Dr. Laura: What do you think of the woman?

[SPH1]

There are several things I don’t like about Dr. Laura. But one of the most serious is that she tends to see one religion or church as just as good as another. Michael Savage, also on her talk radio station in my area, seems to have the same view of religion. Both promote religion in general for its own sake, not for spiritual truth.

 

[WhiteDove]

Dear SPHI,
That’s a very interesting comment you make. But, isn’t that sort of Jewish POV? They tend to think of Judaism as only for them and not a neccessity for others, I do believe.

I’m pretty sure that Dr. Laura was not raised with any religious upbringing, BTW. I recall hearing her talk about the difficulties in her folks having a mixed marraige in the Jewish community. Also, she apparently had a lot of dysfuntion in her home life and a rancorious relationship with her mother, who was from Italy. As everyone probably knows, her mother and her were alienated from each other and after her mother died alone in her Beverly Hills apt, she lie rotting for a few weeks before being discovered.

As far as my opinion, I think Dr. Laura is right on the money at times, but sometimes mean and lacking in compassion. She’s rigid on some of her thinking on some subjects, such as being absolutely against ALL day care, being against extended family providing daycare, overly encouraging surrendering babies to adoption when there is lack of a two-parent home. Also, for someone who has a few skeletons in her own closet, she’s mighty harsh on people who’ve erred in the past.

OTOH, she’s a great advocate for kids, encourages parents to self sacrifice, is firmly pro-life, and lots of other good points.

 

[Cat]

Everyone where I work hates her because she says that children should be raised by their own parents, not a daycare. She says there is always a way that at least one parent can be home with the children.

I say, good for her! That alone makes her worth listening to, because she is one of the few people who says that.

She was raised in a non-religious home. One of her parents was Jewish and one was Catholic, but neither religion was practiced.

She began practicing Judaism when she got older and straightened out her life.

But about a year ago, she denounced Judaism because the leaders of the Jewish church do not practice their own faith, specifically, anti-abortion teachings, and they criticized her (with vitriol!) for practicing pro-life philosophies.

She mentioned that she is looking into Catholicism, and that’s the last I heard of it. I pray that she comes into the Church.

She was supposed to be on James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” show about two years ago, but even though the show was taped and advertised in the Focus Magazine, it was never aired. Apparently a lot of Dobson’s fans are very offended by Dr. Laura’s use of swear words, and also by the fact that she is not a Christian. If something happened along these lines, perhaps that’s why Dr. Laura isn’t investigating Protestantism.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Cat:

But about a year ago, she denounced Judaism because the leaders of the Jewish church do not practice their own faith, specifically, anti-abortion teachings, and they criticized her (with vitriol!) for practicing pro-life philosophies.

If this is her reasoning she won’t find a home in the Catholic Church or any other for that matter.

rfk:

Bottom line for me is she is a voice worth suppporting instead of criticizing. Out society needs more people who are willing to loudly proclaim certain truths. It is certainly an uphill battle for all of us.

I think there are plenty of people who uphold and promote values and morals and do so more charitably and without alienating the ones who need to hear the message the most. Her message is pretty good for the most part but it’s still evolving and who knows what it will evolve into ultimately.

rfk:

Dr Laura uncompromisingly holds that:

Homosexual acts are intrinsically wrong
There is treatment available for people to overcome same-sex attraction. (This one really gets to the “born a homsexual” crowd!.)

Does she really say this? If so, this is a good example of her message “evolving.” She used to say that as long as the gay couple was “committed” it was okay. I’m not sure what she meant by committed because for straight people she meant married. She said something like gay people should be able to be in a loving relationship, too.

 

[Scott_Shelton]

While her advice is sometimes good I find her to harsh

Much prefer Dr. Coleen Mast from the doctor is in

Better advice, from a Catholic faith based perspective.

Scott

 

[faith_ful1953us]

I truely love to listen to Dr. Laura. She has such a gift to get to the core of the person and problem. She is on my radio right now.

 

[CD4]

Dr. Laura…Well…The first few times I heard her, I was impressed…But then I noticed how she would never really “listen” to her callers…Just could’t wait to pounce on them with a very minimum of information…No responsible counselor or advice giver would to that. She is just plain rude, no matter how good her advice is.

