Catholic League vs. American Culture

The Smithsonian Institution displayed some artwork critical of Christianity. The Catholic League didn't like that so much and petitioned the museum to remove the exhibit. It did so. This act of self-censorship is shocking and shameful -- artists have a right to be critical of Christianity generally or of the Catholic Church specifically. Americans who are interested in this criticism should not be prevented from viewing their work just as those who are not interested are free to stay away.

But Catholic League president Bill Donohue has gone further, asking Congress to eliminate all funding for the Smithsonian:

Why should the working class pay for the leisure of the elite when in fact one of the things the working class likes to do for leisure is to go to professional wrestling? And if I suggested we should have federal funds for professional wrestling to lower the cost of the ticket, people would think I'm insane. I don't go to museums any more than any Americans do.

Mr. Donohue, how very unfortunate that you do not go to museums. If you had visited the Smithsonian, you might have met some of the 30 million of your countrymen and -women who do visit it each year. They might have shared with you a different point of view.

They might have pointed out to you, for example, that the capsule that landed on the Moon is part of the patrimony of the human species, and that the Smithsonian allows them to see this treasure for free, whether they are elite or not. WWE Smackdown is just entertainment for a Saturday night.

Mr. Donohue, for the leader of a "civil rights" organization, you certainly seem to have a low opinion of those whom you claim to protect and of their rights. The interests of your fellows are not so parochial as you think, and we are quite capable of deciding on our own what does and does not offend us. In the future, please consider keeping your opinions to yourself. Then consider turning off the TV and visiting a museum instead -- you might learn something.