July 21-27, 2005

slant

Rite and Wrong

Why is the Catholic Standard and Times misleading its readers?

by Kevin Haney

When it comes to the Terri Schiavo case, it's never-say-die at the Catholic Standard and Times, the weekly newspaper of the local archdiocese.

Responsible news media worldwide reported that the June 15 findings of the Florida medical examiner's autopsy of Schiavo supported the position of her husband, Michael Schiavo, that his wife had been in a persistent vegetative state. But the editor and reporter on the Schiavo case couldn't admit that one simple fact. For months, editor Michelle Laque Johnson and correspondent Susan Brinkmann had churned out reams of copy arguing that Terri Schiavo could be rehabilitated. Ignoring the autopsy findings for the most part, the duo found a way to once again paint Michael Schiavo as the devil incarnate, essentially accusing him of murdering his wife, supposedly by strangling her.

The paper regurgitated these accusations from Barbara Weller, attorney for Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and some of their supporters. Johnson let Brinkmann go on a 1,300-word diatribe, spread over two pages, under the headline, "Serious questions raised by Schiavo autopsy." While Weller and others get free reign in the article, there are but a few dozen actual words from the autopsy report, and no rebuttal from Michael Schiavo.

There is still a mystery about what caused Terri Schiavo to initially collapse in 1990, but that doesn't give a small group at the local Catholic paper the right to convene a kangaroo court in their news pages.

Pinellas County (Fla.) medical examiner Dr. Jon R. Thogmartin, in consultation with two other forensic experts, found that there was no evidence to support accusations of strangulation or abuse. He also found nothing to support claims in recent years that Michael Schiavo had waited up to 70 minutes to call 911.

A reader needs to hunt through the Standard and Times' attack piece to catch hints that the medical examiner had specifically dismissed the chief claims of the paper's story. Brinkmann breathlessly states in the opening sentences of her screed that "Thogmartin answered only a few of the most important questions" in the case, then delves into claims of abuse and murder. How about the question of the famed videotape of Terri Schiavo supposedly watching people and moving objects in her room? That would have been next to impossible, given that Thogmartin discovered that Terri was blind. But there's no mention of that contradiction in the paper.

As a career journalist and lifelong Catholic, I find it embarrassing that this sort of propaganda shows up in my local Catholic paper. It borders on dangerous, given that members of Michael Schiavo's family still live here. Earlier this year, Philadelphia police posted an officer at the home of Michael Schiavo's brother, after threats against his family. This type of journalism can only inflame the terroristic element.

Given that the Standard and Times must express Catholic orthodoxy, a strong case for the right-to-life cause should be expected. But it shouldn't go to the extent of breaking the Eighth Commandment. That's also the view of the Catholic Press Association, of which the Standard and Times is a member. The association's "fair publishing practices code" states that news coverage should be "accurate, free from bias, in context and presented fairly." The code also stresses respect and compassion toward people in the news, which presumably includes Michael Schiavo and his family.

I contacted both Johnson and Brinkmann to ask how they applied those standards to their June 23 report. Johnson didn't reply to phone calls or e-mails. Brinkmann justified her writing in the view that "the mainstream media coverage has been myopic, at best." One is left wondering how Cardinal Justin Rigali, as the paper's president, justifies this sort of thing.

What they published in the name of Catholicism is a sin.

Kevin Haney is a freelance writer. If you would like to respond to this Slant or submit one of your own (750 words), contact Duane Swierczynski, editor in chief, City Paper, 123 Chestnut St., third floor, Phila., PA 19106 or e-mail Duane Swierczynski.