Comments on The Pensive Quill: An Abused Priest

I feel very sorry for this man... it is extremely ...

2011-12-02T05:59:14.539Z

I feel very sorry for this man... it is extremely awful injustice what was done. Dunno how he can be so gracious about it all... he must have authentic spiritual belief to forgive. Many journalists r vultures...

Michaelhenry, it was Bavaria. The guy I was waiti...

2011-11-30T15:11:06.089Z

Michaelhenry,

it was Bavaria. The guy I was waiting on rang me and said to set up a pint of Bavaria so I tried one as well. It was a very nice beer on draught and so cheap as well. I was surprised when the barman gave me the change back.

Good point about the timing of the report. Never thought of it that way.

AM- Good write up-must have been a good brand of ...

2011-11-30T15:05:56.096Z

AM-

Good write up-must have been a good brand of beer-

Another major abuse report out today- whatever is said about those in charge of the catholic faith- they know P.R, with the peoples strike being the main news today it looked like a good day to bury bad news-

Ó Donnchadha, on the beer last night so this morn...

2011-11-30T09:24:07.954Z

Ó Donnchadha,

on the beer last night so this morning had to look with some trepidation at what I had put up! A few typos and awkward expression but otherwise nothing that would put me on the gallows.

The Church would take quite a bit o flak here and deservedly so. But this priest was gravely wronged and if his case was not highlighted then it would only be Church bashing on our part.

Boston did right in its approach to the abuse matter. I have the book on the issue here by the Globe journalists and am waiting for the chance to read it. I am told it is an example of great journalistic work.

I suppose for this reason I am at odds with you over the role of the media.

I have generally not found that the media thrust is the problem but the Church response which is often so weak on understanding and strong on arrogance.

To suggest that the media 'crusade' is because of liberals and atheists in the professions equates with saying that there was little media ignorance when believers held down the positions now held by the liberal atheists. I think the explanation has to be more complex and plausible than that.

As for reform, the media is different from the Church in that it is much more pluralised. Where hierarchical there are more competing hierarchies. There seems more chance of one section of the media watching another than one branch of the Church watching another branch. But the media can hardly claim that self regulation works better there than in any other industry. So someone has to guard the guards. How best to achieve that I am very unsure.

I am a major critic of how the Catholic church, pr...

2011-11-30T02:28:04.708Z

I am a major critic of how the Catholic church, primarily the Vatican has handled the whole Priest abuse scandals. In Boston we ran ran Cardinal Bernard Law out of town on a rail. He deserved it and probably deserved a lot more, namely prison.

That being said, the media has made a crusade (Pun intended)of whacking the Catholic church for any perceived slight real or imagined. They seem to have inverted the idea that one is innocent until proven guilty.

This type of behavior is predictable and the political and non-religious persuasion of the perpetrators is usually consistent. Most are Liberal and atheist or conveniently sitting on the fence.

I am a strong advocate of reform in the Catholic church , and I believe that should also apply to the media as well.