Why journalists sometimes treat priests unfairly: an incomplete thesis
It is probably fair to assume from the general tone of his letter that he feels most other media outlets likewise try to smear Catholic priests unfairly.
It is important, though, not simply to ‘blame the media’ for this, and just leave it at that. We must go beyond that stage, and ask what are the motivations behind this behaviour in the media.
At first sight, it may seem that journalists with a secularist, liberal agenda can advance their causes by attacking the Catholic hierarchy. It would seem that by undermining the Catholic clergy, it would be easier for secular liberals to promote their agenda of personal freedoms and pluralism.
However, it seems doubtful that this actually is the case because, after the Second Vatican Council and its liberalising reforms, the Catholic hierarchy lost most of its former status, power, and authority.
Priests and bishops no longer have the power and status in society that they used to have up until the 1960s.
Separation of Church and State is no longer an aim of liberals as it used to be in the past: it is now simply a fact of life. Therefore the notion that secularist liberals have anything to gain by attacking and undermining Catholic clergy seems unconvincing.
Pro-family conservatives, on the other hand, would probably prefer to have the Catholic Church seen as the major source of child abuse rather than the family unit, because this means the family unit tends to avoid negative publicity and unfavourable media attention. Journalists and editors have political viewpoints, and they often try to promote these viewpoints through what they write.
Some journalists will be pro-family, others not. This analysis of the politics involved is very basic and incomplete, but I hope it gives Mr Connor and others a springboard to a better understanding of why journalists and editors treat priests and religious unfairly at times.
Joseph Barry
123 Morehampton Road
Donnybrook
Dublin 4
