Double standard: media coverage of abuse by priests, teachers
June 07, 2012
Writing for Catholic World Report, David Pierre notes that “the media never tires of harping on the failures of Catholic leaders from decades ago while giving far more recent episodes in public schools much less attention.”
“It recently came to light that 248 complaints of sexual misconduct involving school employees were reported in New York City public schools just in the first three months of 2012,” Pierre writes. “That’s an average of 2.75 sex-related complaints per day, including Saturdays and Sundays, in one city’s school system.”
“One would think that this astonishing statistic would be worthy of some further exploration by the The New York Times, considering it involves events right in its backyard. Yet the only coverage the Times has given this stomach-turning fact is on one of its blogs.”
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Jun. 08, 2012 11:46 AM ET USA
I suggest that we Catholics fight like mad to rid ourselves from sin, and let God deal with the outside. This is a life's work for every Christian. The more we obsess with the hypocrisy of the media and the world, the less real work we accomplish.
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Posted by: mgreen32234 -
Jun. 08, 2012 10:46 AM ET USA
Located in NYC's East Village, Harvey Milk High School was created as an alternative education program for LGBT youth who find it difficult or impossible to attend their home schools due to threats, violence, or harassment. Can you imagine what the statistics are at Harvey Milk? We probably don't even have the right to ask because of the nature of this school's mission.
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Posted by: koinonia -
Jun. 07, 2012 7:51 PM ET USA
This is unfortunate. This is not surprising. This is reality. Hypocrisy and crime will trump crime in the news cycle most of the time. It is sad. It is devastating. It is devastating to the Church and to the victims and families, some of whom have since left the Church, adding to the devastating impact this scandal has had on so many souls. It has disfigured the Church in the eyes of many, including the Justice system which once held the Church in higher esteem. Double standards!! Really?
