The Fox and the Pope: A cautionary tale

By tmcbpatriot 

Well, that didn't take long.

From HuffPost:

VATICAN CITY, July 21 (Reuters) - The Vatican has stripped the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, one of the most prominent centres of learning in Latin America, of its right to continue calling itself a Catholic or pontifical university, saying it had damaged the interests of the Church...

The Vatican said on Saturday that the break came after the university had several times unilaterally modified its statutes and had "gravely prejudiced the interests of the Church". It did not elaborate.

I wonder what that means? Did the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru refuse to abuse children? That would certainly gravely prejudice the interests of the Church. However, what is actually afoot is something far more sinister. According to the story: "The university in the Peruvian capital, Lima, was founded in 1917 and has been identified with liberal, progressive thinking for decades."

Aha! The plot thickens.

This would be a surprise if one had not paid attention to this story back in June: "Fox News Reporter Hired as Vatican Media Adviser." Remember now? No? Here's more from the Times article:

In an effort to shore up its communications strategy amid a widening leaks scandal in a troubled papacy, the Vatican has hired the Fox News correspondent in Rome as a senior communications adviser. Mr. [Greg] Burke is a member of the conservative Opus Dei movement, and his hiring underscores the group's role in the Vatican.

Now, I know what you're thinking. How better to deflect bad media attention than to hire a Fox correspondent, and one involved with Opus Dei! I mean, it's an inspired idea. Just think of the possibilities? Charges of sexual abuse by priests? Response: just a bunch of liberal atheists trying to defraud the church. Leaked documents accusing the papacy of "cronyism and corruption"? Response: Did Michelle Obama call the pope "whitey"? And all written by a creepy albino wearing a black hood. Brilliant!

You see where I'm going with this? I'm sure this is only the tip of the iceberg, too. Before long, I imagine the Pope going on Fox and Friends and Hannity for exclusive interviews. In the meantime, expect to hear more flourishes like "gravely prejudiced the interests of the Church" followed by "it did not elaborate."

In other words, the Vatican is getting what it paid for.

(Cross-posted at Take My Country Back.)