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hate speech, Rush, and the USCCB: clarification By Diogenes | October 27, 2009

So it turns out that the US bishops' conference is not, after all, a part of the coalition that sent a petition to the FCC urging an investigation of "hate speech" by conservative radio talk-show hosts. 

Or to be more accurate, the USCCB is part of the So We Might See coalition, which sent that petition to the FCC, but the USCCB did not sign onto the petition. But the coalition-- of which the USCCB is a part-- told the world that the USCCB had signed onto the petition. 

We can therefore conclude:

• There was a terrible misunderstanding, which will soon be clarified by public statements from the USCCB and the So We Might See coalition-- with the latter including an apology for its erroneous claim of USCCB support.

or

• The So We Might See coalition double-crossed the USCCB, and the USCCB will soon pull out of the coalition.

or

• The USCCB didn't actually sign the petition, but didn't object, either, since the goal of the petition is pretty much in line with the general purposes of the coalition. Of which the USCCB is a member. 

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Sound Off! Comments

• Posted by: joeg3608 - Oct. 30, 2009 8:26 PM ET USA

  The Bishops have surely oerlooked what it means to be CATHOLIC during the past few years. I cite the rampant ignorance of the sexual scandal in hope that it would blow over. Now they display a monumental disregard of their duties in the protection of the faith. What are faithful Catholics to think.Are bishops to be regarded as sheherds who can not see the wolves approaching the flock?

• Posted by: samuel.doucette1787 - Oct. 29, 2009 12:53 PM ET USA

  When it comes to USCCB documents, I practice a military-style "skip echelon" approach and ignore them in favor of Vatican documents which usually are clearer and more forceful. In other words, I listen to my priests at the parish and I listen to the Pope. I simply ignore the USCCB as the irrelevancy they are.

• Posted by: Pete - Oct. 29, 2009 12:05 PM ET USA

  The USCCB desparately needs to get its act together! Once again the USCCB is amongst a group opposing Church teachings and appears to Catholics as well as the general public to have absolutely no clue what it's doing and to be in disagreement with Rome. How long, oh Lord?

• Posted by: sparch - Oct. 28, 2009 9:46 AM ET USA

  As with all people, the USCCB are judged by the company they keep. When are the bishops going to take control of their organization and stop having other people and organizations take advantage of them and their office. With the likes of George Soros and Acorn waiting in the wings, what are these bishops thinking about. Certainly not the church or their flocks.

• Posted by: Minnesota Mary - Oct. 27, 2009 7:44 PM ET USA

  I think it was #3. Let the dance begin. A soft shoe shuffle is always entertaining.

• Posted by: kmbold - Oct. 27, 2009 7:10 PM ET USA

  Has anyone heard of a "coalition" that wasn't something to avoid? The Russian Orthodox church fell in line with the communists in Russia after the revolution. It is time that the USCCB be dissolved before they do something really, really awful.

• Posted by: joeg3608 - Oct. 27, 2009 6:37 PM ET USA

  Never associate with liars as one of them. We have had more than enough of that in the past few years with the sexual scandals withing the Church,scandals promoted by Bishops who do not really know to confront evil.Bishops are supposed to do do "bishop" things and Policemen are supposed to do police things.