“Prisons to Restore Purged Religious Books”
September 26, 2007, 8:17 pm
Posted by David Gibson
The NYTimes went and did it again. First their secret campaign to help MoveOn.org was unmasked, leading to embarassment and a shift in focus from President Bush’s war in Iraq to the Liberal Media–the real threat.
Now the Times’ story from Sept. 10 about the banning of religious books from federal prisons has actually led to a reversal of that policy, according to this piece. Prisoners can now read books like “Imitation of Christ.”
That obviously can’t be what the Times intended. Can it?
on September 26th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
David Gibson can’t seem to comment without insulting or misrepresenting critics of the Times. It’s strange that the Times’ defenders among Commonweal contributors don’t see the free speech issues involved in the Times’ practices. To them any criticism of that august institution made by someone who is not a certified liberal is “overheated” - it’s not a “real” issue.
For those interested in some of the first amendment issues that at least a few journalists perceive to be both real and important I suggest George Will’s piece: Sauce for the Times
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/25/AR2007092501755.html
on September 27th, 2007 at 7:40 am
David,
We may have won a victory on the “Imitation.” But what about other Catholic classics like the “Syllabus of Errors.” Will inmates be allowed find solace and inspiration in this? Let’s see where the Gray Lady stands on this.
Anthony
PS. I gave your best to all the Jesuits at Regis (liberal and otherwise)
on September 27th, 2007 at 8:33 am
I must be missing something here.
“The Imitation of Christ” was book 1 on the approved Catholic list so it was always available.
I have a feeling “Syllabus of Errors” is well covered in the 15-volume Catholic Encyclopedia (23 on the list), but such a popular favorite should be more readily accessible in booklet form, and now that the policy has been reversed, it can again be in prison libraries.
on September 27th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I still think the Times is the best source of news and here in the hinterlands I appreciate it the more.
Of course I hear from the same people who think Hillary is a derogatory term that the “liberal” Times is an evil empire.
I’m not big on Move On nor do I think religious boks should be censored in prison, bu ti think the mountain has begotten the ridiculous mose in a lot of drivel around the horrors of the liberal press,
on September 27th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Patrick: What is your newspaper of choice?
PS: Anthony, you know Oratorians are a close second to the Society in my book.