Dear Mr. Donohue,

It seems to me that you are a very passionate Catholic.  Passionate about your beliefs and the attention you receive when you’re on the TV.  You criticized Ms. Griffin for the joke she made as a comedian accepting her award and at the same time making a commentary about how the other actors and actresses always thank Jesus for winning, whether or not the credit is necessarily due.  Let me explain to you what criticism is more justified and why.  Ms. Griffin’s words were, and I quote:

“A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus.  Suck it, Jesus.  This award is my God now.”

Her joke was a direct observation of how celebrities and others use the name of God and the name of Jesus in vain to declare that somehow they were chosen by Jesus to receive the award that they got over all others who were nominated or over all others who lost.  When the truth is, the people who won the awards won them all on their own.  They won on merit, and they won on talent.  It is highly doubtful that Jesus would concern Himself with the Emmy Awards.  Jesus’ concerns were of the poor, the meek, the downtrodden, the sick, and the disadvantaged.  He was more concerned with those that would give away their worldly possessions and live a life of hardship and giving, following His teachings, not of how much wealth could be amassed.

Matthew 19:21-25

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Why would a righteous man such as Jesus concern himself with the winnings of the clearly advantaged?  How arrogant is it to claim that Jesus or God had anything to do with helping a team win a game?  Does God sit upon His Heavenly Throne during the Superbowl with a big foam finger wearing the jersey of the team that will win?  No I don’t think so.  And I doubt that He moves the judges hands to declare winners of the Emmy’s.  Her “Suck it” remark was not to the Jesus of approx. 2000 years ago but to the Jesus that has been created out of the false compassion and false empathy of today.  The true blasphemers are those who’s thanks and praise are but mere empty statements to “go-with-the-flow.”  How many times a day to you hear people emptily say “Thank God” for this or that?

Is this not what God meant when He said “Thou shalt not take the The Lord, Your God’s name in vain?”  I think so.  Concerning His Holiness with all of the “God Dammits,” “Jesus H. Christs,” and “Suck it, Jesus’,” in the world would be a burden that even The Lord would probably not bear.

Your comparisons to the statements that Don Imus, Mel Gibson, Michael Richards, and Ann Coulter made and the ones spoken by Kathy Griffin are like comparing bigoted apples to observational humor making oranges.  You take someone that calls the Rutger Women’s Basketball team “a bunch of nappy headed ho’s” that’s not only degrading to women by essentially calling them all whores but singles them out as black people through a racial stereotype.  Mel Gibson’s statements about Jews are offensive without explanation.  Michael Richard’s weren’t even part of his act, they were an outburst of anger.  Ann Coulter’s were meant to hurt and offend by using a prejorative for gay men to describe someone as weak and a sissy.  Whereas, Kathy’s remarks were part of her comedy shtick and meant to point out the hypocrisy of those who use empty rhetoric when invoking the name of Christ.

Lets look at a few of your more egregious statements that I’m sure you stand by and see nothing wrong with.  Lets see how those compare.  Shall we?

Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. It’s not a secret, okay? And I’m not afraid to say it. … Hollywood likes anal sex. [MSNBC, Scarborough Country, 12/8/04]

Well, ok, I could definitely compare that with Mr. Gibson’s statements during a drunken stupor.  Seriously, Hollywood likes anal sex?  Have you only seen one movie in the last 20 years other than “The Passion?”

“So, here, we have Christianity under attack. Intellectuals like to rap it. And then we’re called whiners. Now, you just try to do this with blacks. Can you imagine if you had eight books that are bestsellers right now, saying that blacks are natural-born killers, or that gays are naturally born to be moral slugs, or that Jews are taking over the world? Could you imagine if somebody then said about blacks and Jews and gays were whiners because they were complaining about this intellectual assault? No.” [MSNBC, Scarbourogh Country, 4/17/06]

In just one paragraph you manage to insult blacks, gays, and Jews.  Wow, you’re Imus, Richards, Coulter, and Gibson rolled in to one. 

“As for the alleged abuse, it’s time to ask some tough questions. First, there is a huge difference between being groped and being raped, so which was it Mr. Foley? Second, why didn’t you just smack the clergyman in the face? After all, most 15-year-old teenage boys wouldn’t allow themselves to be molested. So why did you?”

Talk about blame the victim!  What does it matter whether or not Mark Foley was groped or raped.  Would it be appropriate for his pastor to have done one over the other?  Do you speak for most 15-year-olds?  Do you have some inside knowledge as to what most 15-year-olds would do when faced with a situation where someone who has great power and influence over their lives such as a pastor does something innapropriate?

Mr. Donohue, I really feel that your faux moral outrage over the statements of Kathy Griffin are unwarranted, unnecessary and unqualified.  I believe it was Jesus Himself who said “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?’ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” [Matthew 7:3 – 5]

Sincerely wishing you all the best,
Daimeon Pilcher