>> jule levying us this evening presenting his book. his teaching career began in the '70s working at st. lucy's in spanish harlem then took a college professor position in pittsburgh then awarded his ph.d.. he is president of the sea largest catholic civil-rights organization.

publisher of the catalysts serve negative s2 decades from the national association of scholars. he guessed lectures every year to phd these around the world. for the legal and education freedom foundation, the jewish action alliance alliance, christian film and television commission, project moses moses, george doubt academy, catholics come home, the coalition to save iraqi christians. also on the ancient order of -- and on remember the catholic social workers association. also on the advisor report of family in america ugh journey of public policy purpose he has won many

teaching awards speaking of civil liberties and ask how does a man have the chance to sit down and write a -- write a book? we are glad he did. then mabel let him takeover. clearly the catholic church has gone through difficult times with the horrifying abuse of 10 years ago which could have been prevented by many within the church is own ranks. teaching and practices are overlooked not just by a media but fortunately there is a change in now we can speak about things that we could not for a long time.

the teachings of the church are the best guide to living ever adopted. 20 centuries of living to a doctrine flourishing coming from the destruction and going against that. the coalesce since to become the catholic social doctrine. it defies the church compellingly liberal and socially economic it is all negative things to all men. always willing to put up a good fight reminds readers of of book the wisdom that exists so this is how the

best attributes they saw many problems it lies in waiting the more likely it is the negative stereotypes and now we will find out to "why catholicism matters." bill donohue. [applause] >> >> thank you father i appreciate it was the opportunity to speak about the book.

from the good doubleday crown i have an idea about the book that it was professorial. he said we are getting negative press, sometimes justly earned or unfairly. somebody needs to write a book. the kind of book i want to do brings my sociological training to the table. my argument is that throughout the ages all the great philosophers talk about the good society what constitutes a good society? the argument is the answer

has been there a long time. if you follow the teachings of the catholic church you have a good society. because the teachings were very, very demanding. is better to try to massage their runner and a high jumper than to get him to clear the bars but in this country we have seen inflation and, dumbing down and appealing to the worst common denominator. demands should remain we should clear the bar you are you to talk about don't you have problems in your own ranks?

one woman said i cannot answer the question. look. if every priest had failed us we would not have that problem but we're all sinners that is why the pope says go to confession. we know that people are failed human beings and we have been understanding of redemption and forgiveness. but are the teachings corroded? no. their excellent you can deal with the scandal what needs to be amended is the behavior of the clergy. we talk about a very small number 149 priest out of 100,000 that were responsible for 27% of all

cases don't forget those that were false accusations i simply say the teachings are said around the favor the problem i would not be here today to tell you have the right recipe but the fact that some people fail should not be breaking news. where do you think the idea of the university came from? aristotle, cicero. that was the work of the catholic church. the irish. they preserve the work of the people before them. what about the idea of freedom? mitt did not originate in the east didn't even have a

word for that until the 19th century but looking at art and architecture and music we zinn in pursuit of truth is how you understand catholicism. but the ultimate purpose is the focus on the other. it is the most natural thing to focus on ourselves but that is not help:80. the catholic church tries to have a set of values that the private attention that aquinas and others said we have to great commandments that is the heart and soul of the natural law but it

was our church the davis the grounding of natural law and people say that is antiquated they know some things are palatable in people say that is not true. what is true is what the government decrees per about it tells us what is right or wrong. the catholic church excepts the adn you know, there is a higher or to answer to. how could we prosecute the nazis? they were not line when they said you cannot prosecute me. i was just following orders take the jt's sadr entertained no such thing as truth or moral absolute then

you cannot prosecute people if they follow what the government wanted you to do. they were good will soldiers. we can own they prepare to the catholic teaching with that you had to know the jews were innocent human beings. my look at the relative situation i gave a talk about something with the peach these said you have strongly held opinions. >> i said yes. i am passionate. let's talk about that you think there sums of -- societies that are better than others. >> yes.

you have a problem western civilization absolutely. all cultures are equal nation not make judgments is that what you believe? of course. but something a don't want to leave out of the discussion i said i think i have got to what you are saying. not the jews put people into ovens but we do it is this different strokes for different folks? they got very nervous. i said that is the conclusion that you come to that all cultures are equal. they pled nazis -- jews into

the heavens but we put a pizza into the oven. i have a moral basis. natural rights to not come from government we have been a valuable rights that is the catholic idea that they come from god that if we do things against our conscience we will practice disobedient five was struck by "the new york times" how often do see that? is very much relevant to today. that is where they come from. to look at slave labor was

the first to speak up? >> they did not officially condemn it and then the first century the pope condemned it but we were consistent they had the right this reversed to do that until it collapsed. but without the tradition had you make the argument? is easy to say he is a creature of god and has the same rights as everybody else but somehow he has no life? the catholic and church rejected that. to undermine slavery the

dominican priest who were people within the catholic church. there is a proud record of prudence but speaking you do not get credit of slavery overnight. look at the constitution that is written in there. you have to keep away at it. that is why it is easy to say everybody knew this was wrong. clearly the catholic church led the way in the fight against slavery. others think it is right to kill a baby in your -- in

utero. i think it's a civil-rights issue this is biology 11. the color of my skin my dna did not come to months after she had me, it was at conception. biology 101. it is entertaining with hillary clinton says abortion is sad and tragic. why is it sad or tragedy? why do we say go for it? and somebody says i have to get their route to canal you don't say that is a tragedy. but everybody knows look at the pictures.

