tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10643191.post3383541073305004944..comments2023-06-15T04:25:15.738-05:00Comments on Reflections of the Spirit: Even More Hand of God...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10643191.post-15095049799476838712007-01-29T11:57:00.000-06:002007-01-29T11:57:00.000-06:00More from Valley Newspapers.
Keep pursuing KMBH i...More from Valley Newspapers.<br /><br /><b>Keep pursuing KMBH investigation</b><br /><br />Editor:<br />In the interests of investigative journalism, the VMS submitted 12 questions about KMBH's failure to show the documentary of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, "Hand of God," to the general manager of the diocese-owned station, Monsignor Pedro Briseño. In his diatribe attacking the newspaper, Briseño gave seven answers and none of them matched the questions asked! Please continue to investigate this story.<br /><br />I would like some background: How did the diocese come to own "public" broadcasting in the Rio Grande Valley? What are the conflicts of interest? What other shenanigans has Briseño pulled to pre-empt public broadcasting? Why hasn't the bishop fired him? Better yet, why doesn't the bishop announce that, in the interests of fair play and truth (alien concepts for the bishop?), he will give up control of public broadcasting?<br /><br />Please continue to look into this grave problem, which harms our ability to receive the first-class media that public broadcasting usually represents.<br /><br />Guy Hallman<br />McAllenKanickershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00088384274692597915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10643191.post-82440869036940075262007-01-29T08:19:00.000-06:002007-01-29T08:19:00.000-06:00From the Monitor
Letters to the Editor
January 2...From the Monitor<br /><b>Letters to the Editor</b> <br /><br />January 29,2007 <br />The Monitor <br /><br /><b>Public broadcasting in Valley is a sham</b><br /><br />To the editor:<br />I thank The Monitor for calling attention to a situation that has existed virtually since the beginning of the Valley’s access to public broadcasting and National Public Radio. <br /><br />I often feel guilty for listening to a few programs on KMBH/KHID FM radio and occasionally watching a good production on KMBH TV without sending a monetary contribution to these stations, but my sense of fairness prevails. <br /><br />These stations are the Valley’s only sources for PBS and NPR programming, but unfortunately, despite the "public" label, all broadcasts are filtered through the fine mesh of Roman Catholic dogma; as owner of the stations, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville censors the stations’ offerings, and we don’t get nearly the full contingent of what PBS and NPR have to offer nationwide. <br /><br />PBS and NPR are intended to reflect a broad, unbiased range of cultural and artistic experiences, but calling KMBH and KMBH/KHID "public" stations is a travesty.<br /> <br />Thanks to recent advances in technology, we have an alternative. For the same amount of money solicited by KMBH and KMBH/KHID, we can buy a satellite radio receiver and a subscription to Sirius or XM radio, and get a far broader choice of noncommercial programming, including uncensored NPR. I no longer feel guilty about not supporting KMBH/KHID FM, as I turn off 88.1 on my radio and tune in to my Sirius. <br /><br />Joe and Rosa Perez deserve applause for taking a stand against blatant cultural censorship by pulling "North of the Border" from KMBH/KHID FM, and for admitting that they are embarrassed to be associated with this pseudo-public radio station. <br /><br />If we want genuine public broadcasting in the Valley, we must refuse to support stations owned by any religious or other self-serving organization. We don’t have to settle for censorship and inferior programming!<br /> <br />Patricia Barrett,<br />Edinburg<br /><br /><br /><b>Church did wrong; don’t try to hide it</b><br /><br />To the editor:<br />Re: "Monitor’s apparent preferences obvious, Jan. 21, 2007, issue of The Monitor.<br /> <br />Ray Thomas attacks the messenger (Call to Action) for trying to correct evil (sexually predaceous clergy) in the Catholic Church. Of course, what he claims about Call to Action is not true; they do not seek to destroy the church. <br /><br />The lunacy of Nebraska’s Bishop Bruskewitz in calling for excommunication is a topic for another letter. Furthermore, it is not true that the Vatican agreed; they simply said he, as a bishop, has the right to do whatever (i.e., we wash our hands of it, just like Pontius Pilate).