**I find her to be shrill and very judgemental, and when I learned that she was totally unaware that her Mother lay dead in her apartment for days, I was done with her. **

When I hear her theme music, the dial gets turned.

 

[Edwin1961]

I didn’t get a chance to hear Dr. Laura on the radio much. (She got bumped off in 2001 on WTAM in Cleveland and was replaced by Glenn Beck). I do not think she is on Cleveland Radio anymore.

I heard of her once, but I remember her voice drove me crazy, like shoes squeeking on the tile floor.

Go with God!
Edwin

 

[CD4]

**I think it is her attitude that grates on my nerves…Sort of holier than thou, if you know what I mean. Her voice is OK. **

Dr. Laura has good ideas…I agree with her on most issues…However, I find her to have no real compassion for people, or to make any effort to “hear” where they really are and what they are really saying…Too intent on her own agenda for that.

 

[Tmaque]

**Dr. Laura…Well…The first few times I heard her, I was impressed…But then I noticed how she would never really “listen” to her callers…Just could’t wait to pounce on them with a very minimum of information…No responsible counselor or advice giver would to that. **

Dr Laura doesn’t claim to be equal to, or a replacement for, a real therapist or real counseling. Yes, she does “pounce” on people pretty quickly without a lot of information. But, you know what?? She always nails it!! She can pick out someone’s problem from a mile away. She’s awesome, honest, frank and tells the hard truth. We need a thousand more of her.

 

[Writer]

A personal pet peeve concerns Dr. Laura’s assertion that young people can’t ever marry successfuly. Granted it’s harder, but as someone who married in the middle of college years and has been maried for nearly fifteen years, it rubs me the wrong way…

 

[K777angel]

I have very mixed feelings about Dr. Laura. I think she is pretty full of herself and very self-righteous at times. I also find some of her language quite vulgar occasionally. BUT - I keep in mind too that she is not (yet!) a christian. Having said all that, I appreciate her voice of sanity in a world (media) saturated with liberal lies, filth and distortions.
She is a breath of fresh air in that she stands up firmly for what is right and believes it with her heart and soul. People are DRAWN to that. Hunger for it. For truth.

I would also like to add that I have said for quite some time that
Dr. Laura is VERY Catholic - she just does not realize it yet.
Her respect for the Catholic faith has shown itself time and again in her responses to callers. While she is of course not “there yet” - I truly believe and have for some time, that her journey to the fullness of truth was for her to start in the Jewish faith. It was only a matter of time before she realized the flaws and distanced herself from it only to continue searching and seeking “home.”
She was baptized Catholic (her mother was Catholic - while perhaps only culturally…and her father was Jewish) She never got along with her mother and I can see where if she were to choose between the 2 faiths of her family she might go “against” her mother’s more than truly embracing fully her father’s.

I think another reason she converted to the Jewish faith is because she realized the importance of “belonging” to a faith and being committed to it. AND - I believe her husband is Jewish. I could be wrong but I think it is correct.

Welcome Home Dr. Laura into the open and loving arms of your true “home” - the fullness of the truth in the Catholic faith.~ Should you land here - you will never look back! ~ God Bless You!

 

[condan]

I love her book The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands. I think it should be required reading for all wives.

My one criticism is that she debates gay “marriage” on religious grounds. We need to argue it on social and logical grounds since most people (very unfortunately) don’t give a rip about living the way that God tells us to.

 

[ELDEN_S_WIFE]

I listened to Dr. Laura for years before she was taken off the local radio. At times I would turn her off because I was mad at something she said. Particularly about her lack of forgiving. (Sometimes I wondered what she would have done if she lived in the time of King David. Would she as a subject be able to forgive his adultery and murder? God did when King David repented. Would the loss of his son have been enough for her to show her had paid his penance to God?)

Anyway, that said, Dr. Laura has always given sound advice. I may not have always agreed with everything she says, nor the way she said it at times, but there is no disputing the fact that she was very religious based in her thinking and reasoning. Unfortunately, her religion was Judiasm which if you read the old testament was not known as the most forgiving religion. God was very hard on them. They had over 600 laws to follow, with some harsh punishments for breaking some. (Death by stoning, etc.)

Yes, I know they no longer stone people, but you know what I mean. They did not have the fullness of the faith as we do with Jesus to admit none of us are perfect and that sometimes, even when it doesn’t seem right or fair (to those who are always trying to do the right thing) that we should forgive the repentent sinner, even if the sin seems too big to forgive.

