The Media is Going Too Far Now

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When the church scandal first broke, I was glad the media covered this awful crime, glad it was out in the open.

Tonight, however, Fox news (not cable) aired something that went just a little too far, and was very uncalled for and tacky. It was just awful.

A former priest was approached by his alleged victim right in broad day light in the middle of the street, with the tv reporter following him with the camera! The alleged victim also had a tape recorder on and asked the priest why he molested him, etc., etc., etc....it was awful and I did feel sorry for the priest. He is still a priest but not actively ministering.

He kept trying to get away and would not answer any questions and the reporter kept shoving the microphone in his face!!

I am a strong advocate for the victims, but this was terribly wrong. I cannot believe Fox News did this. There is a time and place for everything, the middle of the street is not the place to do this.

Another priest committed suicide....this whole mess is starting to get me depressed now. It is all so sad - for everyone concerned. Isn't there anything that can be done about this? Isn't there a better way to handle it for everyone concerned.

Like I said, I don't agree at all with the way it was handled by the church, but I also don't agree with the way the media is handling this. It is all so ugly and very depressing now.

Do our good priests have to worry about being shot at? This whole thing is starting to make me nervous. MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), May 17, 2002

Answers

Hi Mary Lu,

This is not a topic I care to engage in, but thought I might help you get it to the top.

After you submit your "ask a question", go under the heading "unanswered questions" then open up your new post by clicking on it. Scroll down to the bottom and click on "contribute an answer" in the message box type in "top/or to the top" after filling in your e-mail and name, then hit the submit button. That should bring it to the "new answers" page.

Hope I haven't confused you :-)

-- Kathy (sorry@nomail.com), May 17, 2002.


Hi MaryLu:

I agree with you, that is just rank intimidation. Politicians do that sort of thing all the time. We had a politician in my state last election set this poor guy up -- by provoking him to anger and then a reporter nearby caught it on film two days before the election! It was just aweful.

Last night, EWTN had a special news show on the scandal. It was very good, and I think the people on the panel gave a lot of hope. One very intelligent woman (from Boston) seemed to be very confident that this is Springtime and God is doing some Spring cleaning.

You know, MaryLu one thing that may happen is that this may serve to rid the Church of lukewarm (or even non-believing) priests. I don't suppose if you're lukewarm you are going to want to suffer persecution for this thing. We just need to keep praying for the faithful, laity and clergy.

I am just in the process of conversion so you can imagine how hard this is for me! My Protestant friends think I'm nuts. They just look at me with kind of a dazed-and-confused looked on their faces. But you know what, there is NO churche offers what the Catholic church can offer. There is non other like her. There is none with the communion of saints, the intercession of our brothers and sisters. There is none that has ancestral roots that go straight back to the disciples. There is none unyielding in doctrine.

Keep your chin up! When this is over, the air will smell like the fragrance of a spring rain! The Holy's Spirit's presence and power will be manifest in a striking way!

But we should weep for the children, the true victims, and we should weep for priests wrongly acused. It's alright to cry, Jesus did!

Love,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 18, 2002.


That is the way to go girls.. Love you both and Gail Yes Carolyn is MY WIFE and darn good too. Love is absolutely grand She and I have a ball evey day. WHOOOPEE.

Blessings to both of you. Keep it up and you will be a great Catholic Gail.. Our prayers are right behind you to make your first Communion someday.

-- Fred Bishop (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), May 18, 2002.


MaryLu, I have for over a year now boycotted Fox News, they are distorted, bigoted and with little ethic for presenting any story.

-- Joan (godessss@mindspring.com), May 18, 2002.

Gail,

Having just been through the RCIA program at my parish and confirmed on Easter Vigil, I understand what you are going through. It's a journey and a decision that was easy for me to take. I had been a Protestant as well and found that the Church is truly HOME for me. There is such a sense of community and togetherness that I never found anywhere else. My family was, I think, a little surprised when I converted, but there was also an acceptance of the fact since it was obvious that I finally found a feeling of peace within the Church.

God Bless You.

-- Carolyn (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), May 18, 2002.



Hi All:

Thank you so much, Fred and Carolyn. I really appreciate your words of encouragement. Peace -- that is the overarching and abundant blessing at the Catholic church. My husband and I were just discussing that last week, and it's a lasting peace that lasts all week. When I watch those take communion, my heart is overwhelmed with emotion! I can't wait!

Love,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 18, 2002.


Gail, thanks. I agree -- PEACE is the feeling I got from the very first Mass I attended, which was with Fred before we got married.

Have you and your husband begun RCIA yet? There is a lot to learn and a lot to understand. One thing I have done in addition to RCIA, is to sign up for additional correspondence courses from The Association of Miraculous Medal in Missouri. The courses are all free, and there are six courses available: WE BELIEVE... A SURVEY OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH - A CATHOLIC GUIDE TO THE BIBLE - THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING CATHOLIC - THE CATECHISM HANDBOOK - CHRIST'S MOTHER AND OURS - SURPRISED BY TRUTH. These are fantastic courses and I recommend them highly. They are written by Fr Oscar Lukefahr, C.M.

The website (sorry I don't know how to do links) is http://www.amm.org/chss.htm

I found that they recommend beginning with "We Believe..." a survey of the Catholic faith. It is basically an overview of what we believe and why.

This is a fantastic series.

Good luck and PEACE.

-- Carolyn (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), May 18, 2002.


Hi Carolyn:

Thanks for the info. I will check that out. We won't start RCIA until Sept. I have been reading the Catechism and other Catholic apologetics on the Internet. Quite good reading! I would like maybe something a little more structured though, like you suggested! Thanks.

God Bless,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 18, 2002.


It is true Marylu, it is so hard not to feel for these Priests and it is times like these when we can grow in faith and trust that God is in complete control of everything. A few innocents as a sacrifice to forgive the Church for the sins that it has bared is obviously the best thing for the Church to be pure again. The chances of these things occuring again have now slimmed and hopefully may never happen again. Priests make an enormous commitment to the Church but they have to keep their faith throughout these hard times and God will give them their reward in heaven. A few incouraging letters to them I'm sure would make them realise that people do care, I'm not sure how possible it would to get in touch with them. Maybe you have some ideas? We must behave Jesus would have us behave.

-- Mark (fay_mark@hotmail.com), May 19, 2002.

I agree. Harassing someone with microphones in their face over such an accusation is not the way to pursue this.

Better that he be served with a summons or, if the grand jury votes a True Bill, a copy of the indictment. Let such accusations be made, and answered, in a court of law. And if it results in either imprisonment for or judgement against the accused (or even in a successful lawsuit against a false accuser, as happened regarding a Catholic clergymen in my own community), so be it.

This is not about " entertainment news": it is about alleged wrongs, rights, and remedies. Those have never been provided by a news medium. We have due process within our legal system, which will only be attained when able individuals of conscience are a part of that process.

-- Thomas Aytch (tjhcwfan@aol.com), May 20, 2002.



Gail, and all those who are new: Your faith puts me (a cradle Cathlic) to shame. Thank you for your posts. You are true witnesses to the love of Christ and His Blessed Family. Thank you, you are an ispiration that I cannot describe.

In Christ

-- Jake Huether (Jake.huether@lamrc.com), May 20, 2002.


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