Fellow DNC blogger Towleroad receives air kiss from The Catholic League

by: Pam Spaulding

Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 13:43:10 PM EDT

Dammit, the Blend didn't get a shout out in this blast from Catholic wingnut Bill Donahue, but Towleroad did. :)

From: Catholic League <lg@catholicleague.org>
Date: Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Subject: DEMOCRATS MUST NIX OFFENSIVE BLOGGERS
To: lg@catholicleague.org

Over 120 blogs have been credentialed as members of the media for the Democratic National Convention; those who have received credentials are allowed to cover the Convention at the Pepsi Center. While most of them offer legitimate commentary, some do not.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue is protesting two of the blogs:

“The list of credentialed blogs include radical sites like The Daily Kos. Worse are blogs that feature anti-Catholic and obscene material. The two most offensive are Bitch Ph.D. and Towleroad.

“On the home page of Bitch Ph.D. there is a picture of two children: one of them is shown flashing his middle finger. Today’s lead post, which was written August 17, is called ‘Jesus Christ.’ It begins with, ‘I’m a really crappy Catholic who hasn’t been to mass in ages because most parishes around here ‘will’ insist on being aggressively anti-abortion….’ The writer then objects to some children’s toys on the grounds that they are more offensive than desecrating the Eucharist. The toys are actually balloons that have been made to depict Jesus in various poses, including a crucified Christ; one of these images shows Jesus with a penis. Several who commented on this image made patently obscene comments.

“Towleroad describes itself as ‘A Site with Homosexual Tendencies.’ Accordingly, it shows men in jock straps and underwear. It also has a post on Pope Benedict XVI that takes him to task for wearing a cape with ermine. Some of those who commented on this described the pope in a vile and profane way.

“Both of these blogs should be cut immediately from the list of credentialed sites. Neither functions as a responsible media outlet and both offend Catholics, as well as others. To allow them access to the Democratic National Convention sends a message to Catholics they will not forget. We look for Leah Daughtry, CEO of the Convention, to nix them ASAP.”

Contact info@demconvention.com

Susan A. Fani

Director of Communications

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

catalyst@catholicleague.org

New York, NY 10123

212-371-3191

212-371-3394 (fax)

 Andy's response:

"If Donohue is so focused on sex," Towleroad's Andy Towle responded on Monday, "his time would be better focused on healing the epidemic of sexual abuse against children by clergy in the Catholic church, and considering the facts on the use of condoms, which the Church has said have no effect on the prevention of AIDS, rather than attempting to influence American politics by limiting the Democratic ideals of free speech, inclusion and tolerance."