Bill O'Reilly: Catholic Church ignores Christmas and sex abuse victims

[Ian David]

O'Reilly compared Catholic leaders' silence over "war" on Christmas to Church's reaction to pedophilia scandal

Summary: Bill O'Reilly compared Catholic leaders' silence on the so-called "war" on Christmas to their silence on the pedophilia scandal in the Catholic Church.

Asserting that Catholic leaders are "MIA in the Christmas controversy," Fox News' Bill O'Reilly compared what he said was the Church leadership's silence on the "war" on Christmas to the Church's handling of the pedophilia scandal. O'Reilly's guest on the December 14 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Rev. Richard McBrien, professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, responded by saying, "This controversy over a Christmas celebration ... is a very minor issue in comparison."

O'Reilly attempted to further compare what he depicted as Catholic leaders' indifference toward the "war" on Christmas with Protestant-led Christmas movements, citing the leadership of Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder and chairman of the Moral Majority Coalition and American Family Association president Don Wildmon. McBrien countered that Falwell and Wildmon represent "a certain segment of the Protestant side ... But mainstream Protestants generally are in the same boat, as it were, as mainstream Catholics and their bishops."

McBrien then asserted:

Today there are many, many millions of non-Christians beyond the Jewish community. And so, you know, business is business. It's out to make a profit, and it doesn't want to alienate potential customers.

O'Reilly's responded: "{T}hat's dopey, Father."

Promoting the segment earlier that day on his nationally syndicated radio show, The Radio Factor, O'Reilly asked, "Why aren't the prelates of the Catholic Church in America, the cardinals and the archbishops standing up for Christmas? Why? ... If you don't stick up for the baby Jesus, who are you going to stick up for?"

More:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200512150006

[mmonk]

1. It's only a matter of time when

"Christian nation" becomes "the right kind of Christian".

[SharonAnn]

4. The Baptist high school here expelled a Catholic student because

"he didn't pray right".

During the time for quiet, personal prayer, the Catholic student took out his rosay and quietly prayed using the rosary.

He was enrolled in the high school because it was the only "Christian" high school near where his family lived and they wanted him in a place with "Christian" values.

[mmonk]

6. As someone raised Catholic

in the bible belt, I'm all too familiar with this.

[Clark2008]

8. Where in Tennessee are you at, Sharon?

As a Catholic and a Knoxvillian, I'd like to read more about this if you've got a link.

[Ian David]

10. Wow, did that make it into the press somewhere? n/t

[shenmue]

2. Huh? The Church ignores Christmas?

That would explain why Midnight Mass used to go for three hours...

And the Knights of Columbus are the first people I ever saw make those little "Keep Christ in Christmas" bumperstickers.

But anyway, when did this fascist dipshit turn into the mean little dictator baby who insists that everything go his own way? :rant:

Oh, I forgot...he's always been like that.

:dunce:

[tanyev]

3. Hey, Bill! When are you going after all the fundie churches

who cancelled worship services on Christmas Day? Now that's a War on Christmas.

[LibDemAlways]

5. Does O'Reilly ever set foot in a

Catholic church, particularly at Christmas? The four Sundays leading up to Christmas are considered the season of Advent - a time of waiting. Advent candles are lit each week and the color motif is pink and purple. Christmas isn't actually celebrated until Christmas eve and Christmas day, when everyone at mass wishes each other a "merry Christmas." This whole "war on Christmas" bit is a bogus attempt by a bunch on nutcases to create a controversy where none exists.

[Clark2008]

7. Hey, Bill... did you ever think that maybe the Catholic

Church is "ignoring" this alleged "War on Christmas" because, well, THERE IS NO WAR ON CHRISTMAS?


Stupid piece of shit.

[EFerrari]

12. Keith skewered him on this last night.

It was beautiful.

[Clark2008]

13. Crap, I missed it.

I took my fiance out for sushi last night to celebrate his birthday.

Does Crooks and Liars or someone else have a clip of this? I'm assuming it was on the "Worst Person in the World" segment - but, maybe not. Keith skewers O'Lielly any chance he gets. :7

[EFerrari]

15. BinReilly did again get the honor.

I'm not sure who might have it, maybe it will surface today.

Keith said they have to retire BinReilly from the contest because he wins too often.

lol

[salin]

9. more and more it appears he is cracking up...

how far away is he from a Morton Downy Jr moment?

[CatholicEdHead]

11. Stuff it Bill with your anti-Catholic rant

That is exactly what it is because the RCC leaders are not jumping into his delusion. Some right wing Catholics do buy into this crap and William Donahue of the "Catholic League" has whined about this ad nausem, but we understand the SYMBOLISM behind this time of year. Most Catholics do not have their minds turned off.

[Nobody]

14. Good one!

Especially since O'Reilly claims to be Catholic. Heh heh. Did you catch the obsessive nutjob's yammering about a school that he claimed untruthfully that banned students from wearing red and green? Turned out he made the whole thing up. He should have known that there are lots of schools that don't allow their students to wear red and green in December. My own HS didn't. Our uniforms were blue and white. What an ultramaroon.

[Idioteque]

16. Why do those Catholics hate Jesus? n/t

[long_green]

17. keep talking, jackass

nt

[NashVegas]

18. I Agree With Him On One Thing

But if the church isn't joining him in his little war, it's maybe because they aren't planning on closing their doors on Christmas day.

[AndreaCG]

19. Typical O'Reilly stupidity

Yeah saying Happy Holidays is equivalent to raping altar boys...