Sunday, November 18, 2007

An Open Letter to Fox 2-KTVI and J.C. Corcoran

On the heels of the recent attack on Archbishop Burke and the Catholic Church by J.C. Corcoran of Fox2 News and the email exchange with Corcoran by a friend as reported here, another friend, Mark S., has kindly allowed his letter to Corcoran and KTVI to be posted here.

Mr. JC Corcoran (email: jc@jcontheline.com)
Fox 2 KTVI
5915 Berthold Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110

Subject: Archbishop Burke

Dear Mr. Corcoran,

After viewing your recent segment on Archbishop Burke and the state of the Catholic Church here in St. Louis, I am writing to demand an apology to the Archbishop and all faithful Catholics who have been offended so grievously by this attack on our Shepherd.

This kind of rhetoric is completely unacceptable to Catholics not only here but throughout the world. Your ignorance of the faith, of which you claim to support through your largess, is in itself embarrassing. However it doesn’t just stop with this ignorance, your public display against Archbishop Burke in an effort to incite hatred and division within the Church is even more infuriating.

As anyone living in today’s ‘politically correct’ culture is aware, this kind of outrage would never be tolerated if it were directed at other cultural or societal groups. Would you have appeared in a similar piece on Islam, Judaism, or Homosexuals? Would you tolerate an all out attack on the leader of women’s rights groups, Cindy Sheehan, or Jesse Jackson? Is your hatred so self-righteous that you thought that everyone Catholic and non, would hang on your every word and fill the airwaves with demands for His Grace’s resignation? Little did you know that there would be some including me who would demand yours.

Sadly, you appear desperate to assume the role of useful idiot, while completely ignoring the doctrine of the Catholic Faith that has been taught for over 2000 years. If you don’t understand the mechanisms of the Church and how they apply throughout the world perhaps you should ask someone to help you to understand, before embarrassing yourself and carrying on with rhetoric that simply cannot be applied to the Holy Roman Catholic Church..

Catholics around the region and the world are waiting and watching for your reaction - it’s character time, and your character is at stake. Show us what you’re made of, Mr. Corcoran.

Sincerely,
And the letter to Fox2-MTVI Management:

Mr. Kingsley Smith
Fox 2 KTVI
5915 Berthold Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110

Subject: JC Corcoran Report on Archbishop Burke

Dear Mr. Smith,

After viewing Mr. Corcoran’s recent segment on Archbishop Burke and the state of the Catholic Church here in St. Louis, I am writing to demand an apology to the Archbishop and all faithful Catholics who have been offended so grievously by this attack on our Spiritual Father.

This kind of rhetoric is completely unacceptable to Catholics not only here but throughout the world. Mr. Corcoran’s ignorance of the faith, of which he proclaims to support through his largess, is in itself embarrassing for him to display in the public manner which you allowed. However it doesn’t just stop with his ignorance, his vitriol of the Catholic Church is even more infuriating.

While I am most angry with Mr. Corcoran, and demand an apology as stated above, I hold you and The Fox Network responsible for providing a forum for this hate filled person to vent his intolerance, hate and ignorance.

As anyone living in today’s ‘politically correct’ culture is aware, this kind of outrage would never be tolerated if it were directed at other cultural or societal groups. Would Fox have allowed a similar piece to air on Islam, Judaism, Homosexuals? Would Fox tolerate an all out attack on the leader of women’s rights groups, Cindy Sheehan, or Jesse Jackson? How is it then that you could allow and tolerate this?

Mr. Corcoran appears desperate to assume the role of useful idiot, while completely ignoring the doctrine of the Catholic Faith that has been taught for over 2000 years, and you sir are complicit by allowing his piece to be aired. As the producer, you put your signature of approval on each and every piece that is aired on your station and as such I accuse you too of bigotry and hatred.

Catholics around the region and the world are waiting and watching for your reaction.

Others, both Catholic and non-Catholic, who are/were offended by Corcoran's vicious attack against Archbishop Burke and the Church are encouraged to write, email, phone, or fax their comments in a firm but charitable manner. (You can watch the video here).
Phone: 314-647-2222
Fax: 314-644-7419


There may be a public square rosary of reparation outside the television station which is located off Interstate 64/U.S. 40 at the intersection of Berthold, Oakland, and Hampton Avenues in the Clayton-Tamm/Dogtown neighborhood - south of Forest Park across Highway 40.

Stay tuned for details!

**** There is a further update ****
It is hoped that William Donohue of the Catholic League will get involved - let us pray that he also sees this as an issue worth pursuing.

A special thanks to Mark S. for kindly providing the letters.

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