The Los Angeles Times has joyfully discovered a way to keep the clergy misdeeds of the Catholic Church forever in the minds of its readers and the public: the obituary page. Take a look at the obituary of former bishop G. Patrick Ziemann. … [Read more...]
LA Times’ Lopez Misleads On Clergy Scandal
September 24, 2009 By
In a September 23, 2009, article in the Los Angeles Times, Steve Lopez deceives his readers by suggesting that recent testimony by a member of "[Cardinal Roger] Mahony's inner circle" could spell serious problems for the local … [Read more...]
Omissions + Misleading Information = More Dishonesty From LA Times On Clergy Scandal
September 20, 2009 By
A September 19, 2009, article in the Los Angeles Times by Martha Groves and Richard Winton blares the headline, "Sex abuse cover-up by L.A. Archdiocese is alleged." Under the headline: "The former vicar of clergy testifies … [Read more...]
LA Times’ Helfand Cherrypicks Pew Study To Overstate Effect of Abuse Scandal On Ex-Catholics
September 9, 2009 By
On September 6, 2009, the Los Angeles Times published an article by Duke Helfand about efforts by Catholic dioceses to draw ex-Catholics back to the Church. Helfand penned the following passage (bold mine): Most people raised Catholic … [Read more...]
Media Singles Out Catholic Church, Goes Wild Over Report of Decades-Old Abuse – In Ireland
May 22, 2009 By
Since when is the media so interested in keeping America abreast of the latest news coming out of Ireland? A commission in Ireland just released a report detailing awful abuse of children who attended Catholic schools "from the … [Read more...]
More Disparate Coverage From LA Times (And Rest of Media) In Covering Sex Abuse
April 23, 2009 By
Check out the following two stories: 1. A former Catholic priest comes forward Monday (4/20/09) to say that another priest abused him as a teenager nearly 30 years ago. (The accused priest has no other similar public complaints and … [Read more...]
Book Review: William Lobdell’s Dishonest ‘Losing My Religion’ (Extended)
February 28, 2009 By
William Lobdell's new book Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America-and Found Unexpected Peace is nothing original. A former "serious Christian" loses his faith because he finds a … [Read more...]
At the LA Times, Some Lawsuits Are More Worthy Than Others
February 11, 2009 By
Today's Los Angeles Times (Wed. Feb. 11, 2009) features a curious article on page B4, "O.C. priest is focus of suit over alleged molestation," written by the fact-challenged Duke Helfand and staffer Christine Hanley. The … [Read more...]
Yet Another Fallacious Op-Ed on Church Abuse Scandal From the LA Times
February 4, 2009 By
As we've stated before, no one can challenge the awful harm wrecked upon youth at the hands of Catholic clergy. The harm is real, incredibly sad, and unspeakably damaging. But that is no excuse for the Los Angeles Times to continue its … [Read more...]
Letter to the Editor in the LA Times: Pope Benedict Was Groomed By Hitler
February 2, 2009 By
Does anyone think that a major newspaper like the Los Angeles Times would ever allow a hateful and patently false anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim personal attack to be published in its letters to the editor? Of course not. But check out this … [Read more...]
