Holy Week at PBS: 'Frontline' To Profile Catholic Church Abuse - Again
As Christians observe Holy Week and the anticipation of Easter, PBS' Frontline program will air another investigation into abuse by clergy of the Catholic Church. In an episode entitled, "The Silence," the program (Tue. 4/19/11) is scheduled to profile the awful abuse from decades ago of under-aged Native Americans and Eskimos in Alaska.
The network claims that it is covering "a little-known chapter of the Catholic Church sex abuse story." Yet the narrative is hardly "little known." The New York Times, for example, has run a number of articles in the past few years about this topic, while the Los Angeles Times ran a humungous front-page piece about these cases a while back. (We even commented on it at the time.)
One cannot help but conclude that PBS is piling on this narrative as a means to hammer the Catholic Church. To wit, Frontline already aired a lengthy episode on the Catholic abuse narrative not that long ago ("Hand of God," Jan. 2007). If this upcoming episode is anything like the last one, viewers can expect to hear stomach-turning stories of abuse while being shown visuals of Church items and other holy images. (This is a not-so-subtle attempt to connect the thoughts of criminal child abuse with the Catholic Church.)
It is also possible that notorious attorney John Manly, who represented many of the alleged victims, will make an appearance on the upcoming show. Viewers should be warned (if he does indeed appear) that Manly’s relationships with truth and facts are not always reliable, to say the least.
Indeed, Catholic priests terribly abused minors, and leaders failed to stop the awful harm. That is an undeniable truth. Nothing justifies such a wretched evil.
We must continue to demand justice and compassion for victims of clergy abuse. There is no doubt that the stories that will be heard on the program will be heart-wrenching and angering to hear.
However, media outlets like PBS have surpassed the point where they are merely reporting a story. They are using the scandals as a tool to single out and further tarnish the Church.
When will PBS’ Frontline investigate the massive child abuse and cover-ups happening today - not decades ago - in our nation's public schools? How about the recent cover-ups of abuse by Orthodox rabbis in New York City?
Or is only the Catholic Church a target?
-- Dave Pierre is the author of the book, Double Standard: Abuse Scandals and the Attack on the Catholic Church. Dave is also the creator of TheMediaReport.com and is a contributing writer to NewsBusters.
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Comments
I think that PBS ought to
Submitted by jdhawk on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 4:59am.
I think that PBS ought to expose the abuses, but do so for what they are. These are predator gay pedofiles going after young boys and scaring them for the rest of their lives. There is or should be a special place in hell for this type. Given that that will have to wait until they meet their maker to go to hell, these predator gay pedofiles ought to be locked up for life.
These monsters entered the Catholic church for the express purpose of targeting young boys. Laws should be changed so that there is no expiration as to when they can be charged and the sentence ought to be life in prison. Any aiding and abetting and cover up of these predators ought to have very long sentences as well.
Of course, all of the reporting on this subject has studiously avoided any mention that these acts were prepetrated by predator gay pedofiles and exposed them for the monsters that they are. If they did, they would have the militant gay community on their heads.
My bet is if people started calling, e-mailing and writing letters to these shows demanding the above, that suddendly PBS and the rest of them would quickly move on. As long as the lamestream media continues to get away with calling them "clergy" it will continue.
Good point
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 9:56am.
The focus of MSM reporting has traditionally been on the governance of the RCC -- the behavior of individuals withing the Church hieracrhy to ignore or even cover up the crimes.
Such reporting appears to be more sympathetic to the criminals -- gay pedophiles -- than to the institution. In fact, rarely does the reporting note that the victims of pedophilia by these priests are far more likely to be male than female, which by definition makes is gay sex.
Institutions that provide service to children are natural magnets for pedophiles because it gives them access. Churches, schools, youth sports, Scouting, et al will always end up with some pedophiles in their ranks not because they are indifferent to the threat or fail to attempt to screen them out, but because the most clever of the pedophiles can go undetected and unsuspected for a long time.
Report religious abuse
Submitted by ThisnThat on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 7:06am.
I think religious abuse such as
should be exposed. During Ramadan.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
These people are depolorable.
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 7:10am.
And once again they will gloss over the fact that the victims were virtually all boys.
Because this isn't a homosexual problem, you understand.....
Now, now, MB
Submitted by KC Mulville on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 7:52am.
You can't say that "h" word in public, unless you're celebrating it.
Hey, KC, good to see you!
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 7:58am.
I've missed you!
