Seattle Commentary Attacks the Catholic Church

  • Thread starter Thread starter pfoos
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

pfoos

Guest
The following commentary appeared on the Seattle News Channel’s website. The news show also airs a video version of this man’s commentaries.

Ken Schram Commentary: Putting Pedophilia On A Pedestal?

September 29, 2005

By Ken Schram

SEATTLE - It’s not about the penis.

It’s about the not-so-subtle idea of putting pedophilia on a pedestal.

When an art lover left a million dollars to the City of Seattle, it came with the stipulation that the money had to be used for a public fountain.

And the fountain had to include at least one realistic male figure.

No problem there.

The problem is what the Seattle Art Museum came up with: A nude man reaching for a nude boy.

Now, I am all in favor of artistic expression.

http://www.komotv.com/news/images/naked_art_092805.jpg I recognize that some art, by its nature, is going to offend some people.

Oh well.

But when public art becomes offensive because it has an aura of pedophilia about it, I see that as a problem.

Remember, this isn’t some sculpture that’s going to be sequestered away on the fifth floor of a museum.

It’s in a park. A public park right on the Seattle waterfront.

Esoteric museum officials can tout the work as representing the vulnerable nature of a father and son all they want.

But a naked guy reaching for a naked kid has far more sordid interpretations in this day and age.

The sculpture might as well be called the priest and the altar boy.

Now, if you think I’m wrong, just some uptight prude, let me know.

But if you think I’m right, then let the Seattle Art Museum know at webmaster@seattleartmuseum.org

*Want to share your thoughts with Ken Schram? You can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com*
 
I think this guy has done a number of “enlightened” attacks on the R.C. church. So smug. Anxious to see if the Archbishop’s office will speak out?!
 
I love bishop brunette, but he is just too passive for my taste. He doesnt like to make waves. Holy man, and with the exeption of making a few poor choices with diosicean positions (esp cathedral pastor, BAD MOVE ALEXANDER!), i am satisfied with his leadership, but he just spends too much time as a politician with a big hat.
 
Is this guy an anchor for a news station up there in Washington? If so, why don’t we organize to get this baffoon off of the air? I mean, if CAIR-International can get an American off of the airwaves for comparing Islam to terrorism, then why can’t we? Wait, I’m just dreaming, right?

Send an email to the programming director there and maybe we can actually get something done about this idiot.

programming@komotv4.com
 
After receiving word on this article from the Catholic League, I wrote the station manager. I hope others will do the same. The sponsors of these programs that like to bash the church should be contacted but no one seems to list them.
 
Should we contact the Seattle Archdiocese and the Knights of Columbus?
 
Semper Fi:
Should we contact the Seattle Archdiocese and the Knights of Columbus?
Click to expand...
I think that they would be aware of the situation but it would be prudent to encourage them to protest this.
 
Uh…

I read through the article you posted above. I’m not finding anything remotely anti-Catholic about it. Its about how creating public art that can look like pedophilia is disgusting disgrace. He then follows it up saying its almost as disgusting and offensive as calling it “Priest and altar boy.” That’s not an attack on the church, its a denunciatoin of exploiting unfortunate events.

What’s the problem here?
Josh
 
I wrote Mr. Schram and the program director and asked for an apology and this is Mr Schram’s response:

I’m a cradle Catholic. Attended Catholic school for 10 years.
You get no apology from me.
Why not demand a meaningful apology from the church for its decades of hiding pedophile priests, or it’s current witch-hunt of gay men seeking to become priests.
Schram

Pretty much sums up this angry man’s opinion of the Catholic Church
 
Here’s what I sent in my email to him. I included Daniel 5:25 in it.
 
40.png
pfoos:
I wrote Mr. Schram and the program director and asked for an apology and this is Mr Schram’s response:

I’m a cradle Catholic. Attended Catholic school for 10 years.
You get no apology from me.
Why not demand a meaningful apology from the church for its decades of hiding pedophile priests, or it’s current witch-hunt of gay men seeking to become priests.
Schram

Pretty much sums up this angry man’s opinion of the Catholic Church
Click to expand...
…Guess that debunks my interpretation of the article. Thanks for following up!

Josh
 
This guy has been a disgrace for years around here. Check out the comment he made about Bill Bennett (out of context, of curse)

catholicleague.org/05press_releases/quarter%204/051003_schram.htm

at the Catholic League.

And, I’m sorry, but don’t bother with the archbishop. You’ll get no help from him.
Go to ABC and talk about their pocketbook - sponsors of KOMO news programs. That’s the best yoou can do.
 
This article wasn’t offensive. What is offensive is when Church leaders enable the sexual abuse of countless young people. A short remark by this guy is in no way comparable to the attack on the Church by the priests and bishops responsible for the sexual abuse.
 
My letter, if interested…

First of all, more power to you. As the husband of an artist and illustrator and the son-in-law of one of the top fine artists and sculptors in the US, I am in full agreement with you. Too often art is misconstrued as something which really should more accurately be called landfill. This can often be attributed to a lack of education in the arts, but here I think the problem lies a little deeper and is symbolic of a moral relativism which is invading the fiber of our culture.

As far as the “priest and the altar boy” comment, though, that was not called for. I would suggest you issue an apology to Catholics. This church, after all, is directly or indirectly responsible for some of the finest art in the history of the western world. Furthermore, the Church is taking unprecedented steps to address the issue to which you allude, and the statistics (studies available upon request) indicate that the problem of pedophilia is actually much worse in other areas of our society–e.g. NYC public school system which had an average of one incident each day. Thank you.
 
Good for you “Writer”!

Excellent letter to that “baffoon”.
 
40.png
Benedictus:
This article wasn’t offensive. What is offensive is when Church leaders enable the sexual abuse of countless young people. A short remark by this guy is in no way comparable to the attack on the Church by the priests and bishops responsible for the sexual abuse.
Click to expand...
You are missing the point. The art in question and the museum have absolutely nothing to do with the CHURCH whatsoever. His comment does not belong in the commentary. Period. He would never say such a nasty remark about Jews or Muslims.
The main point of why this is an issue is the constant, and I mean CONSTANT, attacks on the CHURCH and her priests from the media, Hollywood, etc. Repeated over and over again, the general public will just believe it is all a Catholic Church problem. When the majority of sexual abuse cases are OUTSIDE of the Catholic Church, you will never hear that from anyone.

I
 
He wouldn’t have made the remark in the article if people inside the Church hadn’t perpetrated the real evil.
 
40.png
Benedictus:
He wouldn’t have made the remark in the article if people inside the Church hadn’t perpetrated the real evil.
Click to expand...
Oh, gee, so in other words, the Catholic Church should be made up of only PERFECT people and since she isn’t made up of perfect people, it should be open season on the Catholic Church?? The media, etc should just be able to hurl any insult and blame CATHOLICS, any time, all the time because some SINNERS are in the Church??? Even if whatever the reporter is blah blah blahing on with has absolutely nothing to do with the Catholic Church?
 
O gee, I guess the media should be made of only perfect people. After all, one snide remark by some journaloser is far more offensive than the rape of countless young men.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top