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WHO TRUSTS THE MEDIA?

Who trusts what the mainstream media tell us? Not many. The media have a liberal bias and we all know it. A case in point is the Globe and Mail newspaper. It has taken up, with a vengeance, the homosexual cause and, in particular, same-sex marriage, to such a degree that it has moved from reporting news on the topic to publishing articles as a partisan activist in the debate, while making no attempt to provide balance.

Not only is the media's credibility being severely undermined, but the mainstream media are also facing stiff competition from other news outlets, such as cable television, satellite channels and the internet, with its large army of bloggers. This competition is changing the way Canadians obtain news; the Internet is quickly becoming one of the most popular sources for information.

The mainstream media, however, appear to be blind to these changes and are continuing to live in the world of the 1960s when liberal views ruled supreme without competition. That is, the media assume that their world of power and influence continues to function unabated; liberal views are considered only a reflection of the opinion all decent people hold. In short, the mainstream media seem to believe that the liberal consensus of the past is still in effect today. It is not.

Nowhere is this misunderstanding more apparent than the reaction of the media to the recent statements of the Catholic Bishops, who have spoken out against same-sex marriage - statements based on their religious beliefs. Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary, in his pastoral letter in January, argued that the state must curtail homosexuality in society's interests. He tied in homosexuality, along with adultery, prostitution and pornography as factors that are undermining the foundations of the family, the basis of society.

The Globe and Mail's trendy Michael Valpy, in an article dated January 18, 2005, quoted Bishop Henry:

There aren't many people who stand up and say; 'I'm tired of political correctness.' And because I am tired of it, don't try to silence me every time I open my mouth by telling me I'm a hatemonger. Because I'm not. I'm just trying to speak the truth as I see it, and I should be accorded the freedom to express my opinions and try to influence people to see things as I see them.

The Globe and Mail editorial had a different idea. In an editorial published on the same date as the controversial article on Bishop Henry, the Globe stated:

… his noxious views on gays and gay marriage send a terribly un-Christian message that feeds into the prejudices of bigots and hate-mongers and undermines legitimate debate on the issue of same-sex marriage. Bishop Henry has done all Catholics a deep disservice. He should be reprimanded and his views repudiated by the church hierarchy.

On what planet is the Globe living? Bishop Henry was merely repeating Catholic teachings that have been around for over 2,000 years.

This Globe editorial displays that newspaper's failure to grasp the fact that its influence is waning in today's world. Who is the Globe to assume that its editorial board sets the moral standards of this country, instead of the religious leaders?

Similarly, when Cardinal Ambrozic of Toronto, in an open letter to the Prime Minister, on January 19, 2005, requested that the government table a bill in support of the traditional understanding of marriage and to couple it with invoking of the notwithstanding clause in the Charter to allow a full debate on the issue, the Globe issued yet another shocked and appalled editorial on January 20, 2005, attempting to set the Cardinal straight on his misguided thinking.

However, the Globe and Mail is not alone in its malicious attempt to set the Catholic clergy straight. The Toronto Star (January 19, 2005) suggested that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops should promptly distance itself from Bishop Henry's remarks. The Ottawa Citizen (January 20, 2005) told us that "Religious leaders should not abuse their influence on the spiritual lives of politicians in an attempt to direct the course of Parliament."

This clarifies the situation. We are now to understand that it is the media that have the right to determine the way MPs vote on the same-sex marriage issue and to set the nation's values: apparently the opinions of newspaper editorial boards, not our religious leaders, are to set the agenda. In short, it appears that the media would be quite happy to lock up the Bishops during the same-sex marriage debate, or at the very least, zipper their mouths!

No wonder the media are hemorrhaging viewers and ratings. The mainstream media providers are rapidly becoming yesterday's partisan and agenda-driven dinosaurs.

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