Anyway, I always felt that Dr Laura was mostly on the mark with what she told people. I remember that she would take Catholics to task if they misrepresented the Catholic religion. She had read the Catechism and new petty well what the Church teaches.

And, no I don’t think she rejected the Church. She has respect for the Holy Father and many times praised the Church for upholding our teachings on birth control (even if she didn’t agree on it totally), on abortion, homosexuality, etc.

Maybe her leaving the Jewish Faith is the beginning of her journey home. I have also felt she is just a step away. Maybe her bad relationship with her mother kept her away all these years. Maybe since her mother’s death, especially the shame of knowing her mother lay unfound in her house for weeks, has eaten away at her resolve to be so unforgiving.

Anyway, I believe she is a good woman and deserves our forgiveness for the times she has been wrong. I believe she is trying to follow God as best she can. We are all on a journey and have made mistakes, she has done no less.

Mary

 

[bboop]

Mary, I’m with you. I think Dr. L is on a Journey Home. Her mom died, so that is resolved; she has left Judaism – and as she did (she recounted) she was embraced by Christians reaching out to her (and ignored, villified by some Jews). There is a hole left by the Judaism which she will continue to seek to fill. I would not be at all surprised to see her become Catholic.

 

[Oscar]

Dr. Laura gives great advice regarding issues such as abortion, pre-marital sex, etc. but has one serious flaw: She has no concept of forgivness. This is most often reflected when Dr. Laura has a female caller complaining that her husband was/is having an extra-marital affair either real or online. Dr. Laura’s predictably instructs the caller that she should have known who she married before vows were exchanged and that the husband can no longer be trusted. This implies that any one who sins in such a manner is beyond help and must be discarded.

Who knows how many marriages Dr. Laura has ruined by this serious fault.

Thanks,
Oscar

 

[ELDEN_S_WIFE]

I agree that her lack of forgiveness is a serious flaw but I also have many flaws. Yes she probably has ended marraiges but I doubt she was the only factor in causing someone to leave their husband or wife.

St. Paul was also responsible for killing and torturing Christians. One could argue that was a serious flaw in him but God overcame this flaw and he went on to save many souls and became a great Saint.

Scott Hahn reflects in his book “Home Sweet Rome” that regretably, as a protestant minister he pulled many Catholics out of the church. He is spending his remaining time on earth trying to right that wrong by evangelizing non-catholics and non-christians into the church and preventing lukewarm catholics from leaving.

We all have great flaws to overcome in our Journey to God. Some of our flaws are more visible than others.

I know all things are possible with God. He can bring her “home” to Rome too and I’m sure she will spend her last days on this earth also making up for any harm she has done. She is that kind of person.

Mary

 

[JimG]

condan:

…My one criticism is that she debates gay “marriage” on religious grounds. We need to argue it on social and logical grounds since most people (very unfortunately) don’t give a rip about living the way that God tells us to.

I haven’t heard Dr. Laura for awhile, but I sure agree with this comment. Whenever we argue social issues on religious grounds–in our current society–we’re going to lose every time.

We’re probably going to lose on gay marriage anyway, but opposition should be on the grounds that it’s bad for society, bad for men and women, especially bad for children.

Locally they replaced her show with some other talk show which was not nearly as interesting. It’s been said that she’s not big on forgiveness (true) and doesn’t give callers time to talk. From what I’ve heard, though, she generally cuts to the heart of an issue. If therapists generally adopted her approach, clients could save a lot on hourly fees.

JimG

 

[CD4]

<<<If therapists generally adopted her approach, clients could save a lot on hourly fees>>>

While this may be true, her propensity to cut callers off when they are trying to tell her what is going on is usually not really helpful. It seems to me, that Dr. Laura is very rigid, and interested only in getting her own agenda across…She leaves no room for her “clients” to speak…Just silences them…and then makes her own point.

Yes, she may be getting to the heart of an issue, but I find her methods to be harsh and uncaring. I certainly would not call in to her show and willingly subject myself to her ministrations…

 

[Monicathree]

My husband and I are big fans of Dr. Laura, I didn’t know she stopped practicing Judaism. Oh, how many times I’ve said that I wish she was Catholic. How can we evangelize to her!!???!!

She has a moral core and is a voice so desperately needed in this failing society.