Exclusive Report
Editorial Wars
The Diocese Report has obtained an advanced copy of the September Editorial from New Oxford Review. In the last couple months a huge backlash against the controversial book Goodbye Good Men has swelled to include some very prominent orthodox Catholic publications such as Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, and Culture Wars, not to mention the wailing of certain individuals who seem bent on destroying the creditability of the book and of Rose.
Just when things seem to have died down and most people could refocus on the problem at hand, dissident priest and corrupt bishops, the gun slinging seems to be back in play.The most recent issue of Culture Wars has a seven page article once again lobbing bombs at Rose and there is at least one letter to the editor that uses a formula of guilt by association or indirect association or no association at all.
I spoke with some prominent Catholics who are baffled by the actions of E. Michael Jones. One long time subscriber said… "I will never read Culture Wars again, after what he (E. Michael Jones) has done to Mike Rose." Even Rose himself stated that he is "dumbfounded" that Jones would permit such articles to be printed.
Now we have the September issue of New Oxford Review, in which Dale Vree lays out a pretty intense critique of OSV and NCR. Dale is no stranger to disagreement with NCR or OSV. The two publications do not see eye to on how NOR reflected the state of the Church in it's ads, which resulted in all NOR ads being pulled from NCR and OSV. To this day NOR 's 1998 editorial about the advertising blackout is still posted. This time around Vree is not defending ads he is defending Rose and his book.
There are two editorials concerning this issue in the September issue. The first is entitled "Killing Michael Rose." The editorial states, "…as one of the most important Catholic books published in the past three or four decades. The book concretely and vividly describes how certain vocations directors and seminaries screen out manly orthodox men or, if such men manage to get in under the radar, persecute them or even force them out. Meanwhile, homosexuals and dissenters are welcomed and proceed to ordination. NOR laments that while OSV says Rose "is doing important and courageous work" they also call it "incendiary" and urge readers of the book to "bring a healthy dose of skepticism to Rose's claim."
NOR point by point attacks OSV's charges and attempts to provide evidence which would undermine OSV's contentions. That is when NOR really goes after OSV. First attacking their charge about publishers exploiting the sex scandals for profit,
"But OSV's review was rather mild compared to what would follow in OSV. In the news section of the June 23 OSV there's an article titled "Read All About It: Publishers Looking for Ways to Cash In on a Contemporary Catholic Crisis." The crisis referred to is that of the priestly sex scandals. The article cites books coming out by "Church-basher Gary Wills" and "ex-priest Eugene Kennedy" - and the new Regnery edition of Goodbye Good Men by "Michael Rose." A little guilt by association? Of Rose's book OSV says it was "scantily researched." Now, Rose spent two and one half years researching and writing the book and employed two research assistant. "Scantily researched"?"
"As for those greedy publishers trying to cash in on the scandals, that OSV article, dated June 23, failed to mention that Our Sunday Visitor itself was brining out a book on the scandals on June 28. Of course, Our Sunday Visitor wasn't trying to "cash in." Oh, no - no, no!"
Since OSV apparently would not publish Rose's letter to the editor defending himself NOR published it in it's entirety.
NOR writes a second editorial titled, "The Register Steps Into The Ring" and in NOR fashion boasts a cartoon caricature of a man in boxing gloves.
"In January 1999 the Diocese of Providence, one of the more liberal East Coast dioceses, initiated a major media blitz to 'target' potential candidates to the priesthood…. The Diocese has been running television commercials on the MTV network, a pop/rock music video station that doesn't exactly promote Catholic morals, thought, or teaching. The Diocese's Vocations Director explained that 'the best place to reach potential candidates would be on MTV and the Comedy Channel,…."
"In the book, Rose identified the Vocations Director as Fr. Marcel L. Taillon, and added another quotation from Father Fr. Taillon explaining the campaign as well as a quotation from the diocesan newspaper justifying the MTV commercials."
"So why is the Register's Pearson so enraged by all this? Because Fr. Taillon is a "personal friend" of Pearson's. And Pearson describes Fr. Taillon in glowing terms: "steadfast," "dedicated," "very faithful," "holy," and a "great priest." Not only that, but Fr. Taillon is virtually on par with the eucharistic Christ: "I've seen him consecrate and adore and reverence and preach the Eucharist so zealously and so often that I can no longer call one to mind without thinking of the other."
"Father Taillon may be holy, but holiness does not guarantee good judgement. One can certainly question the wisdom of trying to recruit holy priests from the MTV milieu.
NOR continues to take on Dave Pearson and NCR editor Tom Hoopes point by point over different items they each wrote. The editorial also explains that all advertising for GoodBye Good Men was rejected. Finally it ends with this…
"When it comes to internal Church battles the fight for the soul of the Church - the Register is usually content to sit in the crowd munching peanuts. But not with Michael Rose. Fine. Actually, we're glad to see the Register jump into the ring - even if on the wrong side. Advice to the Register for next time: If you expect to lay a glove on anyone, you must get in shape, get a good trainer, and practice with a sparring partner. Above all get your head in the game."
"Until then…"
Links
GoodBye Good Men
www.newoxfordreview.com
www.ncregister.com
www.osvpublishing.com
www.culturewars.com
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