that is a baby. the gallup poll that came out last week the so-called pro-choice this that 41 percent of the population that has more to do with the sonogram than anything else. we are on the right track. i talk about euthanasia also thework of the nine is yeoman's work. or a work of good men 1727 bounding the first hospitals, schools, asylums hospitals, schools, asylums, hospices, we have some and mother to rhesus, they found her. she did not want to be known for the work that she did. we did find her we do need

heroes christopher hichens said she took money from rich people did you expect her to take it from the core or middle-class? would it make sense? i understand. some of them have to be centers. are we back to this again? is everybody's no white? she founded the first hospice for aids patients in new york city. said diocese did more we do more than any other private source of many of the institution in the private world. i dummied any lectures if

you have the phobia to spend that kind of money the immigrants with the great work done over the years that have reached out to to each other. two-seat people making their comments. to say it is our right with the borders that people are on welcome here. where it is your card? if i see somebody on the street i asked for the card. i also applaud the church to

stand up. there has spent so much revisionism look but of jewish community said during the war and after the war. why was so many millions give then why did you see every jewish organizations compared to those that may help out but it was the catholic church that did more. that idea, by the way he cents retracted it hitler had assassination plans

against the pope to kill them and the catholic church that stood up as a resistance. our side will be vindicated. those who make the arguments against us the and better tax those who try a2 smear the past if you look at the jewish community why you think the philharmonic was stopped for a moment of silence? according to one estimate the pope was credited with saving 860,000 jews. why did they plan to 800,000 trees in israel in the

1940's one do that was saved by the catholic church? gorbachev's said you would never bring down the soviets and without the catholic church ronald reagan and margaret thatcher but john paul ii u.n. to poland set the record straight. talking about religious liberty the soviets knew this was of threat to some people think you get a package in the overnight mail from the pope telling them what to do but he did what he could not the time by the way the men about the

crusade in the spanish inquisition i take them on head on. the acquisition was conducted by authorities by people like the king that they may not be loyal to the ground. they were a defensive reaction the muslim did not use the word crusade it was just a skirmish. want to set the record straight. on marriage, family, sexuality, restraint, i believe in the sociology of the biggest morrow social problem is the runaway idea of radical

autonomy. i doubt need any extra authority i have my conscience so did jeffrey dahmer and he killed his victims stolid had a conscience and every thug in history had a conscience that means you have to be avenged in rich traditions of the catholic church you could follow the ten commandments -- ten commandments to set you free. the false notion of freedom. the catholic church teaches freedom is the right to do what we ought to do. that is a hard sell.

but it is what makes sense from the and point* the idea my eyes should be in word or out word that is one of the great qualities of prevention but the focus is offer of yourself but a freedom is paid unencumbered self my need no moral directives i have a discussion in the book the french intellectual the sec's the promiscuously had with young boy is to justify rape he was regarded in the '80s the most powerful

intellectual of his day. he did not believe there was a moral absolute but there were interpretations. there is no such thing as aids. there is such a thing as truth. when you abandon common-sense he had sex with anybody and used his body for drugs. i use him as an example because the epitomizes the distinction of what the catholics churches teaches. he said no such thing as truth everybody is an interpreter of his own

morality. that has certain consequences. catholicism has consequences. i am simply saying the right recipe has been a round to thousand years we have to stop with the cacophony of catcalls to shut us down we don't want to impose anything my job is to say we want to hold a big stop sign what we see going on inside a today people acting in the irresponsible way they know what is right to is not a good situation reigning with

the supremacy it is not a good. the catholic church is the answer i say we have a whole generation of young people who don't know about the good things the church has done and all of the other good things may should be proud if we shut the voice up not only catholics lose but the rest of us but cannot write the book unless i believe in them thank you for the opportunity to discuss the book and read

can talk about 10 thank you and day. >> obama was invited to speak at notre dame now we hear about a georgetown. i disagree with their positions but i like the other voice in the room. what about the catholic institution? of priest worked here in washington, i liked him but to my spent 20 years in education obama had every right to speak at the university of notre dame. he should be allowed to speak any place to weber strongly opposed to the

