Ignoring James Hormel’s demonstrated insensitivity to Catholics, President Clinton has resubmitted his nomination of Mr. Hormel as United States Ambassador to Luxembourg.
This nomination is no more acceptable now than it was a year ago.
During the 1996 San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Transgender Pride Parade, Mr. Hormel was on the air with commentators for KOFY-TV when the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence pranced by dressed as nuns, indulging in the mockery of Catholic Religious Sisters that is their trademark. Far from deploring the antics of this group, Mr. Hormel laughed in amusement. Since then, although having been invited by Sen. Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas to repudiate this group’s anti-Catholic bigotry, Mr. Hormel has steadfastly refused to do so.
William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, reiterated the league’s opposition to Mr. Hormel’s appointment:
“Last year, the Catholic League opposed the nomination of James Hormel as Ambassador to Luxembourg because of his refusal to disassociate himself from the anti-Catholic bigotry of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Nothing has changed since then. Mr. Hormel’s continued refusal to repudiate the anti-Catholicism of this group, even as he aspires to be ambassador to a nation which is 97 percent Catholic, bespeaks at the very least a blatant disregard for Catholic sensibilities; and at worst, indifference to, or even tolerance for, religious bigotry.
“The Catholic League is again writing to all members of the U.S. Senate, urging them not to vote to confirm Mr. Hormel. His nomination is an affront to all who are truly committed to religious tolerance.”
