Ever falling IQ of the media...

is Mark Shea's quip describing the observed phenomenon where the IQ of the mainstream media approaches zero whenever it is tasked to report on something that is even remotely related to religion. For some reason, they simply don't get it. And by some dumb-luck, about 45 minutes ago, the most concrete example of the ever failing IQ of the media suddenly presented itself for me to blog with much gusto.

The perpetrator is one Deo Macalma of DZRH. He is in my opinion, to put it bluntly, one of the most destructive idiots running around the Philippines. And given the fact that he has a radio program in one of the popular local radio stations, he should be considered dangerously moronic. How do these people even get to be on air?

Anyway, in his segment "Espesyal na Balita", he maligned Bishop Emilio Marquez of Lucena for being possibly the most wicked cleric in the country, as most clerics are, for acting in a manner consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Apparently, Bishop Marquez refused to give a supposed "lay-leader" a Catholic burial for being a freemason.

Imagine that! The Bishop acted inhumanely by refusing to bless the burial of a freemason! Damn that Bishop for following and enforcing the laws of the Church! Damn that Bishop for being uncoerced by that "lay-leader's" family. Damn that Bishop for later he will surely refuse letting a Muslim have Catholic burial rites!

I am sure Mr. Macalma, being our intrepid and fearless and highly intellectual journalist who on a daily basis imparts his wise insights to the common masses, would be aware that:

Under canon 1374 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, Catholics are forbidden to join societies which plot against the Church. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith applied this to Masons, indicating that Catholics who join Masonic organizations are engaged in serious sin and are to be barred from the Eucharist.

Right? And that the Filipino Bishops made the following statement:

To sum up, Catholics are forbidden to join the Masonic Fraternity. Catholics who knowingly and willingly become Masons are automatically excommunicated, they may not receive any of the Sacraments of the Church; they may not act as sponsors in Baptism and confirmation; they may be excluded from acting as witnesses in Catholic marriages where such action would cause scandal, and finally Masons may not be buried in Catholic cemeteries.

Given this 14th day of January, 1954.

For the Catholic Hierarchy of the Philippines:

(Sgd.)+JULIO ROSALES, D.D.
Archbishop of Cebu

(Sgd.)+JAMES T. G. HAYES, SJ
Archbishop of Cagayan

(Sgd.)+JOSE MA. CUENCO
Archbishop of faro

(Sgd.)+CESAR MA. GUERRERO
Bishop of San Fernando

(Sgd.)+MANUEL M. MASCARINAS
Bishop of Tagbilaran

(Sgd.)+MARIANO A. MADRIAGA
Bishop of Lingayen

(Sgd.)+JUAN C. SL50N
Auxiliary Bishop of Nueva Segovia

(Sgd.)+ALEJANDRO OLALIA
Bishop of Tuguegarao
Appointed Bishop of Lipa

(Sgd.)+MANUEL YAP
Bishop of Bacolod

(Sgd.)+PEREGRIN DE LA FUENTE. OP
Prelature of Batanes‑Babuyanes

(Sgd.)+LINO GONZAGA
Bishop of Palo

(Sgd.)+FLAVIANO ARIOLA
Bishop of Legaspi

(Sgd.)+PATRICK SHANLEY, ODC
Prelature of Infanta

(Sgd.) NISGR PATRICK CRONIN
Apostolic Administrator of Ozamiz

(Sgd.) REV. CHARLES VAN DEN OUWELANT, MSC
Apostolic Administrator of Surigao

(Sgd.)+SANTIAGO C. SANCHO
Archbishop of Nueva Segovia

(Sgd.)+PEDRO P. SANTOS
Archbishop of Nueva Caceres

(Sgd.)+RUFINO T. SANTOS
Archbishop of Manila

(Sgd.)+LUIS DEL ROSARIO, SJ
Bishop of Zamboanga

(Sgd.)+MIGUEL ACEBEDO
Bishop of Calbayog

(Sgd.)+ALFREDO OBVIAR
Apostolic Administrator of Lucena

(Sgd.)+WILLIAM BRASSEUR, CICM
Vicar Apostolic of Montaïtosa

(Sgd.)+VICENTE P. REYES
Auxiliary Bishop of Manila

(Sgd.)+GERARD MONGEAU, OMI
Prelate of Cotabato
Apostolic Administrator of Sulu

(Sgd.)+WILLIAM DUSCHAK, SVD
Vicar Apostolic of Calapan

(Sgd.)+ANTONIO FRONDOSA
Bishop Capiz

(Sgd.)+TEOPISTO ALBERTO
Bishop of Sorsogon

(Sgd.) MSGR CLOVIS THIBAULT, PME
Apostolic Administrator of Davao

(Sgd.) GREGORIO ESPIGA, ORSA
Apostolic Prefect of Palawan


But why should Mr. Macalma listen to the old guys listed above. He is after the smartest and most authoritative person on the face of the earth and whatever he says on air is the infallible truth that should be obeyed and believed by all faithful Catholics. Bishop Marquez was wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! And Macalma right because he's on radio!

And by the way, should anyone ask, I have a digital recording of that segment aired today.