Letters

Footy Show (letter)

Alan A. Hoysted

Contents - Oct 2003 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The role of the Catholic in public life - Peter Westmore After 25 years: the impact of John Paul II's pontificate - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Ethics: Bishop Fisher and Dr Philip Nitschke in Sydney euthanasia debate - Frank Mobbs Saints: The Beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Youth: Thomas More Winter School in Sale Diocese has Eucharistic focus - Michael Casanova Melbourne Archdiocese responds to John Paul II's Year of the Rosary - AD2000 Report How fatherhood is crucial to children's faith - Fr Robbie Low Why Catholic teaching on marriage is 'good news' for all humanity - Eamonn Keane AD2000 readers' generous response to Queensland Lourdes appeal - Jenny Davies and Nicole King Orthodox US Catholic colleges and universities continue to flourish - Julia Duin Letters: Original Sin (letter) - Niall Browne Letters: Individual confession (letter) - John Cassar Letters: Clerical celibacy (letter) - Gerard Wilson Letters: New bishops (letter) - Anne Lastman Letters: Thomas Groome (letter) - Dr Susan Moore Letters: Education crisis (letter) - Alex Sharah Letters: New RE program (letter) - Paul Chigwidden Letters: Inspiring hymn (letter) - Kevin O'Hagan Letters: Footy Show (letter) - Alan A. Hoysted Books: I The Lord Am With You Always: Prayers and Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration - Msgr Peter J. Elliott (reviewer) Liturgical Time Bombs In Vatican II, by Michael Davies - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Crisis In Religious Education, by Eamonn Keane - Damien Tudehope (reviewer) Books: Great books at the best prices! Reflection: Why the tabernacle should be centrally located in our churches - Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM

During Channel 9's Melbourne Footy Show on Thursday, 31 July, Sam Newman read a letter in his "Sam's Mailbag" segment complaining about a reference to "The Immaculate Conception" by him in a previous show.

In response, Newman launched a vicious tirade against the Church, citing the activities of paedophiles against children. He concluded with words which indicated that the Church had "no credibility". Presumably he was referring to the Catholic and Anglican Churches.

Having watched the Footy Show many times and seen his crude, rude, bawdy and arrogant antics, I'm sure the word "credibility" would hardly apply to him.

I feel that this attack is most unfair to the thousands of good Catholic and Anglican priests (and other Church members) who do their best to serve God and humanity. Mr Newman and other critics should check the White Pages to see how many Church organisations exist to help suffering and needy human beings.

It is not only the Church which has been betrayed by the sickening sins of the paedophiles (a tiny minority, probably less than one per cent). The scouts and the teaching profession have also been afflicted. Is Sam Newman going to smear them too?

We all despise paedophiles, but it is not fair, just, or even logical to smear a whole organisation because of the sins of a few. Most people would also despise those who give drugs to young people. Is the Geelong Football Club to be condemned because of the actions of one of its legends? Sam Newman should confine his remarks to football, where he has some expertise.

ALAN A. HOYSTED
Thomastown, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 16 No 9 (October 2003), p. 15