The NY Post ran a story on McGreevey Sunday.
Plainfielders should never get their sports news from Dan ... or their religion news from the New York Post.
The Post ran a story Sunday about ex-Governor Jim McGreevey's preparation to enter the priesthood (see here).
When he entered General Theological Seminary in New York, he was assigned as a study partner my friend Susan Ironside, whose ordination as a deacon I attended on Saturday (and posted about here). In had every intention of asking Susan how her study buddy McGreevey was doing, but in the hubbub of ordinands, clergy, families and wellwishers, it slipped my mind.
Only to be jogged when the Courier posted an online link (see here) to the Post story.
My misgivings about the journalistic excellence of what was going on started with the Courier, which noted McGreevey had 'joined' the seminary in 2007.
Does one 'join' Rutgers or Kean?
He enrolled, unidentified staff person.
On to the Post, where we are told McGreevey --
- 'isn't far enough along in his seminary studies to actually give sermons'
- '...helped [the priest] bless the Eucharist' and
- 'helped baptize a group of babies and young children'
He probably IS far enough along in his studies to give sermons. In fact, students are encouraged to get practice preaching, though often (since technically the bishop must license someone to preach) the supervising priest will present the student as 'making an address', a work-around that requires only the priest's permission and not the bishop's.
McGreevey would not, however, 'help' the priest 'bless the Eucharist'. If he was at the altar as a server (a role often filled in Catholic as well as Episcopal churches by teenaged girls and boys), he would have helped by giving the priest needed items (wine, water, wafers), perhaps in the ceremonial washing by the priest of his hands, and just perhaps have acted as a 'page-turner' for the priest as he recited the Eucharistic prayer. All of that he might do, but 'bless the Eucharist' he would not.
Ditto 'helping' baptize. There is much to do to assist a priest in baptisms, and lay persons and family members are often pressed into service. But the act of baptizing is done by the priest (or a deacon).
The problem with all of this is that journalists are assigned stories the backstory of which eludes them, and reportage -- while well-intentioned -- often misrepresents what is actually taking place before their eyes. The subject of the story is not well-served, nor is the reading public.
You would never want to get your sports news from Dan.
Nor your religion news from the Post.
Unless it wasn't religion news at all, but gossip under another heading (try hovering your cursor over the image of McGreevey holding the processional cross and see what the popup window says).
Posts
3 comments:
I throw up in my mouth a little every time that man's name pops up in the news. Name a rest area on the turnpike after him and move on...that should drive the point home to him and maybe he will finally go away.
Gee Dan, maybe you should think about writing for the NY Post! It was hard to tell the difference between the "voice" of your blog and the "voice" of the Post. Not to mention the same high level of journalistic integrity of the article. Plus the commenters in the Post were almost as high quality as the ones who seem to follow you breathlessly all day, just waiting to add some intellectual content. Yeah, Dan, That's the ticket! Send them a link to PT and offer to contribute your "journalistic" talents to their electronic rag.
McGreevey remains disingenuous as long as he maintains such close ties to Lesniak and Charlotte. Its true that he would have been indicted on corruption charges if he had not resigned from the governorship. This had nothing to do with him being gay except for the fact that he put Golan Cipel in such a sensitive government position without the proper background. McGreevey and Lesniak and Defillippo are the ones who kept Plainfield down and who continue to do so. He is so concerned about his real estate values, pathetic. Maybe he should go live in a seminary. Maybe the monarch condos should be turned into a seminary. He has far to go to gain redemption for all that he engendered while governor. Corzine's loss is partly due to Jim's being bought and bossed while governor. Like Rob, I throw up a little in my mouth too.
Post a Comment