Is Bill Donohue Simply Misinformed, Or Is He a Liar

The Catholic League published an item on their web site today, entitled Blasphemy Day Targets Christianity.

Their title alone is rather disingenuous. Here’s what the Center for Inquiry web site has to say about Blasphemy Day International:

Blasphemy Day International takes place every September 30th to commemorate the publishing of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons. Blasphemy Day International promotes free speech and solidarity for the freedom to challenge, criticize, and satirize religion without fear of murder, litigation, or other reprisals.

Do you find it strange that Christianity isn’t mentioned? Muhammad is mentioned, but he’s part of the Muslim faith.

Oh! I see it now. Catholics (or any other sect, for that matter) believe that theirs is the “One True Religion™&rdquo, so when they Center for Inquiry mentions the word religion, they’re obviously only talking about the Catholics… or Christianity… or whoever wants to contend that they’re being singled out for persecution.

In the Catholic League’s press release, Bill Donohue is quoted as saying:

The Center for Inquiry is factually incorrect to say that “Free speech is the foundation on which other liberties rest.” Freedom of conscience is the first liberty, and it is inextricably linked to freedom of religion. Moreover, the whole concept of inalienable rights presupposes a belief in the Creator. In other words, atheists have the right to mock religion because our Christian Founding Fathers afforded them human rights.

Bill (if you’re out there); you’re wrong.

Freedom of conscience (or freedom of thought), is closely related to, but distinct from, freedom of expression, not freedom of religion. Freedom of religion can be derived or inferred from the combination of freedom of expression and freedom of thought.

The concept of inalienable rights does not presuppose a belief in any supernatural entity. Those rights are codified and enforced by human beings. Your god is not needed, nor is it desired, by any but the already faithful. The rest of us would like for you to keep your imaginary friend to yourself.

How many times must this be shouted into your ears before it sinks into your extremely thick skull? The Founding Fathers of this great nation were not Christians! The United States is not, has never been, and (if non-Christians have anything to say about it) never will be a Christian nation.

Bill continues in his usual manner:

They are all such phonies. The stated purpose of Blasphemy Day has nothing to do with any religion but Islam, yet there is not one scheduled event insulting Muslims. We can only guess why. So who have they chosen to mock? You guessed it—Christians.

Bill; you’re wrong (yet again).

Bill seems to need some assistance with reading comprehension. The date for Blasphemy Day International was chosen to commemorate the publishing of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons. The stated purpose is to promote “…the freedom to challenge, criticize, and satirize religion…”. There it is again. Bill reads the word “religion”, but only understands it to mean “Christianity”.

If we had Muslim groups attempting to foist Sharia law on the rest of us by including its precepts in secular legislation in this country, we would be protesting against them with as much fervor as we usually reserve for Christians. In many countries where Muslims do put Sharia law into secular legislation, the general public does not usually enjoy the level of freedom of expression which we enjoy in the United States. The people there are unable to speak out for the very legitimate fear that they or their loved ones might be persecuted to the extent that their lives could be forfeit to religious zealots such as yourself.

What I really like is the way Bill ends his statement:

Nice to know that even the atheists know that Christians can be counted on to react to their antics like good Christians. Which is why there will be no violence.

I suppose that Bill will trot out the line that any Christians who commit violent acts against non-Christians for reasons of faith are not “True Christians™”, because only those who aren’t really part of the group, and aren’t really following the teachings of Christ™ would do something like that.

Bill, you old windbag; blow it out your ass. We’ve had enough of your righteous indignation. We’ve heard enough of your lies. We’ve seen the man behind the curtain, and we are not impressed. Go curl up in a corner somewhere and await the rapture. It would be the most useful thing that you could ever do for the rest of humanity. Go ahead, Bill: Do the noble thing.

h/t to PZ Myers

1 comment

  1. In my opinion, everyone has the right to their own freedom, may it be with expression, speech and even religion. We are entitled to our own beliefs and therefore we should just respect each other’s freewill. 🙂

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