Posted on 04/21/2008 5:34:47 PM PDT by Kaslin
Media: Lou Dobbs has gone from branding companies unpatriotic for practicing free trade to ridiculing religion. Now he describes the Pope as "absolutely repugnant." Can CNN tolerate bigotry in populist clothing?
Benedict had said the U.S. bishops' new anti-sexual-abuse policies must "be placed in a wider context." Those policies have already achieved success, with only five U.S. priests out of 40,000 accused of abusing a minor in 2007.
"What does it mean," the Pope asked, "to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?"
According to Benedict, "We need to reassess urgently the values underpinning society, so that a sound moral formation can be offered to young people and adults alike."
Few Americans this side of the ACLU would disagree, and there must be thousands of churchmen in America preaching something similar. But Dobbs greeted it with a sarcasm-laden tirade.
"The idea that the Pope would come here and criticize the United States this way . . . is . . . bad manners," he said. "And I don't care if you're infallible or not. . . . For this Pope to have this attitude and to make these comments is, in my opinion, absolutely repugnant."
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
Lou Dobbs is the most dangerous man in America.
Here is exactly what the Pope said, not to the American people but to the Catholic bishops at a meeting at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception while they were assembled as bishops to hear the Pope speak on the sexual abuse crisis and the mission of the Church:
"Among the countersigns to the Gospel of life found in America and elsewhere is one that causes deep shame: the sexual abuse of minors. Many of you have spoken to me of the enormous pain that your communities have suffered when clerics have betrayed their priestly obligations and duties by such gravely immoral behavior. As you strive to eliminate this evil wherever it occurs, you may be assured of the prayerful support of God’s people throughout the world. Rightly, you attach priority to showing compassion and care to the victims. It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged.
Responding to this situation has not been easy and, as the President of your Episcopal Conference has indicated, it was “sometimes very badly handled”. Now that the scale and gravity of the problem is more clearly understood, you have been able to adopt more focused remedial and disciplinary measures and to promote a safe environment that gives greater protection to young people. While it must be remembered that the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious in America do outstanding work in bringing the liberating message of the Gospel to the people entrusted to their care, it is vitally important that the vulnerable always be shielded from those who would cause harm. In this regard, your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society.
If they are to achieve their full purpose, however, the policies and programs you have adopted need to be placed in a wider context. Children deserve to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships. They should be spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent today. They have a right to be educated in authentic moral values rooted in the dignity of the human person. This brings us back to our consideration of the centrality of the family and the need to promote the Gospel of life. What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today? We need to reassess urgently the values underpinning society, so that a sound moral formation can be offered to young people and adults alike. All have a part to play in this task – not only parents, religious leaders, teachers and catechists, but the media and entertainment industries as well. Indeed, every member of society can contribute to this moral renewal and benefit from it. Truly caring about young people and the future of our civilization means recognizing our responsibility to promote and live by the authentic moral values which alone enable the human person to flourish. It falls to you, as pastors modelled upon Christ, the Good Shepherd, to proclaim this message loud and clear, and thus to address the sin of abuse within the wider context of sexual mores. Moreover, by acknowledging and confronting the problem when it occurs in an ecclesial setting, you can give a lead to others, since this scourge is found not only within your Dioceses, but in every sector of society. It calls for a determined, collective response."
There is nothing about the Pope offering moral opinions and interpretations of modern culture (to his bishops in a Church) which violates the supposed "Separation of Church and State" that liberals invoke.
The Pope or any other religious figure expressing an opinion on these matters is not a violation of the "separation of Church and State" or of the text of the Constitution which only applies to Congress passing legislation. It never applied to priests, bishops, or preachers expressing their moral or political opinions.
Barack Obama is the most dangerous man in America. Dobbs is a grumpy old man who very few people watch each night.
Cannot figure out how to post articles I guess. It sortof disappeared!! Anyway, here’s some good news for Tony Snow. Who needs lou dobbs! yuck.
For one thing, the Pope was talking about pornography in general, because it's available all over the world, not just in the US. For another, Lou obviously doesn't understand the doctrine of infallibility, so maybe he should study up on it before he goes slamming the Pope for stating his OPINION of the matter.
Dobbs used to “Father of the Year” type. He sounds like Bill Maher, hater of the year type now.
Militant, anti-Catholic secularists also tend to have paranoid reactions to the Pope or Catholic religious displays. Maybe that explains it.
The Pope's comments about sexual abuse and pornography were actually pretty tame and in keeping with common sense. They apply to modern society in general and not just the U.S. More could have been said.
To make it short in other words. Lou Dobbs is a clueless buffon
I heard the initial episode of Dobbs’ radio show. Not knowing anything about him I listened for a while. He had almost nothing substantive to say. Since then I have heard a few more segments. He’s got nothing. I give him less than a year before his show sputters and dies.
I guess it is amazing (and then again maybe not) what a cable network will stoop to to boost sagging ratings.
