National Catholic Reporter Bloggers Object to Censorship

By Jerry Slevin
Christian Catholicism
September 4, 2014

http://christiancatholicism.com/national-catholic-reporter-bloggers-object-to-censorship/

[Christian Catholicism]

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and here

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NCR has so far ducked many questions, including those raised by bloggers at NCR and elsewhere, about this unwarranted and unreasonable censorship tactic. But the bloggers are pushing back, even some whom have often taken issue with some of my comments.

For example, please read these pertinent excerpts from bloggers who follow NCR:

robchristopher says:

… We routinely chastise the Vatican for deciding that they know best how to deal with certain people (read: nuns, women, etc.). How can we go along with the same treatment by NCR? …

Rita says:

I fully agree that censorship of comments that do not offend common decency is abhorrent….

DANNO says:

… Gerald Slevin has helped this victim of clergy rape and molestation on my journey to becoming a survivor and a relentless advocate for other survivors.

NCR has not responded to my request for information on the censorship of Mr. Slevin. I will not allow this to stand!!!!

NCR seems to be following step one (ignore) of the hierarchy’s playbook. Corruption needs secrecy and censorship to survive.

Ignore, deny, minimize, obfuscate, shift blame. apologize but continue the immoral behavior.

Too bad that the Church and NCR has forgotten about Jesus.

Jerry, I truly appreciate and admire your efforts and you have my complete support.

and DANNO adds with respect to Dennis Coday’s e-mail to me:

… Here is what an honest response would look like………….

Gerald, I am emailing you this generic CYA. response because my inbox has been flooded with regular posters questions about your banning and censorship.

I would have totally ignored you because I was following advice from my pal the Finnster. (its worked pretty well for him)

I blocked your access because a few of our right wing big dollar supporters and 2 bishops found your postings to be too truthful and that was troubling because they said their so called holy institution has been based on coverup and lies for many years and they do not want guys like you shining the light of truth around and fouling up their darkness.

They are trying to re-brand the Church and get rid of that Christ Guy as their symbol and spokesman. They said that they want to go with a Dolan or Bill Donohue type behind the scenes and a smiling grampa type like Francis as the front man. They also want most of their bishops to be law guys then they can lose that expensive and time consuming pastoral stuff.

Anyway, when it come to cash, I will lean as right as it takes to grab the money. Really, what value is in my reputation,

When it comes down to it Gerald. I blocked you because it was the easiest most gutless way to keep a bishop happy.

I revealed to all, who I really am by my extremely lame and unprofessional response to you and my horrific lack of follow up.

Please go away, you are giving me a headache and another pain much lower.

Good riddance, Dennis Coday

Kathy English says:

Jerry Slevin is passionate about preventing the sexual abuse of children and demanding justice for those who abuse/enable abuse, Of course the bishops don’t like him. Interesting that articles about people like Oliver North(???) are now being featured, NCR is losing its progressive edge. Next they’ll be supporting Bishop Finn.

12thNight says:

Also, the timing of this makes me very suspicious. Jerry was focused on getting folks fired up to go out and VOTE in November because he was convinced that the hierarchy is striving to get a republican senate majority to continue to block Obamacare and their conservative agenda.

Colkoch says:

… Jerry’s treatment is not about the {NCR} code of conduct, it’s about irritating someone with clout and NCR caving in. I really don’t think Jerry would ever have gotten a response from Dennis Coday if so many regular commenters hadn’t demanded the reason for his banning. Any of us could be the subject of a similar banning for similar nebulous reasons.

Terri Hemker says:

And with a close inspection of Mr. Coday’s reply, we still don’t have a real reason other than , ‘someone doesn’t like you very much’….

and Terri Hemker also says:

Could one be more vague and/or confusing {than Mr. Coday in his e-mail} …. ‘You post too much, you post too little…We don’t like your tone or your behavior but we won’t tell you why, only that you’ve ticked off a bunch of faceless, nameless people……’We have no interest in discussing your behavior with you so that you may decide if you wish to amend it ,…and PS, Mr. Slevin, get lost…’ Yeah, I’d say that’s a little disturbing and unprofessional. It makes me very sad and disappointed as I was, perhaps, naively, hoping for better……

Mary Q says:

Dennis Coday’s response really DOES feel like 3-card Monte! Look here, under this shell: too many comments; Nope, it’s under this shell: not enough comments; Oops, no its this shell: too aggressive.

Alexandra says:

… The e-mail from Coday is absolutely ridiculous. It doesn’t even make sense. It’s what one writes when one needs to say something, but knows that what will be said has no basis. He would have been better off saying nothing.

and Alexandra also says:

Basically, Mr. Coday is saying: we are doing this because we can. …. Since Mr. Coday did not commuicate with Jerry about the matter, how could they have reached an impasse? Why can’t Mr. Coday at least be honest?

Rich Tilson says:

The actions of NCR’s censorship shows exactly what is wrong with the Catholic Church”s leadership and it’s right wing followers. They are afraid of the truth that their divine church is facing titanic problems. They have lost the moral high ground and need censorship to hide the problems and the lies. NCR has lost me as a reader and a blogger …

Mary says:

NCRs actions remind me of being a student at my all-girls Catholic high school. NCR is in charge, and they’ll let you know when they feel like responding to your question. If you get an answer, it’s on their terms. And if they don’t feel like responding, well then, you just don’t need to know.

boltingmadonna says:

Wow, that is one nasty email from Dennis Coday. I wonder just how one reaches an “impasse” without ever talking to the person with whom one is supposedly unable to negotiate. “You have repeatedly demonstrated that you have no intention of moderating your behavior . . .” Oh, really? When, exactly, did anyone from NCR confer with Jerry and inform him of how he had offended against their policy? Of course they did not, because there is no such policy. Other commenters have repeatedly slandered whole groups of people, with slurs that definitely were “unfair,” but that didn’t get them banned. Jerry had never descended to personal attacks, and has made no accusations that weren’t backed up by the facts. One must conclude that the only “behavior” that got him banned was repeatedly exhorting the bishops to do things they’ve decided not to do.

Mark William says:

It is hugely disappointing that NCR and Jerry Slevin have not been able to sort this out between them, in a way that allows JS to return here.

I also hope for courage and independence from NCR. Their action here seems way out of line with their own values.

___________________________________________________

I agree with these bloggers.

Who objected to my comments, which comments and why?

Basic due process and fundamental fairness to me and to all NCR bloggers mandate that these questions be answered fully and transparently.

NCR can answer these the easy way or the hard way. But I expect NCR will answer them one way or another. It’s credibility is on the line.

Who is really calling the shots at NCR?

Its management? Its donors? Its advertisers? US bishops? The Vatican?

It really matters since NCR claims to be independent.