In a phone call on Thursday, Donegan defended her social media posts.

“Psychological studies show that people who swear make better friends,” she said. “... And they’re smarter.”

In a phone call on Friday, she said: “I will say for the record that my father was severely beaten in Catholic foster homes and I am an atheist. My father was orphaned at age 4, sent to live in Catholic foster homes and severely beaten until he ran away at age 14.”

She added: “My husband is an ex-Catholic and he’s not offended by my tweets.”

She declined further comment.

After reviewing some of Donegan’s Twitter posts, the Catholic Diocese of Arlington issued a statement of disappointment in Northam.

“Governor Northam’s appointment of Gail Gordon Donegan to the Virginia Council on Women is disappointing, particularly given her documented use of social media to offend members of the Catholic faith,” said Billy Atwell, chief communications officer for the diocese, in the statement.