Friday, April 20, 2007

Anti-Catholic Cartoon


Following on the heels of the Don Imus "nappy headed hos" comment, the Philadelphia Inquirer published an outrageously anti-catholic cartoon on April 20, 2007 depicting the subscribers to the majority opinion in the Supreme Court's recent partial birth abortion decision as miter-clad bishops. The obvious import of the cartoon is that the majority's rationale for opposing partial birth abortion stems from adherence to Catholic dogma rather than sound constitutional jurisprudence.

Is Auth really stating that "Catholics need not apply" for any future Supreme Court positions? Does the Inquirer endorse such bigotry?

The Tony Auth cartoon, which is reproduced in this blog pursuant to the "Fair Use Doctrine," is hardly an anomaly. On March 20, 2002, Auth and the Inquirer published a cartoon attacking Catholic priestly celibacy as the cause of the pedophilia scandal. Such a myopic viewpoint of a legitimate religious tradition should be condemned resolutely. Not only does it unjustly demean an entire class of dedicated clergymen, it serves no useful purpose in curing the ills of the scandal.



Again, in 1994, Auth improperly lampooned Catholics' position on abortion. He's obviously obsessed with the teachings of almost one billion Roman Catholics and their three hundred million Eastern Orthodox brethren.




Let's face it, Auth's consistent portrayal of Catholics and Catholic religious beliefs are no different from those of notorious bigot Thomas Nast, whose 1875 cartoon "The American River Ganges" is now recognized as a blatantly anti-catholic message.

I really think that its time to bid Auth a fond farewell.

1 comment:

Joseph E. Thomas, Cape May, NJ said...

Letter e-mailed (4/23/07 )to the Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Tony Auth’s cartoon on 4/20.2007, “Church and State,” depicting as Catholic bishops the five Supreme Court justices who recently voted that Congress had the power to restrict sucking the baby’s brains out after the baby was partially delivered, will make me buy the Inquirer every day to insure I never patronize those who advertise in it. THIS MAKES ME SICK! This is bias. This is prejudice. This has no place in the America I know and love.
However, historically the Inquirer has always had an anti-Catholic prejudice. This is an ugly, little secret that I do not expect to see on your editorial page, because the truth doesn’t matter to those with an agenda.
If those same justices came out and abolished the death penalty, even for cop-killers, your judgment would be different.
Imus (and what intelligent person cares what he says?) got fired for his politically incorrect comments, but those groups are “in.” Catholics have never been an “in” group, so it’s okay to degrade them.
If there were a Star of David above the heads of the two Jewish justices, would the cartoon have been printed? Of course not, and everyone knows it and goes along with the lie. So much for the power of a free press, when the press is free to be biased and prejudiced.

The Supreme Court opens with the words:” God save the United States and this honorable Court.” May He save us from the Inquirer.
The Inquirer is rightly based in Philadelphia where the Know-Nothings burned Catholic churches. The newspaper is close to its roots.