Gail Gordon Donegan resigned from the
Virginia Council on Women Aug. 28.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Richmond
Bishop Barry C. Knestout earlier had called on Gov. Ralph Northam to rescind
his appointment of Donegan after the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported she had posted several profane
and insulting tweets targeting Catholics. After an alert regarding her
appointment was sent out Aug. 27 from the diocese and the Virginia Catholic Conference, nearly 1,200 people emailed the governor via the VCC asking him to remove Donegan.
“We expect anyone appointed to a
council, board or commission for the commonwealth to be respectful of all faith
groups and civil in his or her public comments,” said Bishop Burbidge. “Her
statements are offensive to Catholics and our faith.”
Though her Twitter account was locked,
the Times-Dispatch reported she repeatedly
attacked the Church for its pro-life position, tweeted “Go tell a Catholic they
have dirt on their forehead #waystooffend” on Ash Wednesday, and joked about
child sexual abuse by priests.
