RTE in Hot Water

RTE is in hot water at the moment. A few months ago it broadcast a programme 'primetime' something akin to Panorama where they accused a catholic priest Fr Kevin Reynolds of Raping a woman in Kenya and fathering a child by her. In consequence Fr Reynolds was suspended from priestly ministry. It has turned out that these were false allegations. Fr Reynolds asked Rte to rectify the matter but Rte were having none of it they stood over the claims and wre not going to rectify the matter.
            Fr Reynolds threatened legal action and eventually Rte backed down and had to admit that the claims were false. An out of court settlement was made The editor in chief of news and editor in chief of current affairs have had to stand down pending an Rte inquiry as did an Rte presenter. Fr reynolds to has demanded an investigation as to who made these allegations. How willy nilly such a serious charge was made against the church.
           Thank God some justice is been done.

By the Prayer Crusader under the patronage of St Rita in Dublin

 

RTE - The Late Late Show – Senator David Norris – and “classic paedophilia”

A leading contender for the Presidency of Ireland was David Norris who is an outspoken activist for the Homosexual Lobby and an openly practicing Homosexual, he is a member of the senate this would be probably the equivalent of the English House of Lords. He was contesting the election and was forced to pull out when his election team withdrew from his campaign after it became known that he had written a letter of support to an Israeli court for his then 'lover' who was being tried in an Israeli court for raping a 15 year old boy. Basically using his political office to influence a court. When this became known he had to resign from the campaign, due largely to the fact that his election team resigned. He is now seeking to restart his campaign since this letter emerged about a month ago. There are a few other things to throw in to the mix as well. He gave an interview in 2002 the following is a commentary on it.

A Presidential Candidate’s ‘Ministry of Truth’: David Norris’s campaign for president has little or nothing to say about “gay” issues. No doubt, his media advisors have ordered him to avoid anything connected to religion and sexuality, above all never to resort to name-calling, which is Norris’ habitual way of responding to those who disagree with him. So, can we expect this candidate for the presidency to appear with a few Catholic bishops? I doubt it, if for no other reason than his offensive comments about the present pope. His gung-ho manner of expressing his views—on just about everything—are a mite embarrassing, now that he is presenting himself as the nation’s benevolent uncle. Two of these indiscretions come to mind.
                On March 27, 2006, David Norris compared Pope Benedict XVI to Hitler, because of the Church’s position on homosexual behaviour. He stated that he would refuse to take “moral instructions from a man with a swastika on his arm”, alluding to the fact that Josef Ratzinger was forced to become a member of the Hitler Youth in 1941 during World War II and later served as a soldier in the closing months of the conflict. “Pope Benedict XVI joined the Hitler Youth and was in it for a number of years. This was not compulsory as he himself has acknowledged. I have read a statement of his in which he indicated that he did so in order to acquire certain educational privileges that assisted him with his studies for the priesthood.” (Stated in Christ Church Cathedral, May 17, 2006 and repeated in interview with the blog, United Irelander, May 31, 2006). Where did Norris get this twisted story?
From December 1939, membership of the Hitler Youth was required by law for all 14-year-old German boys. Ratzinger enrolled but was able to avoid participation in the group’s activities because of his special studies. Even an unsympathetic source like www.atheism.about.com rejected as nonsense the accusation that the young Ratzinger in any way supported the Nazi regime.
Norris has, unsurprisingly, exceptionally strong views on the Catholic Church’s standpoint on homosexuality and civil partnerships. He referred to the current Pope as “Pope Benedict Nazinger” and accuses him of being the man who kept the lid on the Church’s child abuse scandals that swept the US and Ireland a few years ago, according to Roger Wheeler, “Face to Face with Senator David Norris”, www.gscene.com, March 27, 2011.
In a letter to a query, the Senator wrote, “I never stated that Pope Benedict was a Nazi. I did make a comment that he as a young student was enrolled into the Hitler Youth, as were most young people living in Germany at that time.” Memory’s tricks are most remarkable, are they not?