<br /> <br />From Thomas’ letter it sure seems that he is trying to help protect abusive clergy. It may not be what he actually says, but by attacking the local Call to Action whose main objective in the Valley is to out sexually predaceous clergy in order to protect the faithful and by attacking The Monitor who simply reported a clumsy attempt by a diocese-owned TV station to prevent a discussion of pedophilia by a priest, it sure looks like Thomas supports sexual predation. One is not a faithful Catholic by defending the Church when it errs. <br /><br />Guy Hallman,<br />McAllen<br /><br /><br /><b>Church’s censorship is an act of pure evil</b><br /><br />To the editor:<br />It is truly sad that the local Catholic diocese is just perpetuating the practice of spin and avoidance.<br /><br />An obvious act of censorship (by being one of less than a handful of PBS stations not airing the Frontline episode Hand of God at <br />8 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 23) drew questions from both the public and the local paper. <br /><br />Rather than addressing the questions from the Valley Morning Star, they chose a rambling press release that said nothing.<br /><br />The phrase, "Evil flourishes where good men do nothing," comes to mind.<br /><br />Gentlemen, please stand up and be good men. Gain some respect by recognizing that the way to "fix" a problem is through open dialogue and not hiding information.<br /><br />Isn’t the first word in PBS public?<br /><br />Mary E. Smith,<br />MissionKanickershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00088384274692597915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10643191.post-4513510439116588272007-01-28T12:43:00.000-06:002007-01-28T12:43:00.000-06:00Letters from Local Papers – Re: Hand of God
Anothe...<b>Letters from Local Papers – Re: Hand of God</b><br /><b>Another View by F.W. Bauer</b><br /><br />Do we want programming through a 'Catholic filter'?<br /><br />KMBH and its delayed airing of the program, "Hand of God," prompts this 68 year-old, cradle-Catholic to write my first-ever letter to the editor.<br /><br />Hopefully someone, other than me, sees the license and ownership of public broadcasting outlets by the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville with concern. I believe it is a threat to this country, a danger and a violation of public trust.<br /><br />I have been an active listener of public broadcasting for many years. Desiring to listen to public broadcasting in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, I have no choice other than KMBH. This past week, I repeatedly listened to KMBH's general manager, Msgr. Pedro Briseño's indictment of Bruce Lee Smith, reporter for the Valley Morning Star. Claiming "good journalism," KMBH gave its version of events surrounding the station's decision to not air the Frontline program, "Hand of God," at the regularly scheduled time.<br /><br />While accusing Mr. Smith of "poor journalism," Msgr. Briseño failed to inform the listeners of the questions that Mr. Smith asked and the information that he sought. I note, for the record, that the VMS provided its readers the complete text of both Mr. Smith's e-mail and the KMBH press release. I believe I can judge which organization practices "good journalism."<br /><br />Nowhere, as I read the station's press release, did I find an answer to any of the 11 questions asked by Mr. Smith in his e-mail. It is obvious to me Msgr. Briseño does not want to answer the questions.<br /><br />Nor does the management of KMBH want the listeners and supporters of public broadcasting to understand the depth and extent of the "filter" that the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville uses to prohibit a free and open exchange of ideas, news and topics in this area, a freedom that is enjoyed by listeners of public broadcasting in the rest of our country. I urge KMBH to answer, fully, all the questions asked. In the public interest, I encourage Mr. Smith to continue his efforts to get the answers.<br /><br />I am a Winter Texan who has come to the Valley for more than 20 years. The ownership of KMBH, both radio and television, by the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville has been troubling for me because, as a Catholic, I am fully aware of rigid positions held by the Catholic Church on topics such as abortion and capitol punishment, among others.<br /><br />During my many winter stays, I have listened to the Lower Rio Grande Valley's version of public broadcasting and I have long suspected the existence of a "Catholic filter" in KMBH's choice of programming. I applaud the concern of this reporter. It is my concern.<br /><br />Last spring, I heard a request on KMBH radio for public input on its application for license renewal. I went to the station on North Tennessee Street to complete the form and have it included with the application for renewal. KMBH staff told me they would not include my letter of concern with the application, but instead referred me to the Federal Communications Commission Web site.<br /><br />Sadly, I did not follow through. I assume the renewal of license was granted and that the next opportunity to dissolve the "Catholic filter" is lost for several years. Nonetheless, I urge those viewers and listeners who share my concern to challenge the renewal of KMBH for license at the next opportunity.