Monday, September 06, 2010

Catholic Church Accuses BBC of "Anti-Christian' Bias"

What do you do when the media spotlights a religious institution's hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy? If you are the Roman Catholic Church, you accuse the news media of bias and bigotry - anything to try to change the spin in the hope that some of the sheeple in the pews won't begin to realize that they are being played for fools and suckers. With Papa Ratzi's upcoming trip to the United Kingdom - a trip that will cost British taxpayers a great deal of money in terms of providing security for God's Rottweiler - it is only natural that the British media is focusing on the Catholic Church, including some of its less than savory aspects. It is also only natural that, given all of the horrific stories of sexual abuse by clergy, that many Britons are upset at the public cost of the Pope's visit when they flat out wish he'd either stay in Rome or pay for his own security costs. Now, further igniting high emotions, Cardinal O'Brien has accused the BBC of being "anti-Christian" and "anti-Catholic" merely because it has reported the truth about the Church. If the Church leaders spent as much time cleaning their own filthy house as they do attacking those who report the news, the Church would be a far less corrupt institution. Here are highlights from The Telegraph on the issue:
*
Cardinal Keith O’Brien said the BBC’s news coverage is contaminated by “a radically secular and socially liberal mindset”. . . . He also accused the corporation of plotting a “hatchet job” on the Vatican in a documentary about clerical sex abuse on the eve of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain.
*
“Our detailed research into BBC news coverage of Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular, together with a systematic analysis of output by the Catholic church, has revealed a consistent anti-Christian institutional bias.”
*
Cardinal O’Brien also voiced fears that the broadcaster will use a forthcoming documentary called Benedict –Trials of a Pope to humiliate the pontiff on the eve of his visit to Britain. The programme, which charts the clerical child abuse crisis that has dogged the Catholic church, has been made by Mark Dowd, a homosexual former Dominican friar. It will be aired on September 15.
*
The BBC dismissed Cardinal O’Brien’s criticism of its religious coverage and denied that it had marginalised mainstream religious issues, which it said were placed “at the heart” of its schedule. A spokeswoman said: “The BBC’s commitment to religious broadcasting is unequivocal. BBC news and current affairs has a dedicated religion correspondent, and works closely with BBC Religion, ensuring topical religious and ethical affairs stories are featured across all BBC networks.”
*
My advice to the cardinal - if the truth hurts, clean up the Church's act and get rid of the rampant anti-woman prejudice and homophobia for starters.

No comments: