the Roman Catholic Church — despite all denials to the contrary — his offices are adjacent to Timothy Dolan’s, the Archbishop of New York and former president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Gay Group Attacks First Amendment,” is the inaccurate claim Donohue is making today in a press release attacking the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for coming out against the hiring of David Tyree by the New York Giants. Tyree infamously made provocative anti-gay comments during the move towards legalization of same-sex marriage in New York, as The New Civil Rights Movement reported in 2011 and again yesterday. Tyree, whose curious religious proclamations might be of concern to some, also served for a short while as the National Organization For Marriage’s spokesperson after attacking marriage equality.

LOOK: Giants Hire Anti-Gay Former NOM ‘Champion of Marriage’ Spokesperson

Of course, the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from banning speech (“Congress shall make no law…”) or regulating religious observance, has nothing to do with conversations in the public square between non-government parties.

“The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is ill-named, it is a gay rights group that often disrespects the human rights of those with whom it disagrees,” Donohue’s press release insists. “Its latest burst of intolerance occurred yesterday when it attacked David Tyree, the New York Giants’ hero in the 2007 Super Bowl. HRC president Chad Griffin blasted the Giants for hiring Tyree as its Director of Player Development.”

Hypocritically calling HRC’s statement lambasting Tyree for his comments and the Giants for hiring him “un-American,” Donohue falls into his own trap.

“Anyone is free to disagree with him,” Donohue admits, “but to condemn a man for espousing such positions shows contempt for his twin First Amendment rights: freedom of speech and freedom of religion.”

To Donohue, apparently, the only ones free to exercise their “freedom of speech” are those who are Donohue’s side. 

It’s hypocritical and illogical to attack someone for commenting when your argument is their target is free to state whatever he likes.

“The attempt to silence public figures for espousing traditional beliefs on sexuality is gaining momentum in the gay activist community,” Donohue continues. “It must be resisted, especially by people of faith. It would never occur to me, as the president of the Catholic League, to fire off a statement condemning the hiring of an athlete who shared HRC’s views.”

But it would occur to Donohue, who has claimed LGBT civil rights are on a “collision course” with religious rights, to fire off a statement supporting the hiring of an athlete who shares his own.

Earlier this year, Donohue attempted to wage war against the LGBT community by demanding he be allowed to march in the New York City Pride Parade. When organizers immediately welcomed him — providing he play by the same rules as all others who marched, namely, attend a safety class — Donohue balked and falsely claimed the group demanded he wear “LGBT paraphernalia,” and attend a “gay training” class. 

 

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Previously:

Catholic League’s Bill Donohue Defends Priest Who Blamed Children For Their Abuse

Catholic League On Chick-Fil-A: ‘White’ Gay Marriage Support Has ‘Fascistic Elements’

Catholic League Suggests Polygamy Next Step In Obama Marriage Evolution