Among those picking up our October 30 news post (see below) on Christopher Hitchens' unseemly attack on Mother Theresa--made in a debate on the Dennis Miller radio show--was William Donohue of the Catholic League. Today, Donahue declares that Hitchens contacted him to apologize, at least in large measure. Donahue tells his email list today:
"On November 2, I criticized Christopher Hitchens for saying that Mother Teresa was 'a fanatic and a fundamentalist and a fraud, and millions of people are much worse off because of her life, and it's a shame there is no hell for your bitch to go to.'"
"At the end of the news release, we published his e-mail address, and he was roundly condemned, sometimes maliciously, by angry Catholics (he forwarded some of the e-mails to me). I subsequently e-mailed him, saying, "Seems like you've heard from the faithful." I also took the opportunity to invite him for drinks the next time he is in New York. Why? Although we've had it out several times in the past--in person and on TV--and although I strongly disagree with him, the man is no phony, and that means a great deal to me. Unlike most of those whom I do battle with, Hitchens is intellectually honest.
"Christopher wrote back to me today, saying, "The first thing to say is that I felt remorse for employing the word 'bitch' as soon as it was out of my mouth." Forgiven. As I have always said, when someone apologizes, Christians have no choice but to accept it. Besides, anyone who fights for a cause, myself included, occasionally lets his emotions get the best of him. The difference is, Christopher admits it.
"A few years back, Christopher wrote a piece in Vanity Fair on abortion that was so fair that it moved me to write a letter in praise of it; it was published. In other words, this is not the first time we have broken bread. But who needs the bread? Christopher and I have some serious drinking to do."
Donahue shows again that while he is relentless in pursuit of bias and discrimination, he also is gracious when given the opportunity.