The Pope's opinions will not become U.S. policy. What he said is not that different from what Protestants and other conservative Americans have said about pornography. Not sure why that would be considered "repugnant" by someone. Even if the Pope had made a serious diplomatic gaffe or faux pas, he's 81, so what's the big deal? He needs lessons on "manners" from someone who managed to offend millions of Catholics on LIVE television by calling the Pope "repugnant" with a grimace?
I never understood the enthusiasm for Dobbs during the illegal immigrant Congressional dust-up awhile back. I switched from Hume to Dodds and 2 days later I was back watching Brit.
Dobbs was insufferable.
Bingo
Do I understand that you would also agree with the hateful remark Bill Maher made about Pope Benedict XVI?
Agree. What I am sick of is these church's becoming sanctuaries for perverts and child predators and using the church as a cover.
Am I the only one here who notices that Lou’s image is blurred over whenever he’s on camera? Perhaps they use an out-of-focus lens, or smear something on the lens, to soften his wrinkles, jowls and wattle.
The percent of priests who were found to be pedophiles is not greater than the percentage of public school teachers found to be the same.
Yeah, and those are just the one’s they found. One can imagine how many have yet to be caught or exposed.
Lou Dobbs has been very good on most issues, he is totally opposed to illegal immigration, bad trade deals, MFN for China, big deficit spending, socialized medicine, high taxes, and corporate socialism. He wants an America first stand up for the middle class that’s paying the bills government.
I don’t like what he said about Pope Benedict but the Catholic Church has swept the sex abuse scandal under the rug for 20 years. Pope Benedict meeting with some of the victims was a start not the end of repairing the damage.
Agree. Dobbs is very good, and I agree with your comments on the Catholic Church.
Actually, Dobbs is one of the very few we’ll turn on the television for.
< Do I understand that you would also agree with the hateful remark Bill Maher made about Pope Benedict XVI? >
Don’t be silly! Truthguy is talking about illegal aliens and the RCs take on it, not what Bill Maher said about the Pope. Bill Maher was trying to be clever and came off as just plain nasty.
I happen to agree with Truthguy on the issue of illegal aliens invading our nation. The Church’s position is that families should not be split up but kept together. Good, we can deport the whole family as a unit. U.S. policy agrees with that. Elian Gonzales, sent back to Cuba with his father, is exhibit “A”.
I think that Pope Benedict’s remarks were a cop-out for the church failing to intelligently supervise its own personnel. Blame US society; now that’s easy. How about following scripture and encouraging priests to be married men?
Lou Dobbs went a bit too far in denouncing the Pope’s comments, but he was basically correct. In general Dobbs is on target with issues, but offers zero plans for practical action. In fact he does positive harm by encouraging people to avoid organizing for political action. So I think it is fair to call him a media buffoon.
... “One can imagine how many have yet to be caught or exposed.” you mean public school teachers? yeah, could be lots.
Strawman alert! The Pope never blamed US society for failings in the church. He merely pointed out that while the church does what it should to correct the error of its ways, we should not forget the wider negative social trends and confront them.
The Pope was spot on in praising what was good about USA and condemning what was not good.
I on occasion watch Lou dobbs because he does seem to get the Border Fiasco but a lot of his show is Lib/Populist drivel...I donnot appreciate the Catholic Church supporting Criminal Aliens breaking our Laws...did anyone see that Catholic Priest on O’Reilly last night...smug POS claimed that the US must take care of any and all who want to come here. It made my blood boil!
<...did anyone see that Catholic Priest on O’Reilly last night...>
YES!
I was so upset I was shouting at the television set - and we were eating dinner. That man knew nothing about international economics - he kept blathering about globalization yet didn’t know anything about it - talking about how everything was the responsibility of the U.S. If this is the quality one finds among the priesthood, the RC church is in trouble in more ways that one.
On cable news only Sean Hannity has been as critical of Obama as Lou Dobbs. I cannot agree with Dobbs about his repugnant comment concerning the Pope. But that said, there was TOO much coverage of the Pope, and too many idiot anchors and newspeople kissing up to the Pope as if they were people of faith and could appreciate anyone who was a person of faith such as the Pope. I will forgive Dobbs because he gets illegal immigration, he gets Jeremiah Wright and its significance to Barry’s campaign, and he may have got lost on his comments concerning the Pope but maybe he was like me, and sick of all the “Pope love” coming from the hedonistic humanistic creatures that populate that treacherous crowd known as the MSM. It is not a bad plan to attack anyone who the MSM happens to fawning over, but this case was the exception and any disrespect to the Pope by Lou Dobbs, Bill Maher, or Hitchens is not justified.
Thanks SD, I only watched a couple of sections on O’Reilly and when that blubbering, ignorant and gay?? Priest went on & on about Globalization, Immigration and Social Justice I felt my blood pressure boil...wish O’reilly had been a little more inquisitive and asked that creep a few more questions about the Billions of poor people that want to come to the US and mooch on the freebies!
You mean the Golden Child?
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