Jeff Field, Director of Communications for the Catholic League has responded to a request to comment on the new "Adopt an Atheist" campaign released by the Catholic League and has commented specifically for this article.
Responding to some concerns from atheists who have considered the campaign to be offensive and condescending, he says that campaign should be viewed as “lighthearted, humorous and tongue-in-cheek. If people can't be good-humored, that's their own problem. We're not being condescending at all. People need to have a good sense of humor."
Field says that the “Adopt an Atheist” campaign is a response to American Atheists' billboard initiatives and American Atheists' president David Silverman's comments about closeted atheists. He notes, “We released the “Adopt an Atheist” campaign as a lighthearted press release as a play on David Silverman's words.”
When questioned about what the word 'adopt' means in the press release, Field explains that people are encouraged to “reach out to atheists and offer a lighthearted message with holiday spirit because this time of the year atheists don't have anything to celebrate.” E-mails, Field says, might “open atheists' minds and hearts to Christ.”
Field notes that he has received word that some Christians have sent vulgar e-mails to atheists, but the Catholic League, he says, is not responsible for those e-mails.
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