CBS’s Rodriguez: Catholic Church Too ‘Stringent,’ Should Be ‘More Progressive’ [Ecumenical]

NewsBusters.org ^ | 5/29/2009 | Kyle Drennen

[Pyro7480]

While reporting on disgraced priest Alberto Cutie leaving the Catholic Church in the wake of a sex scandal, on Friday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez asked CBS News analyst Father Thomas Williams about the Church’s celibacy rule: "It seems to me that the Catholic Church, at least in south Florida, is not necessarily being introspective and considering whether Father Cutie and others have left the Catholic Church, and others are failing to join, because of its stringent rules. Would you like to see your church be more introspective, more progressive?"

When the story about Father Cutie first broke in early May, Rodriguez then asked Father Williams if it was time for the Catholic Church to overturn the "outdated" and "rigid" vow of celibacy that it requires of its priests. She went on to describe the vow as a "nearly impossible standard." On May 11, Rodriguez interviewed Cutie, and asked: "You don't believe that the celibacy promise should be lifted?...If they don't change this policy, do you think that they will continue to lose people, or fail to recruit people who feel the Church is too rigid?"

[Pyro7480]

More mainstream media activism directed against the Catholic Church...

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

[PGR88]

Is the guy really named Cutie?

If he wanted to avoid temptation from women, he should have changed his name.

[RPTMS]

Come on, lady! Why don’t you just follow Padre Al to the Anglican Communion? Nobody’s stopping you! You’ll be much happier!

[ak267]

If he was a baker, would they call him a “cutie pie” ????

[EyeGuy]

“Catholic Church Too ‘Stringent,’ Should Be ‘More Progressive’ “

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Rodriguez is too empty-headed and morally groundless, should be more firmly rooted and sure of her moral compass.

[Bryanw92]

One of my primary criteria for what makes a church right for me is its rules. I want my church to help me be a better person, not just accept me the way I am as long I keep showing up and putting money in the plate.

I’m not a Catholic, but I do respect them when they stick to their rules.

If religion is just about putting people in the seats, then they should sponsor NFL teams.

[GeronL]

I always thought it was too liberal

[rbosque]

No one forces people to stay in the Church.

But perhaps misinformed “reporters” can take a lesson from a holy priest like Fr. Pio.

[Texas resident]

I became a Catholic convert 25 years ago because they have hard and fast rules and don’t sway with popular opinion like most of the others. Religion and religious people have faith in God and themselves. This puts them at direct odds of the control freaks who are running the government and populate the media. They constantly harrass the Catholic church and other churches because they are seen as a threat to their control over all of us. What they never take into consideration is that the harder they push, the harder we push back.

[winner3000]

I never saw anything in the Bible that said priests should be celibate/single. Because the Catholic Church decided to do something that is unnatural, a lot of the people who chose to become Catholic priests are gay. Changing this rule will do nothing to degrade the standards of the Church, and will bring in some badly needed new blood to the priesthood.

[Pyro7480]

Because the Catholic Church decided to do something that is unnatural, a lot of the people who chose to become Catholic priests are gay.

Inaccurate. You're perpetuating a very old urban myth.

[LottieDah]

Gay men are allowed to become priests and have to take a vow of Celibacy just like heterosexual men....and that includes staying away from other priests and children...All priests must keep their vows. It is unfortuante that Father Cutie chose not to.

[Religion Moderator]

This Religion Forum is labeled “ecumenical” that means no antagonism is allowed.

[massmike]

And her opinion on Islam is...............?????

[al_c]

Quick ... alert the pope! The US media says the Church should change!

Good grief.

[COBOL2Java]

CBS’s Rodriguez: Catholic Church Too ‘Stringent,’ Should Be ‘More Progressive’

Ms. Rogdiguez, I presume you have the same recommendations for the Republican Party?