award was would they give it to a man in the illinois state senate took the position once the baby is born as a result of a botched abortion where it is no medical necessity that baby was allowed to die. we have never seen a president more enthusiast for abortion-rights. he told planned parenthood the first thing he would do is president the freedom of choice act the most pro abortion and legislation ever proposed because of our bishops and others the legislation never got to his desk. he should speak. but not get the award. my said to the priest what

could he say? i said father, you are opposed to the anti-semite? you be opposed to a racist getting the award but the difference is you don't have a problem who is the enthusiast for the abortion rights. as far as kathleen sebelius she has, then the law of it -- the last archbishop's asked point-blank named a single log that you ever supported to create a restriction on abortion. she was not just a friend of george tiller the partial birth abortion best she raised money for him. how could you get any more left field and kathleen sebelius? it is observed at least give

joe biden crafted to and bill daily. they warned him. catholics will not put up with us. but unfortunately they were a veto. kathleen sebelius who left the catholic church they are clueless purview give advice to the president? and made the true in the past with passive bishops others tainted by the scandal. but that occurred between the '60s and that 80 is. that we have the new crop of bishops today. like cardinal boland and the archbishop out of philadelphia and the card know who my love, they don't

understand this is not about contraception about the first amendment. if it is about contraception and you could get them at planned parenthood i think mayor bloomberg gave away 90 million condoms. i don't know the logic on that but that is how i answer that one. >> how do approach the parochialism on secular people not to think about how use for the catholics to criticize and critique? >> i have never seen a more

insular community. college professors, who did they associate with? is it hard for me to debate a liberal on tv? they are predictable. 1972 the literary critic and said i can't understand how nixon became president. of course, everyone she knows voted for mcgovern. she worked for "the new yorker." who else would they vote for? the problem with the left, and not honest liberals but "left" end quote. is the thought they run the show.

they don't think they have to worry about truth. or rationale. we can change our mind. they just know they are right. this is the high priest of secular as of. i just will get the world does the betty have their full barings? she is not carrying an elephant or a seal but look at the sonogram everybody knows abortion is taking the innocent human life. two men cannot get married or have children but they

could look each other. the only way you get children is from a man and woman. otherwise people would just fornicate. all world religions between a man and a woman. it was yesterday and they have a cultural arrogance you cannot get invited without with about being favor of tom did carry getting married. he wants to come in.

then a man came from ireland to the united states. complicated story he did not know it was his daughter. she got a impregnated. they want to get married. true story. brother and sister want to get married. i put this question up and i got absolute dead silence. please answer the question. do you want to discriminate? i do. you fake it is okay for the brother and sister common not hypothetical is okay? once you take away the tradition and not procreation then what are you left with?

now it is about tom dick and harry. either it is the alternative lifestyle then you treat the goal or it is special. straight people comment young people cohabitate they want the benefits of marriage but do not want to a marriage. to begin the same benefits to them as well? would is wrong with that? i am a veteran. i got this g.i. bill. if you give mind benefits to non veterans what have you done to that privileged status? it has been devalued. then we need to have the national consequences if we do that.

do not tell me about the polls. my first but talking about the 1970's equal rights amendment. when the women got a chance to vote, the lingo day's legal correspondent said women turned out in record numbers been a york and new jersey to defeat the equal rights amendment. same-sex marriage looks okay but we have 32 states that have voted. 32. how many times has it one? zero. take a look at the issues. there is a reason why. if it is about love and it cannot stop them from getting married.

is an institution that is about consequences. then it goes back to the edo center is umbro i sometimes think we live in a society that the three most dreaded words are thou shall not. you do not decide what you could not do with your own body. women do not decide when to men straight. we need to have the elementary understanding it is a baby when bill will mitt is pregnant less talk about two ipad to make the proverbial statement of the

gay bashing throw the book at these people who believe anybody's acting contrary to the catholic teaching. with the tiny minority they work against their brows and follow their head. and it is not the teachings. they were sound 2000 years ago. they are sound today if we follow them. >> i don't like to be called a homophobe. my voted for john mccain but i don't like to be called a racist. i believe in the catholic

doctrine with artificial contraception but i do not believe i am in a war against women. >> when you invoke or engaged in name-calling is a way to shut down the debate. they cannot make a logical argument. they feel they don't need to they don't need evidence or raise them. i replied to see the empirical evidence. you can argue until you are blue in the face. they know their rights. animated talk that the college seasick you impressed me. you are a conservative with

the contents. [laughter] i did not want to insult her. you are a liberal with the mind. [laughter] do people realize? i have been on shows from the rate to wean heritage renovation due to say the left-wing brookings institute? he said you are right. i did characterize it to and he said period today with bill donohue who is with the right to wane heritage foundation. i have a letter from npr made a formal complaint who on may 27 wrote to about a piece in philadelphia there

were charges of rape and it could have vented their and then she said which is not at all unusual for priests. not unusual? you know, the demographic of the country could you say that about anybody else? this was not an editorial. there are over 40,000 priest do know how the day accusations of any credible sort? "the new york times" finally published. people in the orthodox jewish community when city who have been accused of that many rabbis found guilty of sexual molestation

and the "new york times" did not publish one word. i kept asking why are you ignoring this? this is going on now. and said the aide who was protecting ever by a. the catholic committee would be the front-page. how many have you heard from jay leno? jon stewart? bill maher? do they make fun of muslims or jews? when not asking them to do so. but if we have a problem in this from the script at night. you don't slam everybody. when you generalize is you are in dangerous territory.

