Why are Chris Matthews, E.J. Dionne and Mark Shields all siding with the bishops?

[Peregrine Took]

I understand why Tim Kaine, as a Dem politician, is but I can't figure out why the heck these guys are.

Are they viewed as Catholics in the media and somewhat owe their jobs to being Catholic and now the bishops have called in some chips to get media support on this issue?

Its beyond me. Any thoughts?

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. organized religion and I don't understand each other....so, no idea.

[rhett o rick]

3. That's a good way to put it. I second that, but would like to add, I dont really give a shite. nm

[Skidmore]

2. Matthews is a Catholic. Don't know about the other two though.

[sulphurdunn]

16. The other two

are also Catholics.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

4. Mark Shields is Catholic.

[NC_Nurse]

5. Because they are men.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

11. +1 n/t

[CTyankee]

17. It is, sadly, as simple as that. Even Dionne, who I usually like, has disappointed me

greatly! He says a compromise could be worked out with women paying "only a little more" for their health care coverage to include birth control.

WTF?! SO, Mr. Dionne, it's just fine and dandy with YOU if women are made second class citizens?

"Here's your Viagra, Sir, no charge...you women, you have to pay more for your birth control."

[sufrommich]

18. Bingo. nt

[cbayer]

19. I think this plays a big part.

[rocktivity]

6. Are they Catholics?

And if so, shouldn't that be disclosed?


rocktivity

[A-Schwarzenegger]

15. Yes.

[Peregrine Took]

7. Its just that they are all supposed to be liberals, well, Matthews part lib part kook.

[Enrique]

8. because they are lame-ass pundits

[limpyhobbler]

9. Mr. Shields is sincere. Be nice to him. The others are just trying to make interesting television.

[CTyankee]

25. I do not doubt he is sincere, but that is not OK in this case.

Forcing women to be second class citizens in the service of an all male, celibate clergy and hierarchy (not the people themselves) is wrong. He doesn't get it.

He is wrong and deserves to be condemned by right thinking people.

[ProSense]

10. Because

"Why are Chris Matthews, E.J. Dionne and Mark Shields all siding with the bishops?"

...it's evidently the pundits' job to create confusion?

Everyone knows why the Catholic Church is upset: hypocrisy.

Poll: Obama rule correct to exempt churches

By MJ LEE

As the controversy heats up surrounding the Obama administration’s rule that religious organizations must cover birth control as a part of their insurance plans a new poll suggests that the majority of Americans believe churches and other places of worship should be exempt.

The majority of Americans, 57 percent, said churches and other places of worship should not be required to provide employees health care plans that include contraception at no cost, according to a Public Religion Research Institute survey released Tuesday. Almost six in ten Catholics, 59 percent, said they support churches and other places of worship being exempt from the rule.

Meanwhile, Americans are divided on whether religiously affiliated colleges and hospitals should be required to provide employees with health care plans that include contraception and birth control coverage, with 49 percent of Americans backing this mandate, including 52 percent of Catholics.

The administration’s policy exempts Catholic churches from the requirement, but doesn’t carve out other Catholic institutions like hospitals and universities.

While most Americans support the exemption of churches and places of worship from the rule, the majority indicated that they generally support the requirement that employers provide to their employees health care plans that cover contraception and birth control — more than half of Americans, 55 percent, said they support the mandate, while 40 percent said they oppose it.

-more-

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72560.html#ixzz1lpfKLiTg

Poll: Majority of Catholics support contraception coverage
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002279428

[Dawson Leery]

12. They are Catholic and over 60.

[Demonaut]

13. PP, I think if PP exists then its a viable alternative

[A-Schwarzenegger]

14. All three are Catholic.

[Spazito]

20. They are devout Catholics I believe...

and will defend the RCC's actions if told to from the pulpit as was done at Sunday Mass. Marching orders were given hence the current eruption of outrage, imo.

[Peregrine Took]

22. The priest in my church didn't say a peep about this.

And he's the pastor.

[Spazito]

23. Well, that certainly was NOT the case in Mr. Matthew's Mass...

he commented on the Cardinal's message given at Mass this past Sunday. It may not have been at ALL Masses but it was done at many, maybe the ones who have high profile members including those in the media?

[Submariner]

21. Because their god is watching at all times

and according to their belief system, if they did not side with the bishops, and sided against their god on this, or any, issue, they would be subject to persectution in purgatory, which is a miserable gateway to heaven.

Twelve years of nuns drove that message home to me.

[Raven]

24. Matthews went to Holy Cross College at a time it

was hyper Catholic. Anton S's son was there when my son was there and published the conservative rag...Matthews is all over this because he thinks he knows what he's talking about and would kiss any Bishop's ring that came his way. He's a child and has no mind of his own when it comes to Catholic hierarchy. He thinks if he does this shilling for the CC, he's automatically going to heaven. He's a pig. I just love these guys who are going to tell me what to do with my body...

[CTyankee]

29. exactly! blind spot.

Even if their own wives had (once) used birth control, which I am sure they all did!

What is the effing matter with these men?

[malaise]

26. They're all Catholics

Tweety once voted for Michael Steele because he was catholic - go figure

[Ilsa]

27. I don't think they've interviewed

Very many married Catholic working women on this subject. If they did, they might find some very mainstream women of childbearing age who want their insurance to help them cover either their contraception or their tubal ligations or their husbands' vasectomies.

[JoePhilly]

28. They are Catholic men who are uneffected by any of this.

I grew up in Philly and most of my closest friends were Catholics (Chris is from there).

My old friends, and I suspect guys like Chris take FULL ADVANTAGE of the ability to "confess" their sins. Sort of.
They ALL use birth control. And they want their wives and girl friends to use it too. But they still cling to the notion that they are "good Catholics", even as they pick and choose.

I went to St Joe, a Catholic University, even though I was not Catholic. Almost to a person, the guys and girls there were selective in the application of their faith. Every Catholic girl I dated there was on the pill. The guys were all using condoms.

Abstinence?? Hardly.

Chris and these others enjoy the LABEL of "Good Catholic" ... but seriously doubt that they practice it to the letter.

And so in this case, they are not defending the reality of Catholic Americans, but the IDEA of the church as an authority.

Chris and these others can't say that the church is WRONG because in doing so, they have to take the false IDEA, and make it fit the REALITY.