Catholic League nutcase to rabbi: Join us or else!

When Bill Donohue'president of the Catholic League, BFF to the Catholic bishops, and professional crazy person'writes his book about winning friends and influencing people, his email exchange with Philadelphia Rabbi Arthur Waskow should definitely be in the first chapter.

You see, the rabbi had the audacity to criticize the Church's assault on women's reproductive rights. And Donohue doesn't take too kindly to criticism of the Church (especially if it comes from those whiny victims who've been raped and molested by priests; that's why he's trying to put the biggest victims' advocacy group out of business).

Yes, he's crazy. Did I mention that he's crazy? Do you need more proof? Okay. From his email to the rabbi:

Your latest snide attack on the Catholic Church ('Whose Religious Freedom Is Under Attack') exhibits appalling ignorance. The issue is not contraception'it is the right of a religious institution not to be forced to pay for services it deems immoral. In other words, the First Amendment is in play. Indeed, the Obama administration is redefining what qualifies as a Catholic organization as any entity that hires and serves mostly people of its own religion. Would you prefer that we discriminate against non-Catholics in our social service agencies, hospitals and schools?

Yes, because clearly the options are a) give in to the demands of Donohue and the bishops by denying basic health care to women, or b) watch the Church and other Catholic organizations cease all social services because, well, that'll show 'em!

But it gets better:

Ed Koch, my friend, once said that Jews had better not make enemies of their Catholic friends since they have so few of them. Think about that the next time you feel compelled to attack my religion.

Funny, because Ed Koch doesn't quite agree:

Koch, the former mayor of New York, said that he never said the quote Donohue attributes to him.

"My comments have always been about fostering good feelings between Jews and Catholics toward mutual understanding of our shared interests," Koch said in a statement. "However, I certainly do not believe that Jews, or Catholics, should be threatened for making critical remarks, nor should my name be used when doing so. While I do have a high regard for Bill, his references to me and my remarks were inappropriate and different in substance and tone than what I said on an earlier occasion. My remarks did not and do not refer to the Rabbi's comments."

This is what we Jews call a Marshall McLuhan moment.

Sure, the rabbi'and pretty much all other Americans'may have been opposed to the Church's war on women and birth control. But with sweet pillow talk and threats, Donohue will no doubt have millions rushing to enlist in his silly war.