Contact: Susan A. Fani, Director of Communications, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, 212-371-3191, catalyst@catholicleague.org  

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 /Standard Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on an article in today's New York Times on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his relations with African American ministers:

Rev. Calvin O. Butts III has managed to grab "at least $7 million in city contracts" under Bloomberg for his church and non-profits.

Rev. Floyd H. Flake is awash in millions of dollars--make that $8 million--in city contracts for city services his church provides.

Rev. A.R. Bernard wins the trophy: the Bloomberg administration decided to sell parts of two streets to his Christian Cultural Center.

According to the article, Bloomberg "has deployed an unusual combination of city money, private philanthropy, political appointments and personal attention, creating a web of ties to black clergy members that is virtually unheard of for a white elected official in New York City."

Look what Bloomberg got in return: he received the endorsements and "the blessings of the city's most powerful black ministers, who together preach to tens of thousands of congregants each week."

Where in the world are the church and state watchdogs when it comes to government aid to black churches? If Catholic priests had this kind of "relationship" with Bloomberg, all hell would break loose.

Once again, white liberal racism is at work: black ministers can endorse political candidates with impunity, but woe to a Catholic priest who preaches against abortion. Moreover, Catholics are still waiting for Bloomberg to say it's okay to put a nativity scene in the classroom alongside the Jewish religious symbol, the menorah. We don't even want the mayor to buy us a street.

http://catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1703