By Matt C. Abbott
Renew America
September 15, 2009
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/090915
Gutsy.
That's how I describe George Archibald, four-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, former investigative reporter for The Washington Times (during four presidential administrations) and author of the recently-released book Journalism Is War.
I have to admit that I purchased the book for one reason: chapter 16.
I first became acquainted with Archibald a few years ago when he e-mailed me after a column I wrote on Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Father James Haley. He had some questions pertaining to what A.W. Richard Sipe calls "The Cardinal McCarrick Syndrome," and several very interesting e-mails followed.
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I knew Archibald was working on a book, but I didn't know when it would finally be published. I also knew that I would likely be mentioned in it, but I didn't know for certain.
Until now.
My name appears on page 224. I should point out that Mr. Archibald incorrectly identifies me as a reporter for Catholic World News and The Wanderer — well, it's true that I was, for a time, a contributor (reporter and commentator) to The Wanderer, but not Catholic World News. However, Catholic World News did link to some of my columns, so it's not an egregious error by any means.
Chapter 16 — titled Catholic Scandal Series Snuffed — is the only chapter I've read thus far, and it's a doozy...in a good way, I'd say. The gutsy and thorough Archibald — who was raised Anglican, by the way; he's not Catholic — names names, even more than I have. He's not afraid to be sued, and he has been sued (for libel) "at least three times" during his tenure at the newspaper; but, he writes, "no one has ever laid a glove on me because the documentation was always there."
During our correspondence, Archibald chased down an ex-priest who was one of the subjects of my column (I used a pseudonym for the ex-priest) and, when the ex-priest threatened to sue Archibald if he revealed his identity, Archibald basically told him to go ahead. Needless to say, the ex-priest is named in the book.
I still receive e-mails asking how Father James Haley is doing, and my response is that I haven't heard from him in some time. As far as I know, his canonical case is still in limbo, and, sadly, his spirit has been all but destroyed by the corrupt AmChurch elements — specifically, the homosexual and heterosexually-heterodox network. In sickening but important detail, Archibald tells how AmChurch ruined a good, orthodox priest — and, once again, he names names. Oh, and some of the bad guys are still around, of course.
A few snippets from chapter 16:
"It is the homosexuals, mostly, who sexually abused teenage boys in the church and caused the scandal that cost the church billions of dollars in lawsuit settlements...."
"The Erbacher video showed the priests chuckling and dancing together in their vestments as two dogs copulated in the courtyard of St. Peter's in the Basilica in Rome. And much of the video focused on anatomy of church statues..."
"My editors at The Washington Times encouraged and supported my coverage of the Haley story until Bishop Loverde weighed in against me with Editor Wesley Pruden in December 2002...."
"Participants and priests told this reporter [Archibald] that McCarrick had years of bedtime enjoyment with young men and promoted many to high offices in the church...."
Disgusting.
A word to the wise: Archibald's book is not for the faint of spirit, and not for those looking for edifying reading or who wish to keep their heads in the sand. In other words, if you are associated with, say, the Legionaries of Christ (they're not mentioned in the chapter, but I think "in the know" Catholics realize what I'm talking about), you almost certainly will not like this book, or at least chapter 16. And don't bother e-mailing me to tell me off, for as soon as I see that your e-mail is highly critical of me and/or Archibald, I'll hit the delete button and won't bother responding.
As for the rest of the book, much of the material is, of course, related to the Washington political scene. Some of the chapters include: Coolidge, Goldwater and Reagan; Creating the New Right; Skunk at Geraldine Ferraro's Party; Tackling Anti-Zionism; Barney Frank's "Boy Toy"; Covering Bill Clinton; The Spike for Vince Foster; Newt Gingrich and House Scandals; and The Culture War.
One more thing: In the interest of full disclosure, I have not and will not receive any compensation from George Archibald for this column, nor did he ask me to promote his book in any way, shape or form, nor did he provide me with a free copy (and I didn't ask for one) — as mentioned above, I bought my own copy.
Related link:
"New Look at Newark"
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