I'm still here
Submitted by KC Mulville on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 11:24am.
I check NewsBusters every day, multiple times a day. I just started to feel that I was saying the same things too often. In other words, I was starting to bore ... myself!
Second, I'm trying to write some philosophy. Consequently, I've been doing a lot of reading into information theory, and going back to Marshall McLuhan, Bernard Lonergan, and a few others. My brain just isn't that big, and do a 9-to-5 job in the meantime ... well, you have to economize somewhere.
And it's not as if NewsBusters missed a beat. Olbermann's gone, but Ed Schultz is proving hilarious, and his bombast is less damaging than Olbermann's bile.
KC, may I ask
Submitted by troglodyt on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 11:50am.
what specific topic regarding information theory you are writing about?
Topic
Submitted by KC Mulville on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:10pm.
It isn't that specific. I read a book recently by James Gleick, called The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood. One chapter follows the whole idea of a meme, from Richard Dawkins, and how it fits into information theory.
Well, I have a long-standing theory about memes that fits nicely onto contemporary philosophy. Willard Quine (my favorite philosopher) described the "web of belief." I think if we can put those two topics side by side, they'll help explain each other all the more. A meme brings out some interesting aspects of Quine's web, and Quine's web fills in blanks about memes.
Essentially, we tend to do philosophy one topic at a time. But we don't do as well in examining "sets" of ideas. That's kind of what a meme is. It isn't really one idea. It's a "pack" of ideas that travel together. It's that "pack" or "herd" of ideas that I want to examine.
I'm a long way from anything permanent here. I may very well abandon it if (a) it doesn't actually wind up being true; (b) it doesn't actually add any real insight into knowledge or life.
I have other topics that I'm going to write about. I'll probably do a website. I'm also thinking of creating an online philosophy course, starting with a traditional logic course, then a symbolic logic course, and then an overview of epistemology.
I'm excited about it, but right now it's more of a hobby than a business plan.
Interesting concept
Submitted by troglodyt on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:21pm.
It would be interesting to know how such a combination could be put into relation with evolutionary epistemology. That might explain why some beliefs are so very persistent and universally centered at the center of this web of belief.
Good luck anyway.
Pack of ideas that travel together.
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 11:29pm.
Sounds cool! My daughter did a meme art project & I didn't even know what the word means! It may be over my head then... LOL.
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
iz writinz aboot dinnerz. Whatchu tink?
Submitted by The Vet on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:14pm.
You are a shining example of what we in Germany call a "Mitläufer".
Mmmmmm. Yummi Meatloaferz wit ketchupz and potatoo.
You iz ßäKön & €€GZ is meaninz to say. Pliz. Theoriz.
Well, some voices are missed
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 11:55am.
Well, some voices are missed anyway!
I know what you mean though, sometimes it feels like banging one's head against the same wall....
Do drop in now and then, and good luck in your endeavor!!
Same with the Q word, KC
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 9:59am.
Queer Nation. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. "We're queer and we're here!"
The word queer
Submitted by KC Mulville on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 11:41am.
It usually means something that's just not ... right.
I won't judge the sexuality. But it's definitely not on the right politically.
Do you think?
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 7:37am.
Maybe during Ramadan PBS can expose the abuses of the 'religion' of Islam and the millions of lives shattered by it's barbaric policies. I won't hold my breath though.
Where are the criminal court convictions?
Submitted by merly1 on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 8:39am.
I always wonder this whenever these stories appear. That would be a fascinating media story and analysis............................... And yes, teacher and protestant clergy abuse outnumbers that of the Catholic Church, but oddly doesnt make the news--->likely due to the deep pockets of the Church being THE target in civil court proceedings.
Coverup
Submitted by Kuso Jiji on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 8:45am.
My family is not involved in any church but I do have kids that go to public school. I sure would like to know how big of a problem teacher-student abuse in the public school system really is. How about looking into that too mainstream media?
I thought is was ironic that
Submitted by Kylerk on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 10:07am.
I thought is was ironic that the psychiatrist for the highly-touted-by-the-msm professional victims group SNAP (Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests), Dr. Steve Taylor, was recently sent to prison after admitting his guilt to child pornography charges.
I wasn't surprised that the msm ignored the story.
More on SNAP ...
Submitted by Dave Pierre on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 12:07pm.
Here is some more information about SNAP that may very well surprise you:
TheMediaReport.com: "SNAP: Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests"
Dave Pierre
TheMediaReport.com