The US media and the pope—an assault on the separation of church and state

[RBHam]

The US media and the pope—an assault on the separation of church and state
By Bill Van Auken
6 April 2005
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There are still 10 nations in the world where Roman Catholicism enjoys the archaic status of a state religion. The United States does not happen to be one of them. However, one would never guess this was the case given the unending exaltation of Pope John Paul II over the past several days by the US government and the mass media.

The Bush administration has ordered flags in the US flown at half-mast for the death of the head of the Church of Rome, and the US president will fly to the Vatican to attend the funeral. Both actions are without precedent in a country where the separation of church and state is a foundation of a Constitution that was the product of a revolution inspired in no small part by hostility to state-sponsored religion.

The media has seized upon the long-anticipated death of the 84-year-old pontiff to subject the American public to a saturation bombardment of religious obscurantism and superstition. The pomp surrounding the pope has effectively drowned out all other news, from the fighting and dying in Iraq to the growing signs of economic crisis within the US itself.

The sheer length and scale of this coverage is mind-numbing. Beginning with a morbid and pointless papal death watch last Wednesday—two days before the pope’s demise—and culminating in the funeral service this coming Friday, the major television news networks have conducted endless live broadcasts from Vatican City, in which television anchors and reporters have competed in setting new lows of sycophancy.

more...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/apr2005/medi-a06.shtml

[etherealtruth]

1. Since we don't have a "state run" media ...

...I don't get the separation of church and state issue. The media reports on what it thinks will sell----period. I agree, all Pope twenty four hours a day is a little much (but, 1/6 of the world population is RC, as is 1/4 of the U.S. population), and it's a lot more relevant than all Schiavo or all Michael Jacksons sexual perversions twenty four/seven.

[Webster Green]

2. You seem to be dismissing the corporate influence on govt.

The huge media conglomerates are covering the asses of the politicians they helped get elected.

IMO, that has a lot more to do with what we are allowed to see than your suggestion that they show what sells.

[etherealtruth]

3. I'm really not ...

Corporations have far too much control and they are getting more "everyday".

I think other media circus events proved the point more------they used Schiavo circus to showcase the right wing agenda and the way they did it implied that this was "how Americans" felt. It promoted a right wing fundie agenda which is not reflective of a large percent of Americans. I would accept your premise if this case was primary and the pope ... were secondary.

As I said earlier, regardless of how one feels, a huge chunk of this earth's population cares about this pope and what is happening---that makes it significant.

[etherealtruth]

4. I always wondered how "people" post in duplicate

... I now know.

Edit: Deleted duplicate message