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Charlie Hebdo journalists 'provoked' their own slaughter with 'disgusting record', says American Catholic group

The Catholic League says the satirical weekly’s cartoons should not be tolerated

Thursday 08 January 2015 14:27 GMT

People hold up placards reading 'I am Charlie' during a gathering in Nice (Getty Images)

An American group that claims to represent the interests of US Catholics has criticised the French magazine where 12 people were killed yesterday, arguing that the victims “provoked” their own slaughter.

In a statement released yesterday headlined “Muslims are right to be angry”, Bill Donohue, the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, accused Charlie Hebdo of “intolerance” and its journalists' “disgusting record” of playing a role in causing their own death.

“Killing in response to insult, no matter how gross, must be unequivocally condemned. That is why what happened in Paris cannot be tolerated. But neither should we tolerate the kind of intolerance that provoked this violent reaction,” he said in a statement.

“Those who work at this newspaper have a long and disgusting record of going way beyond the mere lampooning of public figures, and this is especially true of their depictions of religious figures.”

The Catholic League president described the newspaper’s publisher, who was killed in the violence, as “narcissistic”, criticising him by name.

A drawing depicting cartoonist Jean Cabut, left, Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, center, and cartoonist Georges Wolinski (AP)

“Stephane Charbonnier, the paper’s publisher, was killed today in the slaughter. It is too bad that he didn’t understand the role he played in his tragic death.

“Had he not been so narcissistic, he may still be alive,” he said.

Mr Donohue cited cartoons of nuns masturbating and popes wearing condoms, as well as depictions of the prophet Mohammed in “pornographic poses”.

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is an influential group in the United States, with a multi-million dollar budget and assets, as well as membership numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

The League is the US’s largest Catholic civil rights organization and was founded in 1973.

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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Pencils, representing the freedom of expression, placed in tribute in Nantes

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France's Jason Lamy Chappuis soars through the air over a message that reads "Je suis Charlie"

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Solidarity in Nice

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Turkish citizens organised a vigil in front of the French consulate in Istanbul

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Graffiti decorates a London wall in solidarity with the victims of the attack in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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A tribute of flowers and candles outside the French Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic

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Messages of sympathy near the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris

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Workers install a poster reading 'Je suis Charlie' (I am Charlie) on the Palais des Festivals facade in Cannes

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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A woman looks at floral tributes left outside the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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A woman places flowers near the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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Journalists of international press agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) hold signs reading "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) at their headquarters in Paris as they observe a minute of silence for the victims of an attack by armed gunmen on the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris which left at least 12 dead and many others injured

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Pens and pencils are placed in the form of a peace sign over the names of late French cartoonists Cabu, Tignous, Wolinski and late Charlie Hebdo editor Charb on the Place de la Republique (Republic Square) in Paris

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Australia mourns victims of the Paris massacre at Federation Square in Melbourne

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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Indian artist Sudarsan Pattnaik is pictured with his sand sculpture, in tribute of those who lost their lives in the attack by gunmen on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris that killed 12 people, at Golden Sea Beach in Puri, some 65 kilometers from Bhubaneswar

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

A man holds a placard that reads "I am Charlie" as members of the European Parliament and citizens gather during a minute of silence for victims of the shooting at the Paris offices of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the EU Parliament in Brussels

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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A painting of the 'Marianne', the national symbol of the French Republic is placed between candles to commemorate the victims killed in an attack at the Paris offices of the weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in front of the French Embassy in Berlin

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Pencils and flowers of condolance are placed at the French embassy at Pariser Platz in Berlin

In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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Mourners hold signs depicting victim's eyes during a rally in support of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly newspaper that fell victim to an terrorist attack, at Union Square in New York

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People hold up placards reading 'I am Charlie' during a gathering in Nice

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A man lights candles set near the portrait of three of the four cartoonists killed, in Paris

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A man holds the French national flag tied a black ribbon as he and others gather in Lyon to pay their respects

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Parisians gather to pay respect for the victims of a terror attack against 'Charlie Hebdo'

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People gather in front of the 'Club de la presse' in Montpellier, to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

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A drawing depicting cartoonist Jean Cabut, left, Charlie Hebdo editor Stephane Charbonnier, center, and cartoonist Georges Wolinski, is placed outside the French Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The message reads 'Victims of their success, R.I.P.'

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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A woman lays a candle during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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People take part in a vigil in Trafalgar Square, London, following the deadly terror attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris

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People light candles forming the name Charlie during a gathering in Strasbourg, eastern France

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People stand stand in Marseille, southern France, next to a portrait of French cartoonist Georges Wolinksi, killed during an attack by unknown gunmen on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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People hold placards reading in French 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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A man holds a placard reading 'With all our heart with Charlie Hebdo, Freedom of the press: Our freedom' during a gathering in Marseille, southern France

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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The French and European union flags fly at half-mast at the French Embassy in Washington, DC

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People gather at the Place Royale in Nantes to show their solidarity for the victims of the attack in Paris

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Flowers, candles and a sign reading 'I am Charlie' are placed against a wall during a demonstration in Paris

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Journalism students hold a banner reading in French: 'Journalism students : Solidarity' as they raise pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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People gather for a rally in solidarity with the killed Charlie Hebdo employees, in Geneva, Switzerland

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A man holds a placard reading: 'Freedom of the press is priceless, fundamentalism, of any kind, will not pass' as others hold up placards reading in French, 'I am Charlie' during a gathering at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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Journalists raise their press cards as others hold up pens during a gathering at the Place de la Republique, following the terrorist attack on the offices of the satirical weekly, 'Charlie Hebdo'

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

People hold candles at a rally in support of the victims of Wednesday's terrorist attack, at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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In pictures: Reaction to Charlie Hebdo attack

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People gather in front of the city hall of Rennes, western France, following the attack in Paris

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It is not directly associated with the Catholic Church's hierarchy but has close ties to its local leadership in New York, according to US newspaper The New York Times.

The tone of the comments by the League is in stark contrast to those of the Catholic Church’s international leadership.

A spokesperson for Pope Francis yesterday condemned the slaughter at the satirical magazine as “abominable” and called for unity.

“The Holy Father expresses his firmest condemnation of the horrible attack," the spokesperson said.

“Whatever its motivation might be, homicidal violence is abominable [and] is never justified.”

The murder of nine journalists, two police officers and a maintenance man by masked men has shocked France. Around 11.30am yesterday gunmen forcibly entered the offices of the satirical magazine, where a weekly editorial meeting was taking place.

After forcing journalists to identify themselves, the gunmen opened fire. They were later seen fleeing the building and are still at large.

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