Chronology of the mainstream media’s religious ignorance
Step 1: Confession iPhone app released to help Catholics prepare for confession.
Step 2: Catholic media accurately reports about the app.
Step 3: Secular media picks up story and screws it up, claiming the app proposes to replace confession, with headlines like “Confess via your iPhone and be app-solved of sin”
Step 4: Vatican reminds everyone that absolution cannot be given via an iPhone.
Step 5: Secular media continues in their ignorance, stating, “Vatican bans iPhone ‘God app’”
It sometimes makes you wonder if they are even trying…
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Biased sample and hasty generalization about the media is no good.
Yep. It’s common knowledge among religious studies scholars that in general mainstream news religion reporting is terrible. When I teach religious studies, and even some philosophy classes, I routinely have to warn students not to uncritically accept any religion news they see reported — that they need to look for reporter’s biases or (more commonly) level of ignorance, check actual sources, and even in many cases, develop a stock of background knowledge of their own.
Great post Eric!
Step 6: Catholic talking heads go on and on about it whether this app is a “good thing” or not.
Meanwhile, as it has an imprimatur, if it helps even one person actually examine their conscience and then go to confession, it is worthwhile.
Next!
@Nick
I am sure Eric could take all sorts of time and come up with a great many other examples in this vein.
Actually I see all this as kind of a good thing. The attention given to this shows how deeply fascinated and envious of Catholic things like Confession people are, even those who think they hate our faith. It calls attention to Confession, gets people talking about it – it’s free evangelization. And honestly it makes those who misinterpret the use of the app look silly.
This is great! My husband, Patrick, is on of the developers of this app. A friend just posted your post to my wall on Facebook. Patrick and I read it together and got a good laugh. Of course, we agree with everything you said and also sometimes wonder if “they are even trying…” I can say this; the Holy Spirit is definitely working through this project! The whole world is talking about the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Praise God.
Thanks so much for the great post. Happy feast of Our Lady of Lourdes!
Also, I just have to add this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVT37GRXeE4&feature=player_embedded
It has to be the funniest example so far! A lot was lost in translation…so this group definitely wins the award for “Most Confused Message about Confession: A Roman Catholic App.” LOL.
We’re supposed to be so far behind the times. Now we are supposed to be too far ahead of the times. To paraphrase G.K. Chesterton, if something is accused of being too in the past and too in the future at the same time, we can be sure it’s very, very good.
Dianna,
That video is hilarious! I especially like how they call it a “Jesus phone” – something was obviously lost in translation there.
They are absolutely trying. Trying to discredit the church and trivialize the sacraments. The media is not concerned with knowing or reporting the truth.
Pray, Pray, Pray