How national is "national" anyway?
November 25, 2002

A reader posts comments from Rod Dreher regarding the "silence" of the national media over the murder of Mary Stachowicz by Nicholas Gutierrez

But quite a number of people who bring us the news do, and they're paying no notice to what easily meets their definition of a hate crime. Of course, had a Christian had been arrested on charges of murdering a gay man, you would have seen the Matthew Shepard media frenzy all over again. So far, nothing but silence from the national media. You may believe Mary Stachowicz was quite wrong in her convictions, but it is anti-Christian bigotry to believe her death should be ignored, while the death of Matthew Shepard should be marked (as I believe it should have been). The media shouldn't be allowed to get away with this.

Dreher also comments on the "courage" of members of a local Courage Ministry who are threatened twice a week with death by angry gays.

First, a quick Googling shows that the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, AP, Chicago ABC 7, the Rainbow News Network, Gay.Com, the Gay People's Chronicle, Gay City News, and The Village Voice covered the story. Doesn't sound like an anti-Christian conspiracy to me. (But hey, I'm an Evil Atheist...)

Last time I checked, Rod Dreher was part of the national media He just wrote about it on his national media organization's blog. So is he saying that he's actually not part of the national media, or only part of it when he wants to be, or not part of the national media for purposes of his hosted-and- advertised-on-his-national-media-outlet blog?

Second, from reading what details are available, Gutierrez killed his victim during a heated argument -- not after picking her up in a bar, taking her out to a deserted road, beating her senseless and tying her to a post to die of exposure. Gutierrez should get life in jail, no question about it. What he did was wrong. But what happened to Stachowicz and what happened to Shepard are not the same. The only thing they have in common is that both involved murder. Call me silly, but there is just a weeeeee bit of difference here.

Third, I find it interesting that the argument occurred right after both attended Mass together. Does mass cause death? No. However, I doubt it was a wonderful, peaceful day of Mass, Brunch and then Murder. This wasn't a topic that just came up in conversation one day. It sounds very much like something that had been going on for a while between the two of them.

Lastly, people who attend Courage are many things, courageous isn't one of them. There is nothing "courageous" about living a celibate life. Thinking there is cheapens the meaning of "courage" and is an insult to all those who really have used "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear or difficulty."

Gutierrez is responsible for what he did. So to, the RCC is responsible for continuing to put forth a silly, stupid and factually wrong* doctrine of "objective disorders" and "intrinsic moral evil" regarding homosexuality. For all that that evil that that doctrine has done and continues to do, they have a lot to be held accountable for.

*I know Yahweh, the Invsible Sky God keeps saying it's true, but Sammy the Invisible Space Fairy says it isn't. As Sammy is more powerful, better dressed and really, really runs the Universe, Sammy wins.

Posted by Jody at November 25, 2002 12:30 AM

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Posted by: GREENEYES at May 5, 2006 07:45 PM

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