<br /><br />I am a longtime listener and viewer. Public broadcasting has great value. A "Catholic filter" on idea, thought and discussion may have been appropriate in the Dark Ages, when an educated and free-thinking public did not exist. Such a filter is inappropriate today!<br /><br />Hence, I have not supported, nor do I encourage support, for KMBH at this time. Hopefully, I can support KMBH in the future.<br /><br />F.W. Bauer is a resident of Harlingen.<br /><br /><b>Story exposed bias of Catholic diocese</b><br />Editor:<br /><br />Applause to your reporter, Bruce Lee Smith, for exposing the KMBH Catholic establishment's bias.<br /><br />More applause to Joe and Rosa Perez. We have greatly enjoyed their program. This loss is the price we will all pay for the censorship your story revealed.<br /><br />The "Frontline" program, "Hand of God," evidently was determined to be inappropriate or worse for the public.<br /><br />Public broadcasting is supposed to be educational. Is Monsignor Pedro Briseño standing in the church doorway and preventing programming out of his fear or his ignorance?<br /><br />Ann Hope<br />Rio Hondo<br /><br /><b>We were treated like children</b><br />Editor:<br /><br />Frankly, Mr. Perez, I am embarrassed, too. What percentage of viewers watch KMBH -TV in our community?<br /><br />I read the answer to Mr. Bruce Lee Smith's e-mail to Monsignor Pedro Briseño. To me, it didn't sound like any information other than a reprimand of VMS as a newspaper. I feel Monsignor Briseño's reply and his not airing Frontline's "Hand of God" did more harm than good regarding the integrity of the Catholic Church and KMBH-TV. If the event is as Monsignor Briseño states, he should have aired the program later and stated that it wasn't received in time.<br /><br />I agree, Mr. Perez, that it is like being treated as children.<br /><br />Our home watches KMBH-TV because it is a public television station. We feel we get detailed, less biased information. I guess I was wrong. In our travels in life, we have always supported public radio and television wherever we have lived.<br /><br />It will be interesting to see what evolves here. It would be nice to see "Hand of God," Monsignor Briseño, now that not airing it has caused such a fiasco.<br /><br />Virginia A. Carubia<br />Harlingen<br /><br /><b>Pulling 'Frontline' was responsible act</b><br />Editor:<br /><br />I have been reading this past week the personal battle between Bruce Lee Smith and other liberals and the Catholic Church. Personally, I'm glad they put "Frontline" at the back of the line. I think the priest sex scandal is old news. The church has made many moves to correct its past mistakes. We are all human and none of us are without sins, including priests.<br /><br />It's funny how the truth has been turned around. Mr. Nuñez, in his letter, said that the annual retreat for Valley clergy was deliberately scheduled for that week because of the programming. I know for a fact that the retreat is scheduled for this time every year.<br /><br />As for the couple that dropped their show because they didn't show that "Front-line" episode and accused the station manager of acting like a third-grader, well it seems like your actions are just as childish.<br /><br />Where are all those who watch KMBH because they offer the religious programming? They are not complaining. What about all those young mothers who get a break in the morning because their 2-year-olds are glued to the TV watching "Sesame Street," "Teletubbies" or "Barney"? They are not complaining.<br /><br />I support KMBH even though I don't like the one-sided liberal views of PBS. The Valley and the KMBH viewing area is mostly Christian and mostly Catholic. The majority of viewers are not objecting to the actions of General Manager Monsignor Pedro Briseño.<br /><br />KMBH, you have my support. In fact you have earned my respect. They call it censorship; I call it responsible programming.<br /><br />The Diocese of Brownsville has been offsetting the cost for public radio and TV for quite some time and for this we should be grateful, not critical.<br /><br />Danny VillarrealKanickershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00088384274692597915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10643191.post-82827540280907017142007-01-28T10:01:00.000-06:002007-01-28T10:01:00.000-06:00Sad, but true. I find myself shameful that I can r...Sad, but true. I find myself shameful that I can read an explanation from a Monsignor of my church, yet still question its validity? God help me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10643191.post-2314826109845734772007-01-26T22:29:00.000-06:002007-01-26T22:29:00.000-06:00This story won't die. But instead of facing it and...This story won't die. But instead of facing it and doing the honorable thing: turning KMBH over to impartial hands, the bishop will ride the church down further into hell on this one. Oh, bishop, what punishment awaits you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com