BishopAccountability.org
	Ann Bailey, Grand Forks, Column: Raw Bigotry against Catholic Church Repels Grand Forks Herald May 23, 2010 http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/162457/group/Opinion/ I'm shocked by those who seem to delight in hating the church and all who are in it. It's a reaction that is almost frightening. For many, the scandal is just an excuse to bash the church. That's a view that I can't understand. I typically don't write about controversial issues. But i feel compelled to point out what seems like an unfair level of attacks on something important to me: my Roman Catholic faith. Lately, it's been under siege on talk radio, in newspaper commentaries and especially on the Herald's website. Here's an example with original spelling and syntax, from a recent web comment in the Herald on a question about Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church: I recognize that the abuse of children by evil priests is something that causes many, including non-Catholics, to become disillusioned with the church. Some people end up leaving the church, and some are just saddened. Those responses I can understand, even if I don't agree with them. But I'm shocked by those who seem to delight in hating the church and all who are in it. It's a reaction that is almost frightening. For many, the scandal is just an excuse to bash the church. That's a view that I can't understand. I may not agree with the theology of Baptists, Lutherans, Jews, Muslims or atheists. But I don't want to destroy them. Such hatred of other faiths is forbidden by my faith. I don't see religious bigotry as any more acceptable than racism, and in fact, it often seems the same thing. My Catholic faith is a big part of who I am, and when people start hurling insults at the pope, or worse, at Jesus, it hurts. I believe that it falls under the definition from Webster's of bigotry: "The behavior, attitude or beliefs of a bigot, a person who holds blindly and intolerantly to a particular creed, opinion, etc." I think the following comments — the first, from a posting on the Herald website question on same-sex marriage and the second, third and fourth on a question about Pope Benedict's response to the sexual abuse of children — are bigoted. Here's the first, again with the original spelling: "Don't you think it's funny that Christ was surrounded almost exclusively by 12 dudes his whole life, with nary a mention of a woman? And those 12 dudes REALLY liked him, to the point of obsession, or love. Perhaps Jesus was gay. It seems likely, given those 12 buddies of his. I'd like to think they had a really good time together. I bet they did. And I say well for them. Applause." The second: "Looks like the Atheists will have to take the church down with our own bare hands? Who's with me? ATHEISTS UNITED!!!" The third: "There is nothing holy about that dude Benedict. He's just a guy, like any hairy, sweaty guy and he's no more special than I. Get over it! He live in a golden billionaire palace while millions of children starve to death. He's a strangely robed JERK." And the fourth: "(Name) You nailed it on the head. he is no more devine or closer to God than my dog." I am someone who loathes the victim mentality, but I have to admit I'm feeling like my church is being singled out in a hateful way. If someone made a comment about the Hindu or Jewish religion or an African-American or American Indian leader, there would be a public outcry. But in the case of the Catholic Church, it seems slander and worse is OK. Why? I know that not everyone sees things the same way I do. I've been a journalist long enough to respect other people's views. The key word here is "respect." I would hope that if people have differing views on religion, we can discuss them reasonably and fairly, not anonymously with blind hatred.
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