Contact: Kiera M. McCaffrey, Director of Communications, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, 212-371-3191, catalyst@catholicleague.org

NEW YORK, April 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented today on the news that Rosie O'Donnell is leaving "The View" in June:

"O'Donnell says she'll return as a guest co-host and is 'not going away.' Neither is the Catholic League. No matter how many times Barbara Walters tried to distance herself today from the alleged bickering between O'Donnell and ABC over O'Donnell's contract, the fact remains that Walters is the co-owner and co-producer of the show she co-hosts. It is Walters, more than anyone else, who has allowed O'Donnell and Joy Behar to bash Catholics non-stop. On April 19, and again in April 23, I wrote to Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks, and President, Disney-ABC Television Group, asking that the Catholic bashing cease; I am awaiting a response.

"Our research discloses that no corporation advertises more of its products on 'The View' than Proctor & Gamble. Accordingly, I am putting them on notice today that they bear primary corporate responsibility for the constant mockery of the Catholic Church that O'Donnell and Behar have voiced. I am delighted to learn that James Dobson, president of Focus on the Family, is also fed up with the Catholic bashing that is tolerated by Walters, Disney, ABC and Proctor & Gamble. Maybe the time has come for a Donohue-Dobson one-two punch.

"Imus gets canned for a racist remark and O'Donnell and Behar are allowed to insult Catholics on a regular basis. This kind of disparity is intolerable and must not continue."