Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on an article that appears today on the front page of the “Style” section of the New York Times:
What’s wrong with masturbating in front of a woman reporter? What’s wrong with walking around the workplace in your underpants? What’s wrong with charges of sexual molestation being brought by nine women employees in the past six years, five of whom pressed charges last month? What’s wrong with an employer found guilty of sexually harassing women subordinates “as a class”? What’s wrong with a CEO using his position of power to beckon female employees to have sex with him against their will? Nothing really. To some, he’s a “hero.” The worst that can be said about him is that he is a “morally challenged provocateur” or “an enthusiastic lothario.” Meet Dov Charney, the founder and CEO of American Apparel. And what does Dov think of himself as? Duddy Kravitz, a fictional character described as an “ambitious Jew.”
It is so nice to know that the same New York Times that hyperventilates over a priest accused of grabbing a teenager’s behind while wrestling is capable of putting a positive spin on an accused serial molester. Maybe that’s because Charney’s reputation includes his “crusading for workers’ rights”? However, this reputation is wholly without merit: two years ago, he had to let go of 1,800 workers in an immigration sweep. Sounds very much like operating a sweatshop for minorities.
Why are there no “morally challenged provocateur” priests? Why are there no “enthusiastic lothario” priests? Isn’t there at least an “unenthusiastic” one out there somewhere? In any event, those who have an unqualified problem with sexual misconduct need to be informed that they are in violation of the New York Times’ 2011 Book of Ethics. Status counts—not behavior.
