Slandering Holy Mother Church

[thessalonian]

Does anyone know of anything that can be done when the Catholic Church is slandered. For instance, I was listening to Mr. Mike Gendron on local protestant radio on Saturday. He said that Catholicism is closer to Islam than Christianity and then did a little song and dance to “prove” it. Then he called pretty much the whole magesterium, including Benedict XVI and JP II anti-semetic. The show was full of such nonsense. I am not obsessed or angry about this program but I think Holy Mother Church needs to be defended as the bride of Christ from such attacks. And don’t respond with “pray for them”. I was all weekend. I’ve contacted the Catholic League. Any other suggestions would be helpful. By the way, I am not going to post a link to where the show can be listened to. If you want to PM me I will send it to you.

God bless Thess

[SaintOlaf]

Have a listen to John Martegnoni's testimony ( www.biblechristiansociety.net ) He went through a similar situation... he called the radio station and complained about the blatant misrepresentation of Catholics and the Church. The radio station offered him some airtime to refute the claims made by the offending program, which he eventually accepted and turned into a successful Catholic radio ministry (on a protestant station) for over a year.

[Ash Wednesday]

I agree with Saint Olaf. Contact the radio station and explain to them that they are misinformed, and offer to give them some information and get some dialogue going.

If they are stubborn and refuse to listen, then perhaps a website can be put up discussing what he claimed and what the truth is. Some Catholic did this in response to Jack Chick.

[thessalonian]

bump

[thessalonian]

Just got an email from the station manager. He's taking a "I wash my hands of it" approach, saying we're not responsible for program content because we broker our time to outside ministries. Pontius pilate syndrome. Needless to say I don't buy it.

[SaintOlaf]

Thats an unacceptable approach, he knows that he screens the content coming into their station. I highly doubt that they would allow a pro-Islam program to be aired on that station, so he has some responsibility. Hold him to it, and don't back down!

[thessalonian]

My two responses:


Mr. XXXX,



I do not believe you can wash your hands so easily of this issue (perhaps not legally either). Your station has to be responsible when a host such as Jan Markell continuously distorts the beliefs of others in an “authortative” fashion without listening to any correction, ie. She wantonly slanders. I have complained to you before in this regard. I will certainly continue with the particular hosts but again, it may involve protests outside of KKMS as I can’t exuse you so easily as you have done for yourself. I do appreciate your response however.



Sincerely



Gerald XXXX



Sorry to bother you again Mr. XXXX,



This is not a matter of a difference in theological beliefs but a direct distortion and slander of the Catholic faith and some of the people in it. Surely your station has limits as to what it will tolerate in it’s syndicated programming. Again I don’t care if people disagree with Catholicism, but when they distort and slander it and don’t take correction I would think that should concern all of us, regardless of whether you consider Catholics and Catholicism Christian. The scriptures do not say “thou shall not bear false witness except if you disagree with the person”. I highly doudt you would put someone pro-abortion on in part because of the “thou shall not kill” command and would remove a program that was tolerating abortion. Yet somehow violations of the command “thou shall not bear false witness” is tolerable.



Again, many blessings



Sincerely



Gerald L. XXXX

[thessalonian]

My two responses:


Mr. XXXX,



I do not believe you can wash your hands so easily of this issue (perhaps not legally either). Your station has to be responsible when a host such as Jan Markell continuously distorts the beliefs of others in an “authortative” fashion without listening to any correction, ie. She wantonly slanders. I have complained to you before in this regard. I will certainly continue with the particular hosts but again, it may involve protests outside of KKMS as I can’t exuse you so easily as you have done for yourself. I do appreciate your response however.



Sincerely



Gerald XXXX



Sorry to bother you again Mr. XXXX,



This is not a matter of a difference in theological beliefs but a direct distortion and slander of the Catholic faith and some of the people in it. Surely your station has limits as to what it will tolerate in it’s syndicated programming. Again I don’t care if people disagree with Catholicism, but when they distort and slander it and don’t take correction I would think that should concern all of us, regardless of whether you consider Catholics and Catholicism Christian. The scriptures do not say “thou shall not bear false witness except if you disagree with the person”. I highly doudt you would put someone pro-abortion on in part because of the “thou shall not kill” command and would remove a program that was tolerating abortion. Yet somehow violations of the command “thou shall not bear false witness” is tolerable.



Again, many blessings



Sincerely



Gerald L. XXXX

[SaintOlaf]

Awesome, well written and charitable but at the same time very firm on where you stand. I'll be praying for you and this situation

[Ash Wednesday]

Can you also somehow contact Mike Gendron or Jan Markell, or at least her staff? Upon googling her I find she's broadcasted on a national level and he has a book -- that is definitely cause for concern. I see Mike Gendron is an ex-Catholic. Hooo boy. Sounds like someone's got issues.

Even if the station stopped airing these programs, unless they get the facts straight, these people will continue to spread falsehoods elsewhere. And if they won't listen -- start a website refuting these accusations. Or even a simple post on a blog -- that can be seen worldwide. There's a slew of Catholics that would gladly help by blogging about it and pass it along to other blogs.

Edited November 20, 2007 by Ash Wednesday

[Farsight one]

See, this is why I say that the Catholic church should have started suing people for slander years ago. (and donating the winnings to charity) Can you imagine a world without Chick tracts?

[walk_on_water]

I agree-- be persistent, like the widow in the parable.

[cathoholic_anonymous]

[quote name='Farsight one' post='1422633' date='Nov 20 2007, 04:24 AM']See, this is why I say that the Catholic church should have started suing people for slander years ago. (and donating the winnings to charity) Can you imagine a world without Chick tracts? [/quote]

NO! Don't remove all the comedy from my life! I need something light-hearted to read in between essays.

[thessalonian]

I've been emailing them as well. All I got back was more blather about how how in darkness I am and the Cathoilc Church does not believe that Jesus saves completely or doesn't purify completely.

[Ash Wednesday]

Wow. If they really felt confident that they had truth on their side, you would think they would show some willingness to engage in dialogue rather than just hide behind flippant remarks like "that's lies" and "you're in darkness"

And I can't imagine a world without Chick tracts, much like I can't imagine life and the world in total perfection -- ups without the downs -- the lumps in the gravy or splinter in your thumb. I take heart that they are a source of humor and comedy for vast majority of the population, rather than enlightenment.