PBS to Excommunicate Affiliates

CMR ^ | May 18, 2009

[NYer]

The "Mass for Shut-Ins" has been broadcast in Washington DC for 60 years ― the last thirteen on WHUT a PBS affiliate. WLAE in New Orleans, also a PBS affiliate, has been broadcasting a Mass since 1984.

Now, PBS is considering a proposal that re-interprets a rule that would prohibit any PBS affiliate from broadcasting any religious (called sectarian) content or be refused the ability to broadcast PBS content.

The existing rule requires affiliates to present programs that are noncommercial, nonpartisan and nonsectarian. However, the non-sectarian part of the rule has always been loosely interpreted as has, some would say, the nonpartisan rule as well. But now the PBS board is set to vote next month on a committee recommendation that would strip affiliates like WHUT and WLAE of the ability to broadcast PBS services unless they dump the religious programming.

WHUT has said it will cancel the "Mass for Shut Ins" if the rule is passed.

[WaPo] "It's kind of a shock to us," said Susan Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese. "They've been great partners of ours for a long time. . . . The Mass is a very local programming that provides a community service. You'd think public television would be about engaging the community."

The folks at WLAE, which is partly owned by a Catholic lay group, have been showing the morning Mass since 1984 and it has become part of the station's identity.

"We don't want to lose our association with PBS, because they provide a lot of fine programs," said Ron Yager, the station's vice president and general manager. "But at the same time, we need to serve our community. We've built an identity around this. People know us for this."

Yager said his station has never received a complaint about the Mass telecast in the 25 years it has aired. "I'm really not totally sure of their reasoning for doing this," he said.

So what is the reason for doing this? Ostensibly, and rather ironically, PBS claims it is so that they can retain "editorial independence." Obviously this independence does not extend to the affiliates. This seems rather contradictory since PBS lists as one of their guiding principles:

Local Station Autonomy

PBS believes that public broadcasting's greatest potential is realized when it serves the unique needs of the local community, and that there are wide variations in local needs and tastes. No one is better qualified to determine and respond to those local needs than the public television station licensed to that community.

But now that autonomy is over. If this rule is passed stations must fall in line or face immediate ex-communication from the PBS family. Were that some religions were as draconian, ahem.

Whatever the particulars of the committee's reasoning, the real reason is that we are witnessing a time where militant secularism is purging every last vestige of public religious life. PBS has long been an adjunct of the secularist movement and frankly it is rather surprising that the inquisition took this long in coming. Perhaps now any fear that funding would be withheld after such a maneuver is gone. Whatever they lose from the religious public (which I can't imagine is much at this point) will more than be made up by their friends in Congress.

This rule change/re-interpretation is not yet a done deal as the vote is not until next month. A spokesperson for PBS said "We're still gathering feedback from our members to see where they stand." The question is will they stand? Will you?

PBS can be contacted:

PBS Foundation

2100 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202
Phone: (703) 739-5051
Fax: (703) 299-2985

pbsfoundation@pbs.org


ht to Carina -- Thanks!

[Lurker]

" You'd think public television would be about engaging the community."

You'd be thinking wrongly there. It was never about 'engaging the community'. It was a jobs program for liberals.

[El Cid]

If this rule is passed stations must fall in line or face immediate ex-communication from the PBS family. Were that some religions were as draconian, ahem.

Nice dig.

[NYer]

PBS, on the other hand, has no problem broadcasting programs that denigrate the Catholic Church. Source.

[the invisib1e hand]

I stopped listening to (and supporting) PBS when one of their affiliates took comments I made (in a letter)completely out of context on the air and spun them so far afield from their obvious intention that even I was bewildered.

Nope, no loss to me.

[Albion Wilde]

There go all the Christmas programs, the local choir and orchestra Christmas performances, etc. Then the Irish music shows like Frank Patterson or Celtic Woman that usually include one or more religious songs. Probably the Jewish shows, too, and the foreign travel to the Holy Land, and any architecture or art history shows, since the world was once religious; anything about Michaelangelo, the Vatican art, churches around the world, or for that matter the architecture and history of Europe.

But — count on it — the Muslim shows will remain — they’re “diverse.”

[5thGenTexan]

It was never about 'engaging the community'. It was a jobs program for liberals.

And an indoctrination program for the public, mainly kids.

[Dudoight]

Does that mean no more symathetic Islamic programs on PBS?

[Kartographer]

[Alex Murphy]

You'd be thinking wrongly there. [Public television] was never about 'engaging the community'. It was a jobs program for liberals.

"'Freedom Of The Press' belongs to those who own one."
-- A. J. Liebling, of The New Yorker

[Maine Mariner]

Yes, great post-notice this “rule” is being enforced only after all three branches of government are in the hand of the Demorats.

[epluribus_2]

Yes We Can!

[wombtotomb]

Love it.

I guess its about time for us to realize, the scales have already tipped too far. The faithful remnant will soon be forced underground.

I am ready for this, and more, I welcome it. It will serve a twofold purpose. One, it will clearly and absolutely seperate the wheat from the chaff; those not willing to live for their faith, will certainly not risk death for it. and
2. the faithful remnant, will so devoutly practice that good fruit will be born. People will die as martyrs and examples and the same result will happen as has happened everytime this cycle of humanism/hedonism has raised its ugly head. The only difference between this time and last time are the people who were alive when it happened. Each and everytime this denial of the faith has happened in the past, a new springtime in the Church has emerged. It cannot be defeated, it is only a recycling of the same sh%^ different day.

God will use all of us, the just and the unjust, to bring about His will in His Church with His children. The tree of liberty has to be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants sounds alot like another quote I believe; “ The blood of the martyr is SEED” (Ignatious of Antioch)

[NYer]

Wow! Is that an historical image or one designed for contemporary society?

[Kartographer]

Updated version of a WW II anti-Nazi Poster.

[jtal]

The existing rule requires affiliates to present programs that are noncommercial, nonpartisan and nonsectarian.

Wow so I guess NONE of the PBS affiliates will be able to continue broadcasting.

[mckenzie7]

I had seen too many anti Catholic programs years ago to ever watch it again.

For any Catholic programming, I watch EWTN!

http://www.ewtn.com/tv/

[colorcountry]

“A legitimate organization will allow people the freedom to think for themselves, read whatever they like, and talk to whomever they choose to arrive at their own decisions . . . “ (Steven Hassan)

*Steven Alan Hassan (born 1954) is a licensed mental health counselor and an exit counselor. Hassan was an early advocate of exit counseling, and is the author of two books on the subject of “cults”, and what he describes as their use of mind control, thought reform, and the psychology of influence in order to recruit and retain members.

[BlueNgold]

Wow, liberals feeding on other liberals for a change.
Whoda thunk it?

[polymuser]

.

DE-FUND PBS.

.