did you ever hear anybody say they all do great work? it is a constant battle but i do believe is a hard core segment impervious to reason. that is what we adhere to with the catholic church. >> [inaudible] ast gain in the young adults defamed your believe supplied to you or are universally applicable? most of understand the question. were there such a dictatorship of relativism in the academy that people spend four years and then

education but do not -- place of higher learning but did not receive an education how can we have rational discussion? >> i tried to give the example like i did before how did we prosecute the nazis that you make people think about that in the classroom. but christina sommers wrote extensively asking students about the holocaust. take a look at the national association of scholars work. students have a problem being judgmental was it wrong what the germans did? if you make a judgment in this if you have been as the

people who were dead because of holocaust but if we cannot convince young people there are certain acts like the intentional killing of an innocent human being if that is the way it comes and then i was teaching would gain at the fells cars were running over women and students thought it was fun eighth. at one time you were not entitled to a human-rights. second in command to hitler was in prison and said how could you do this?

he said i did not hate them. he did not. i a depersonalize them. that is what pornography does. they are no longer human beings. the few get angry at somebody you validate their human. but if you dehumanize you do not feel sorry if you step on the ant for you keep walking. but there are consequences in society. it is bound to lose when somebody says stealing is wrong and you don't think it is. somebody will lose. but then thomas wolfe said

25 years ago why prostitution and is a threat to the family. than the mine is capable of hallucinations. but i think that catholic voice was more than it was 20 years ago i could just say the hell with that. [laughter] level beyond tonight if you get a chance the world over. i was on a blue dogs yesterday. not everybody in then media

is our enemy. just because they tend to be on the left that does not mean they are out to to get us. but the hard-core on the left is to defeat them with logic and reason. thank you. [applause] >> i will talk about the presidential campaign shaped

the 2012 election then out in the future political history of the united states. i will begin with a bold prediction november 6, 2012, there will definitely be a winner and a loser. but we may not know for several decades who was which. sometimes the lender has no impact but the losing candidate has a tremendous impact to change in the political dynamics. i was the unsuccessful political candidate myself. iran as the democratic nominee and republican

state. you think that was tough with my family and friends time, money, talent, i let people down. or the voters let me down. they have spoken. the bastards. [laughter] maybe like barry goldwater he said i believe america is a great country. anybody can grow up to the president, except me. did i have an impact? the congressional race in miami and feel they used my ideas that the presidential level losers are very important.

losers when they behave in a certain way make democracy work. and often missing campaigns are far more dynamic and profit. the losers always get to speak first on election night. the winner cannot talk and tell the loser does. the election is not over when the weather declares victory but only with a loser concedes defeat. if he says i did not lose, he is crazy. you can see what might happen. people to not abide by the results.

riots, the same with 2,008 attends and emotional presidential campaign. the first african-american president pro losers did not like the results. there were riots in india, kenya mongolia, they were all third world countries but 2007 and nicolas sarkozy in france had so many riots 600 cases of arson and and 600 people arrested and 80 police officers were to. the loser says i accept the results now unify around the winter to move forward.

if you are on the losing end i refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the winner. chaos, a deadlock, one of the messages is i do worry we get to appoint a of polarization we will lose this. first with bush then obama's people question the legitimacy of the winner. that is very dangerous. no country quite as diverse as us with the ethnic groups , regional differences , democracy in america is barely fragile it is important to keep understanding it is a legitimate government to

give them the basic elements when we come back. if we lose that we will have a terrible terrible problem for reelection as. sometimes losers are more prophetic. they come up with the new ideas and the winners are stuck with the policies of the past. every major program was talked about from the loser because it has to gain acceptance. another way is to bring in more participants. to participate in the political process. they also change the coalition with losing campaigns and of the reason

they do that to most of the losers know that they will lose. they will not admit that. if you come from way behind the most elections are preordained. a losing campaign is sometimes has to be very bold where they bring on a running mate like walter mondale that is what it is about to being a game changer in to generate a lot of this excitement.

you think i have no winning message data have to change anything. but the loser has to have introspection what did we do wrong? so think of you have to knock down the walls and then rebuild the. that is what has happened. . .