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Cleveland Scene
Experts Discuss Media Coverage of Catholic Priests’ ‘Struggles,’ Odd Bouts of Navel-Gazing Ensue
Posted by Eric Sandy on Fri, Nov 8, 2013
For some reason, The Plain Dealer posted a story titled “Experts discuss why the struggles of priests are so well publicized.” The occasion for this little discussion comes about following the Rev. James McGonegal’s three-count indictment, which includes a felony count for failing to disclose his HIV-positive status when he propositioned a Metroparks ranger.
…It’s unclear why the preceding was classified among the “struggles” of priests on Cleveland.com.
Anyway, the newsworthiness of the McGonegal incident should be clear to any reader or writer – Catholic or otherwise. McGonegal, a man who bears some semblance of moral authority in his community and certainly qualifies as a public figure, solicited sex in a public parking lot and hid the fact that he was harboring a life-threatening virus. Potentially dangerous stuff, hence the news coverage (which, to be sure, The Plain Dealer heaped online en masse).
And that reportage is important for numerous public safety, criminal justice and religious dialogue reasons, but today’s bout of navel-gazing and apologia surely isn’t.
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