Stop supporting the NCReporter. What?
Catholics.
Why would they read the NCR anyway? To read what the dissenting side has to say? To read the ads? I'm not sure. When I've come across the newspaper, I've flipped through it, but I haven't read much from it since the 1980's I think.The National Catholic Reporter.
Way back in 1968 they were told not to use the name Catholic. Since that time Catholic parishes, institutions, as well as priests, monks, nuns, sisters, brothers, bishops, archbishops, cardinals have subscribed/read the newspaper, granted interviews, wrote letters to the editors, drew attention to themselves writing about the newspaper, and so on. In effect, they have supported it. Obviously the newspaper has a vibrant circulation, regular readers and continues to sell subscriptions.Bishop Finn.
The Bishop knows that. The Bishop has spoken. He is in effect calling out the NCR and publicly 'indexing' the newspaper. He's instructing his flock and all Catholics that the newspaper is not faithful to Catholic teaching and bears the name 'Catholic' illicitly.
"In light of the number of recent expressions of concern, I have a responsibility as the local bishop to instruct the Faithful about the problematic nature of this media source which bears the name 'Catholic.'" - Bishop Finn, full text here.
It seems to me that should be reason enough for any faithful Catholic to stop reading, subscribing and or endorsing the newspaper... or even discussing it. Stop supporting them.
The newspaper should remove "Catholic" from the title - and subscribers should let them know that.
“Offences against Religion and the Unity of the Church.”
Another very interesting note, the Bishop's citation of canon law as it applies to communication:
Canon 831: “The Christian faithful are not, unless there is a just and reasonable cause, to write in newspapers, pamphlets or periodicals which clearly are accustomed to attack the Catholic religion or good morals.”Bonus factoid: Dorothy Day was asked by Cardinal Spellman to remove the name Catholic from the Catholic Worker. She didn't.
Canon 804: “The formation and education provided … through the means of social communication, is subject to the authority of the Church. It is for the Bishop’s Conference to issue general norms concerning this field of activity and for the Diocesan Bishop to regulate and watch over it.”
There is a Canon that deals with the abuse of the media, under the section of the Code – “Offences against Religion and the Unity of the Church.”
Canon 1369: “A person is to be punished with a just penalty, who, at a public event or assembly, or in a published writing, or by otherwise using the means of social communication, utters blasphemy, or gravely harms public morals, or rails at or excites hatred of or contempt for religion or the Church.” - Bishop Finn Letter
Posts
Stalked. Don't forget the priest who stalked the place.
ReplyDeleteHow could I have left out that term - stalking the NCR - that's why Catholics don't want it to go away! They would have nothing to rant about.
ReplyDeleteWhat priest, Nan?
The woman that used to do the Baptism prep for many years at my former parish, quotes the worst of the worst from NCReporter all the time on her Facebook page. She loves it and uses it to bolster her non-Catholic views. I always wondered what the parents of soon to be baptized babies were taught.
ReplyDeleteIs that a photo of the Masked Avenger? Thanks for the chuckle :)
ReplyDeleteYou know the one. He wears black. With a little white tab on his collar.
ReplyDelete