God Conquers Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Recently my local newspaper (circulation upwards of 500 000) has been printing articles which are blatantly anti-catholic. On Monday an extremely silly article was printed about my old High School and a student protesting animal dissection. It was so obviously just attacks on the Church and Her Doctrines trying to be passed off as fluff or a "humanitarian" piece. Then this letter was printed in the letters to the editor section of the newspaper: Re: Unfair Criticism, Jan 19. Letter writer Jack Mackinnon observes that many Catholics do not go to church, and how that is common to "many other Christians" too. That linkage does not follow. A Catholic as defined by the Bible is not necessarily a Christian. Jesus stated in John 3:5 that unlkess you are born again, you will not see the kingdom of God. Being again born of the Holy Spirit is an unmistakeable work of God in our lives, as mysterious as the wind, as surprising as God Himself. Going into a car showroom doesn't make you a car buyer any more than going into a church makes you a Christian. Most people who identify themselves in government surveys as Catholic cannot necessarily be called Christians. I flipped out when I saw this I flipped out, but I didn't want to attack the letter-writer, it woud have no effect. I wrote this: Dear Editors of the Ottawa Citizen, Please end your intolerance. It seems of late that your newspaper believes it is perfectly acceptable to single out and attack a group based on their beliefs. This behavior is unbecoming the professional journalism with which you purport to serve the citizens of Ottawa. Recently, articles and letters have been printed which falsely malign the Catholic Church. As a former student of St. Pius X High School I was shocked at your January 26th article about the student who was mortified at dissection. What was the point of this article? The student was clearly not forced to perform the dissection, and remained in the class only due to his own perception of his classmate’s reactions. The article was superfluous. The school board and school said there should be alternatives for a student unable to physically handle a dissection. The position of the Catholic Church is clear on this issue. Undue cruelty is not performed against these animals. They are dead. Nowhere does the Bible say that we must not kill any of God’s creatures. How would we eat? I would ask you to rethink printing articles which are cheap shots at the Catholic school system and the Church it is named after. My main complaint has to do with a letter which should never have been printed in your newspaper. Never have I been more offended than when I read Chuck Runolfson’s letter “Few Christians”. I am sorry for his ignorance, but hold you, the editors, responsible for printing this trash. Catholics are Christians. I demand that you apologize to your Catholic readership for preaching blatant anti-Catholicism, for they certainly deserve it. Please live up to the standards we know and love, and stop alienating your Catholic readers by attacking their beliefs. Should I have defended the Church more than attacking the paper? More Scripture? Beaten up on the guy who wrote the letter? I had to stay under 300 words... I hit 299. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Everyone is entitled to their opinion, especially if this is an editorial. I don't see anything wrong with this person giving their opinion. Anyone with a grain of intellagence takes what is written in editorials as opinion, not fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.SIGGA Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 I don't know how things work in Canada, but write lots of letters and get your parish to submit letters to the editor too. This bum needs to be corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God Conquers Posted January 30, 2004 Author Share Posted January 30, 2004 I don't care about the guy who wrote the letter... he's obviously misguided. But I can't believe the paper PUBLISHED IT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjtina Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 The media does alot of thinking for the "intelligent ppl". Opinions matter, whether they hold a grain of truth in it or not. Is this your first letter to the editor? I think what you did was amesome. Personally, I do write to the Editor to correct ppl when they give false information or totally wacko opinions, or messed up articles, usually pertaining to abortion/life issues. (your lucky, you get 300 words, i only get 200). If you however do not recieve a response, I would encourage you to write a letter to the editor following up on that "opinion". Try not to attack the person, but something to the effect of the "thought that is shared by many unapprised people ". I would include that Catholics are indeed Christians, but not all Christians are Catholic. Back up what you can say, keep it as concise as possible and stay to the point. I'm still learning too. I've had the newspaper edit out some of my most important points.....ah, but i learned! haha. props to ya. :cyclops: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.SIGGA Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 I don't care about the guy who wrote the letter... he's obviously misguided. But I can't believe the paper PUBLISHED IT! ehh I'm not too surprised by anything anymore. everyone hates catholics nowadays. i used to love comedy central and the tonight show w/ jay leno, but every other joke rags the catholic church and i'm sick of seeing it. test the paper out and see if they'll publish a correction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiritual_Arsonist Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Good job. Perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjtina Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 "The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice" by Philip Jenkins from: Catholic Answers Anti-Catholicism has a long history in America. And as Philip Jenkins argues in The New Anti-Catholicism, this virulent strain of hatred - once thought dead - is alive and well in our nation, but few people seem to notice, or care. Jenkins shines a light on anti-Catholic sentiment in American society and illuminates its causes, looking closely at gay and feminist anti-Catholicism, anti-Catholic rhetoric and imagery in the media, and the anti-Catholicism of the academic world. For newspapers and newsmagazines, for television news and in movies, for major book publishers, the Catholic Church has come to provide a grossly stereotyped public villain. It was said that with the election of John F. Kennedy, anti-Catholicism in America was dead. This provocative new book corrects that illusion, drawing attention to this important issue. A must read! And now available for a limited time for 10% OFF the normal cover price. i want this book... :nerd: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DojoGrant Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 I have that book. It's very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 God Conquers, Your letter to the editors is very good - really clear and to the point. Let's hope they take note! Let us know if they respond! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PedroX Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 God Conquers, The paper is responsible for the article, but the author is responsible for the letter. The editorial page is simply a soapbox for folks. I agree that the letter was ridiculous, but the paper was simply supplying the paper and ink. Keep writing letters. peace... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 What you wrote was great! Keep up the good work!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socalscout Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 You letter was right on target. It is the paper that should be held accountable. Here is the link for the Catholic League if you feel this is habitual. http://www.catholicleague.org/index.html Good Job Take care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God Conquers Posted January 31, 2004 Author Share Posted January 31, 2004 Thanks everyone. My letter wasn't published, but it's gotten me writing, so I'll be a letter writing phenom in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 31, 2004 Share Posted January 31, 2004 (edited) God Conquers, The paper is responsible for the article, but the author is responsible for the letter. The editorial page is simply a soapbox for folks. I agree that the letter was ridiculous, but the paper was simply supplying the paper and ink. Keep writing letters. peace... But the paper can choose to print or not print the letter. And as a journalist, I know that papers can be very hypocritical about the letters they print and those they ignore. Edited January 31, 2004 by Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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