Beware left-wing TV networks dedicating their reporters to assess "the state of spirituality." They're going to end up pushing secular fundamentalism, including feminism. On CBS Mornings, contributor Lisa Ling (a former cast member of The View) self-identifies as a "die-hard feminist," so it's only natural she would champion the leftist "women priests" demanding that the Catholic Church abandon the all-male priesthood.
CBS touted this segment throughout the show. Vladimir Duthiers said "Lisa Ling introduces us to the female priests who live for God, even if the Roman Catholic Church has rejected them."
Later, Tony Dokoupil added, "Lisa Ling spends time with rebel women priests for our series 'The State of Spirituality.' Why they say fighting the Vatican is an expression of their Catholic faith."
Reporting from Albany, New York, Ling began: "For hundreds of years, this has been the exclusive body at the helm of the Catholic Church -- men! But inside this warehouse-looking building in upstate New York, rebels are convening, and they want change."
This is more of a long press release than a balanced report. Church teaching gets dismissed in a sentence.
LISA LING: Around 64 percent of U.S. Catholics support the idea of women priests. Why the pushback from the institution? From the Vatican?
BRIDGET MARY MEEHAN: I think they're afraid of change.
LISA LING: The Roman Catholic Church does not allow women to be ordained, arguing in part that clergy should be unmarried men in the image of Jesus and his 12 disciples. (WOMEN praying "Your spirit moves through the love within us.")
LING: These women disagree and have formed a resistance. There are other Christian denominations that allow women clergy. Why remain part of a faith where you are considered illegitimate?
MARY THERESA STRECK: Because it's in my bones. I am a Roman Catholic.
LING: Like many organized religions in the 21st century, Catholic Church membership is declining. Many citing the way the church has dealt with sexual abuse claims involving priests and how it has historically handled divorce, the queer community, and women.
What this ignores is that the churches who have eagerly welcomed female ministers and bishops, like the Episcopalians, have also seen a decline in membership. Guess who else has a declining audience? Broadcast news shows. Are they going to reform?
Ling failed to mention "Bishop" Meehan has a string of feminist books insisting God is a woman, including Exploring the Feminine Face of God, Delighting in the Feminine Divine and Heart Talks with Mother God. This is how it wrapped up:
LING: Earlier this year, in a rare interview, the Pope addressed the issue of women clergy with CBS News's Norah O`Donnell.
NORAH O'DONNELL: For a little girl growing up Catholic today, will she ever have the opportunity to be a deacon and participate as a clergy member in the church?
POPE FRANCIS: No.
LING: But these women say that won't stop them. They hope they're laying the groundwork for future generations of womenpriests.
If you had an opportunity to have an audience with the Pope and those in the Vatican, what would you say to them?
STRECK: Do not be afraid of us. We have a lot to offer.
MEEHAN: We spent our whole lives just creating a church where there's more justice, more equality, and that everyone is so welcome at the table of God's love.
LING: It sounds very Jesus-like.
Ling then acknowledged their was really no counter-argument aired. They could have easily found traditional Catholic counterpoints, but they didn't. "We reached out to the Albany diocese for comment, and it responded that it is not associated with this group. The Vatican also did not respond. Next month, Mary Theresa and Bridget Mary are headed to Rome during the Vatican's gathering of bishops, and in defiance of the church, the women will ordain six more people then, including a transgender priest."
How perfectly "progressive."
