Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, erupted in fury on Monday at reports that Father Jonathan Morris, a Catholic priest and noted Fox News religion analyst, was spat on at the Gay Pride Parade in New York City.
"If some gay guy — or a straight guy — starts spitting in my face, I'll floor them. That's the right answer," Donohue told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV.
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On Sunday, Morris tweeted that he was in downtown Manhattan when "I ran into gay marriage parade. Two men walked by and spat on me. Oh well ... I deserve worse."
In another tweet, Morris, who also serves in campus ministry at Columbia University, appeared to forgive them, adding: "The two men who spat on me are probably very good man [sic] caught up in excitement and past resentment. Most in that parade would not do that."
But Donohue — author of
"The Catholic Advantage: Why Health, Happiness, and Heaven Await the Faithful," published by Image — is not as forgiving.
"This idea that we are just piñatas, like a doormat to be walked upon, is because you've got some of these fascistic elements in the gay community doing this kind of thing," he told Steve Malzberg.
"Can you imagine if, in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, that some of the people there would spit upon some of the gays, for example, who are saying we want inclusion? That would be front page all over the place...."
Donohue believes that the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states is just the beginning for the groups who were celebrating the ruling.
"They don't really care about marriage equality. What they want is to force the churches, the mosques, the synagogues, all the churches to fall in line and do exactly what they want us to do," he said.
Donohue is also concerned about some recent appointments of bishops by Pope Francis.
"[They are] very soft on gay marriage. He just appointed one in Berlin. I don't know what's going on quite frankly. A lot of Catholics are scratching their heads," Donohue told Steve Malzberg.
"The Pope is very much a maverick. I appreciate his comments on same-sex marriage made in the past … but you take a look at some of the appointments that he's made, including in this country, I begin to wonder.
"I hope that he stays a steady course on this. He's done a lot of good work, but you're dealing with somebody who's a little bit unpredictable."