The Re[Dis]Membered Magill Interview Another of David Norris’ indiscretions was contained in an interview with Helen Lucy Burke and written up in Magill, a magazine no longer published (“David Norris: The Free Radical”, Interview by Helen Lucy Burke. Magill Magazine, January 2002, pp 34-36). Knowing Norris’ well-publicised libertarian views, she asked him if he was in favour of “free-range sexuality” and where he would draw the line. He replied that he favoured maximum freedom for people “to make any choices they liked” and quickly brought up the subject of paedophilia—“There’s a lot of nonsense about paedophilia.” And then,
In terms of classic paedophilia, as practised by the Greeks for example, where it is an older man introducing a younger man or boy to adult life, I think there can be something to be said for it… Now again, this is not something that appeals to me, although when I was younger it would most certainly have appealed to me in the sense that I would have greatly relished the prospect of an older, attractive, mature man taking me under his wing, lovingly introducing me to sexual realities, and treating me with affection and teaching me about life—yes, I think that would be lovely; I would have enjoyed that. But I think there is complete and utter hysteria about this subject, and there is also confusion between ... paedophilia and pederasty...” [David Norris clarified this later, explaining that genital sexual penetration of juveniles of either sex would be inappropriate and harmful]... Of course, there is a whole spectrum. In my opinion, the teacher, or Christian Brother, who puts his hand into a boy’s pocket during a history lesson, that is one end of the spectrum. But then there is another: there is the person who attacks children of either sex, rapes them, brutalises them, and then murders them. But the way things are presented here it’s almost as if they were all exactly the same and I don’t think they are, and I have to tell you this—I think that the children in some instances are more damaged by the condemnation than by the actual experience.
Ms Burke commented, “...I found some of his views on sexual matters deeply disturbing—notably on sex with minors...” And later, “The right of unfettered sexual activity guided by the principle of mutual consent would be Norris’s perception of the way things should be, with a bar only on intimidation, bullying or bribery. He did not appear to endorse any minimum age or entertain any protest that a child was not capable of informed consent. ‘The law in this sphere should take in to account consent rather than age’, he said. When I asked about incest, he hesitated, and concluded that in the case of girls a case could be made for a ban, as possible resulting pregnancy might be genetically undesirable” (added italics). In recent weeks, Norris offered a response to the Magill article (http://www.norrisforpresident.ie/askdavid/magill-magazine-2001). He first puts down the journalist, calling Helen Lucy Burke “a restaurant critic and columnist”. (Poor dear, she was out of her depth.) In fact, Burke was prominent in the Women’s Rights movement, worked as a freelance journalist before specialising as a restaurant critic, and has written on politics and social issues in Ireland. In other words, she is a competent journalist, and, however sympathetic to Norris, retained her own judgment.
                He then takes refuge in what might be called “academic licence”, declaring loftily that “Miss Burke and I got into an academic discussion about classical Greece and sexual activity in a historical context; it was a hypothetical, intellectual conversation which should not have been seen as a considered representation of my views on some of the issues discussed… the references to sexuality…  were taken out of context in other media outlets.” This is simply untrue, as you will see by reading the whole article (to be found in ILAC Centre’s library, Dublin 1, or a copy from the F&L office). The subject was the senator’s current views on intergenerational sex, and he was not quoted out of context. Indeed, the points he made are commonly found in the writings of those who defend intergenerational sex.
It seems to me that Norris could find a job in the Ministry of Truth. Unquote So where would you think this person was ranking in the polls. Wrong, he was way out in front leading all the other candidates by double figures. What does this tell you about Irish society/people today as if we didn’t have enough problems as it is. The point he is also trying to make is the cosy relationship this person and his views has with the media. The soft Glove treatment he’s been getting. How the media is ever ready to sweep peadophilia under the carpet when it’s one of their own. He’s been praised throughout the political class even after these letters and article became known. One rule for Catholics and another for your liberal friends. Pray that this person will be frustrated yet again in his endeavours to aspire to the highest office in the Land so that Arus an Uchtarain won’t be defiled by him and his lover co-habiting there.

Quoted from Family and Life Dublin 

By the Prayer Crusader under the patronage of St Rita in Dublin

 

Is the Irish abuse problem being use for secular ends?

The reporting on the sex abuse crises in the Catholic Church in Ireland and Britain by RTE and the BBC has made it seem like this is just a Catholic problem. However, this is far from the truth for in Britain there are 60 cases of child abuse reported to the athorities every day, hardly any of these cases involve Catholics. This is a crisis of modern world, for child sex abuse appears in every walk and every institution of society. There are in fact just as many problems in other religions. However, it is just the Catholic Church that is highlighted. Is this not incitement to religious hatred/ hatred of religion or should this be really be called an incitement to hatred of Catholicism? Many in the media are happy to quote the vindictive diatribe of atheists like Richard Dawkins. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury got in on the act but has he forgotten scandals at Llandaff cathedral?

