Odds and Ends 4/28/10

Tabloid journalism against Pope Benedict XVI

The New York Times report last March 25 on sexual abuse of an American priest relied on speculative sources without authentic documentation as proof. The writers likewise failed to verify the accuracy of their report by consulting directly with duly authorized Church authorities. Without close scrutiny, news editors of the world simply parroted the inaccuracies of the New York Times...

The commentary also quotes: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

They don't?
/
Question for today

Why is it so terribly wrong to suggest that there might be a connection between sexual abuse and homosexuality, but perfectly acceptable to say that the sex-abuse crisis shows the need to reconsider clerical celibacy and other aspects of Church teaching regarding sexuality?

Or to put it differently, why is it outrageous to suggest that a homosexual is more likely to molest an adolescent boy, but logical to suggest that a celibate is?

We know something about a homosexual: he likes boys. We know something about a celibate: he is continent. So of the two men-- one who likes boys, the other who controls himself-- which is more likely to molest boys?

Take your time. I know this is a tough one.

Wait. I'm still thinking.
/
No litmus tests-- except this one

Asked whether he would consider a Supreme Court candidate who did not support legal abortion, President Obama replied that "I don't have litmus tests around any of these issues."

Good. So he might possibly nominate a pro-life jurist? No. Having expressed his distaste for litmus tests, the President immediately applied one:

"But I will say that I want somebody who is going to be interpreting our Constitution in a way that takes into account individual rights, and that includes women’s rights. And that’s going to be something that’s very important to me, because I think part of what our core Constitution -- constitutional values promote is the notion that individuals are protected in their privacy and their bodily integrity, and women are not exempt from that."

What he means, I guess, is that he won't actually use litmus paper.

Or that giving litmus tests is above his pay grade. Whatever.
/

Finally for the liberal press, all politicians, and especially for all those vying for public posts in the coming May 10 elections:

Here is a quote from Alfred Adler:

A lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt to be dangerous.
/