As we've stated before, no one can challenge the awful harm wrecked upon youth at the hands of Catholic clergy. The harm is real, incredibly sad, and unspeakably damaging. But that is no excuse for the Los Angeles Times to continue its dishonest practice of false and misleading presentations on the narrative of Cardinal Roger Mahony and the Los Angeles Catholic Church abuse scandal.
The latest offense from the Times is a dishonest op-ed (Tue. 2/3/09) from ex-staffer William Lobdell, who just-so-happens to be promoting a new book that's out in three weeks.
Lobdell claims that Cardinal Mahony has escaped punishment from the law because of "news fatigue, parishioner apathy, and propaganda." Even Lobdell's former colleague, perpetual Church basher Tim Rutten, knows this is untrue. In a flash of clarity Rutten acknowledged in a column last week:
"[E]very cleric who can be criminally prosecuted already has been by the county's district attorney ... All of the relevant information on [the L.A. archdiocese priest] cases has been in the hands of county prosecutors for years ... The legal acrimony between the D.A.'s office and the archdiocese over all this has been corrosive enough to eat through titanium alloy. If any sort of criminal obstruction had occurred, does anybody really think L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley wouldn't have prosecuted?"
Lobdell also blasts Cardinal Mahony for supposedly "promot[ing] himself -- with the help of a high-priced public relations firm." Meanwhile, a peek at Lobdell's very own web site finds that Lobdell himself markets himself as a "media consultant" p.r. man! From his site:
Lobdell will show you how to develop a realistic and effective media strategy to help achieve your company’s goals, how to stay ahead of a breaking and/or controversial story, how to create genuine relationships with journalists, how to effectively use off-the-record comments to shape the story in your favor, how to handle a 9 p.m. call from the New York Times (”No Comment” isn’t the answer), how to navigate the tricky world of New Media ...
Hypocrisy, anyone? Of course! (H.t. to a commenter at the Times' web site.)
Does William Lobdell really care about the awful abuse of children? If he does, where is his outrage at the current-day scandals that have happened right under his nose in the Los Angeles Unified School District? (See this and this for starters, Bill.)
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The above post is a shortened, much-edited version of a longer piece. See the full version at TheMediaReport.com.
—Dave Pierre is the creator of TheMediaReport.com and a contributor to NewsBusters.
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Comments Policy
Maybe
February 5, 2009 - 08:51 ET by klchadwickMaybe the LAT is taking that whole eye for an eye thing into account. While I agree with you that harm inflicted by pedophiles is horrible, I think that by showcasing this, the LAT is trying to inflict harm upon the Catholic Church. Never mind the fact that most are NOT inhumane monsters. Why target just one priest when you can try to tarnish all Catholics?
Speaking as someone who
February 5, 2009 - 09:57 ET by fitzfongSpeaking as someone who grew up a Catholic in the Los Angeles area, I can tell you that this is a pure ideological thing with the LA Times. They have used this molestation scandal as a weapon to point out what they would describe as "inconsistencies" in the Church's position on homosexuality (and, when the allegations of molestation involve a girl, abortion). But Mahoney is just another sleazy politician, so he manages to stay onside with the LA Times more often than not. As soon as the illegal immigration/minimum wage/death penalty debates come up, the Times will once again portray Mahoney as an unflinching moral authority.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
The great exageration of a problem.
February 5, 2009 - 09:40 ET by FreedomfighterAnyone researching this topic should read the book "Pedophiles and Priests: anatomy of a contemporary crisis" by Philip Jenkins. The book discects every aspect of how the danger was exagerated and how anti-Catholic bias flamed the distortions over years. Part of the reason the problem receives so much attention is the issue of celibacy, and how huge the Catholic Church is. People are lead to think all priests are pedophiles or are more proned to be pedophiles than the general public. The exact opposite is true. How the church handled this issue was the worse public relations marketing of any organization in modern history. Jenkins shows why.
Yes ...
February 5, 2009 - 10:24 ET by Dave PierreExcellent recommendation, Freedomfighter. I have that book, also.
I would also recommend another book by Jenkins, "The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Accepted Prejudice"
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Frankenlies.com: The truth about the lies of Al Franken ...
Another book
February 5, 2009 - 10:33 ET by moderncommentaries83I also recommend Goodbye, Good Men by Michael S. Rose.
The liberals who criticize the Catholic Church need look no further than the mirror to see who is to blame. The people - including Mahoney - most responsible for perpetrating and hiding the abuse were theologically liberal and held in contempt the all-male celibate priesthood, as well as most orthodox Catholic teachings (especially with regards to abortion and homosexuality). They created a vocations crisis by pushing faithful conservative men out of the seminaries in the hopes that women would be made priests, and that the Church would embrace married clergy, openly gay clergy, and change her views on abortion/euthanasia/etc.
They hate traditional Catholicism and wish for nothing more than to see the Church destroyed.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Wow!
February 5, 2009 - 13:16 ET by Dave PierreWe have a lot of the same books around here!
Yes, I definitely recommend Rose's book, also. Good call.
No Criticism Zone
February 5, 2009 - 17:18 ET by Pilgrim1949Ah, but the LAT honors and adherers to the No Criticism Zone established around academia.
Thou shalt not criticize the NEA, AFT or any of their minions and subjects. They shall forever be above reproach -- unless, of course, they stray from the tenets of the True Liberal Faith and question the indoctrina----um, "edjoomikayshun" of our most precious national treasure, our children.
Like one of the patriarchs (*gasp!* I mean, Ancients) of their Faith notes, give me a child for 8 years and it will forever be a loyal socialis---um, subservient world citizen.
In the name of the Obama, the Biden and the Holy Pelosi, forever and ever be blessed, Amen.
/barf!