Dr Pravin Thevathasan in his CTS booklet, the Sex abuse Crisis asks, “Why this level of hatred?” Like CUT he has come to the conclusion that it’s the “Unwelcome moral teachings” of the Catholic Church that they are really attacking. It is the Pro-Life, Pro-Traditional moral values that they really don’t like. He makes no excuse however for anyone in the Church who abuse children.

The Irish government have in recent months criticized the Church but are the really trying to deflect peoples attention from their own failed policies? CUT co-founder Dominic Casey who is Irish and now lives in Dublin says that “Even the economy doesn’t work out when you put the economy in first place. People don’t reflect on what is really important.” As for RTE, are they trying to be more secular than the BBC and in the process have lost their own identity? They seem to care little about the heroic actions of Irish Catholics in proclaiming the Gospel around the English speaking world.

For an excellent explanation of the sex abuse crisis we recommend Dr Thevathasan CTS booklet “The Catholic Church & the Sex Abuse Crisis”. Go to the Catholic Truth Society on line.

 

RTE’s Middle Class, Elitist Ghetto of Dublin 4

By Dominic Casey in Dublin

(from the CUT newsletter of spring/summer 2007)

You could write a book or even volumes on the effect the television has had on the Irish People. The main Irish broadcasting network RTE is situated in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. It is a well to do area. There is now a term ‘The Dublin 4 set’ and ‘the Dublin 4 mentality’. Dublin 4 meaning RTE. The ‘Dublin 4 set’ would consist of high earners and the upper middle class. They would be out of university. They would be of a liberal mindset and all that would suggest. Anti-Catholic or at least indifferent to church issues, especially on morality. This would be the type that would hold sway in RTE. So this is the message that would be continuously transmitted from there. No doubt there are good church abiding people working at RTE but they would be the minority and in less influential positions. Dònnacha O’Dualing of 'Failte Isteach' fame would probably be of this latter type.
                However, we may be witnessing the destruction of Irish Culture itself. Ireland was once known as the most Catholic country in Europe and Celtic Catholicism had its own particular ethnicity that permeated every strand of Irish society.
                The media has been to the fore in Church bashing regarding the scandals. That the abuses have been highlighted and brought out into the open is not such a bad thing. But the media and RTE in particular threw out the baby with the bath water. When the scandals broke there was a decrease in church attendance. And everything about the Church was painted black. In doing this they are destroying the soul of Irish culture. Dublin is now indistinguishable from any big ‘British city’ with loud ruckus behaviour and bad manners. Where once they was a gentle sparkle in the eyes of young Irish children raised on the Sacraments and the Rosary there is now only the dull blankness archived by hours of daily TV and computer viewing.
                People tune into the popular chat shows for their daily diet of gossip and opinion. Foremost among them would be ‘The Late Late Show’ on Friday night with Pat Kenny and his daily radio show on RTE 1. There is the Gerry Ryan show on Radio RTE 2. Ryan is unashamedly liberal who enjoys constantly having a swipe at the Church. The nature and content of his show is very dissolute and he enjoys a wide listenership. This obviously all impacts on society.
                In the case of the television (as has been pointed out in CUT’s Autumn 06 issue), it desensitises the beta waves of the left hemisphere of the brain, which would deal with information logically. This inevitably makes the person a prey to the standards that are presented to him.
                RTE has constantly come under criticism for its biased and unfair handling of moral issues in its current affairs programmes. I would say Ireland would be not much different than Britain in how it has been affected by television. In the past twenty years church attendances has dropped by a good bit. Divorce has been introduced. Marriage break-ups are up. Co-habitation is the norm, teenage pregnancies are up, Condom sales have been introduced and there has been the inevitable increase in S.T.D.S. Has the television influenced Irish society? You decide.

Irish TV Protest:

Recently a dissatisfied customer decided to register his complaint to R.T.E. He drove his car through the front barriers. Drove through the front door of the building, while the Late Late Show was going on. - That’s complaining Irish style!

 

Irish Broadcaster RTE fails to support the Pope’s visit The Irish pro-Life and Family organisation Family and Life reports that while there was a gradual warming of UK based broadcasters to the Pope’s visit to Britain the Irish broadcaster RTE remained hostile for most of the time. It is such a shame that Ireland and the Irish, which did so much to preserve Catholicism in the English speaking world, should be plagued by such a bigoted broadcaster. Irish CUT supporters have often complained about the extremely hostile nature of RTE towards the Church. One of RTE’s recent ruses was to call on the Irish to boycott Sunday Mass because one lady decided to show “The Church” and called for a boycott over women priests. It failed to materialise, of course; you can’t fool the Irish people even if they have a foolish broadcaster.