Regular readers here know you can’t believe everything you read in the newspapers. So when I tell you that yesterday’s Boston Men’s Conference was excellent you should weigh that against what you’ll read in the Boston Herald. But more about that later.
It was great to meet so many of you in person, especially those who never post comments. It’s good to get your feedback. I think next year I’ll try to get an exhibitor booth for Catholic World Report, which also make it easier for people to stop by and say hello.
The final attendance figures were 3,300 women Friday night and 5,200 men on Saturday. Pretty impressive to see 8,500 people total.
All of the speakers were excellent, but the best were Fr. John Corapi and Sean Forrest. Scott Hahn was great as always, but I’d heard the talks before. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa was good, but his soft voice and Italian accent echoing in the giant room made him difficult to understand. There was no mistaking Corapi’s voice though. With a drill instructor baritone, he spoke of the spiritual combat we are engaged. He pulled no punches on homosexuality and gay marriage, on contraception, on men failing to be good role models for their kids, on politicians who claim to be Catholic, on Catholic men—laity, priests, and bishops—lacking spine. At the mention of “Catholic” politicians, he got an extended standing ovation. I leaned over to my brother and said that I hoped Archbishop O’Malley was there to see that. He needs to see that if only he will be strong and bold and brave, there are thousands of Catholics who will stand up behind him and follow him into battle.
The Herald’s biased take
Technorati Tags: Boston, Catholic, conference, Massachusetts, media-bias
I’ve just written to the Globe and Herald myself to complain, as my husband also thought yesterday’s conference was great, and he was livid at the Herald’s coverage. Here are some email addresses for you:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (reporter)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (metro/city editor, and generally balanced in his coverage of the church)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (anti-Catholic editor-in-chief Martin Baron)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Catholic-bashing religion reporter)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (supposed voice of the reader to editors)
Have at it folks!
I would be surprised if the media did not distort the message of this conference.
Without question, this conference was one of the most powerful spiritual events of my life. I say this without any sense of hyperbole. And I will not let the powerful words I heard yesterday go unheeded.
It was a great conference, but I think last year’s was a bit better. First, because there was singing of songs and hymns by the crowd that were of the type men like (with strength and verve -not insipidly sweet drivel) between the speakers and the speakers were not all jammed together. I saved copies of the songs from last year to give to our music leader. And that is my second minor quibble—the already mentioned running together of 3 fairly long—but very excellent—talks, both in morning and afternoon.
As for the incompetent Herald reporting—I noticed at the end of the story the notation that wire services had been responsible for part of the story. My question is—did the reporter ever really go to the conference? Or was it a biased reporter sopping up information from a typically twisted AP report?
Also I did see Cardinal-designate O’Malley attending some of the morning talks.
I know you mentioned last week that your photo had been on this site, but I must have missed it. I would like to have met you so the idea of you getting a table next year is great.
As for my two little quibbles and any others—like last year’s box lunches were a better deal and far better run than the convention center (dis)organized dinner chaos this year—I am certain that the very competent and dedicated men who ran these past two conferences will straighten out those quibbles next year.
– Herald coverage: unlike the Globe, when the Boston Herald wants to do a hatchet piece, they do not seem to know how to be subtle about it. Unbelievable. Of course, the fact that Fr Raniero later spoke of Eph 5 in terms of mutual submission would not be mentioned. Often, though, bad journalism can be fed by plain lazy journalism. Years ago, I attended an all-day archdiocesan conference for young adults and was interviewed after the keynote by a Globe reporter. It was not a negative piece—though sloppy—but I was struck by the content of the article: it was evident that the reporter only hung around for the keynote, interviewed one person (me) and then took off. Without excusing this reporter’s bias, I’d speculate that something like this may have happened last night too. She covered a men’s conference without covering any of the feature speakers, the turnout, the Archbishop, the activities nor even interviewing a single man. Pathetic.
– Speaking of coverage, you’re not likely to find fair coverage outside of the Pilot, the archdiocesan paper. Hey Dom, how big does this conference have to grow before it merits CWR coverage?
– I’ve often heard it said that any worthy apostolate would face opposition. As Fr Corapi said, it’s a war. It’s truly amazing how far, how large, how fast this particular apostolate has grown. It’s truly a lay initiative, run by courageous, faith-filled and selfless workers. It is producing fruit. In other words, it’s a threat. We can expect more opposition in the future, though not necessarily attacks as ham-handed as this one.
– It’s not easy running conferences as large as this. While I did not witness the lunch mess (I had lunch late), I’d like to point out that it was handled by the convention center. The fact that the professionals who run the vast Boston Convention Center could not handle lunch illustrates the size of the undertaking. The food was better than last year’s though. The conference organizers do learn on their feet. Registration is always a headache, but they quickly changed the process based on the previous night’s experience.
– The Archbishop is generous of his time, and ever the shepherd. By about noon, I noticed he was already there and among the many priests hearing confessions. And he did not rush.
– Fr Corapi was magnificent. His exhibit was deservedly mobbed. Scott Hahn was better than I expected. I’m familiar with him through some EWTN and tapes, but did not expect the passion that came through that night. Man, that man can preach.
– Women believe in the men’s conference too. That’s why there were so many women volunteers there handling the logistics. This was a great arrangement: men and women trade off so each can attend their respective conferences. One volunteer I spoke to did not (could not) even attend the women’s conference: she merely came to help.
– Some seminarians I registered looked so very young. At such an age, dedicating their lives to God. They are an inspiration.
– Speaking of inspiring … there were these huge waves of men packing in for confession. Men. Confession. Oil. Water. Many men far more devout than I rarely go to confession. Yet there they were, including many who had not gone in ages. Last year, a priest remarked that he had never heard so many life-changing confessions. Truly, this conference yields good fruit.
JL—Where did you dredge up the “walkout” story? I was there and talked to a lot of people from parishes and areas different from mine and there was no talk or shred of mention of a walkout—not even as a vague rumor or as wild speculation-NOTHING. Was there someone there listening to voices in his head? Or is this a planted posting to give a headline to another Globe bogus story?? (pardon my paranoia about liberal skulldugery when needed by the secular media).
Do you think a walkout would have had any effect. People will going in and out all day. You could have had a group of 50-100 get up and walk out and no-one would notice.
My son and I got there at six to volunteer. We were both at the entrances showing people to registration. I man came in with an sign on a pole saying something about “Shame on those who hide child rapists”. Security came up to him and said:
“Look, if you were here last night we wouldn’t be saying this. But you better get rid of your sign. We cannot guarantee your safety with 5,000 men who may not be happy with your sign.”
Evidently security heard Fr. Corapi the night before, and had the same reaction as many of us did….
Theodan: I will not risk all out war.
Aragorn: War is upon you whether you would risk it or not!
<u>PREPARE FOR BATTLE!</i>
I’m a bit surprised at the lack of press coverage. This was a pretty significant event that may have considerable impact on the status quo. But should I really be surprised? The omission speaks volumes.
I’m still trying to process the day myself. Nice talking to you Dom.
I attended the women’s conference and my husband attended the men’s conference – we agree they were both FANTASTIC !! We were both comforted in seeing thousands of like-minded catholics cheering on the truth.
This was a nice wake up call to VOTF who can manage to attract only a few dozen gray hairs to their meetings.
My daughter – a graduate of Franciscan University and a theolgy teacher at a local “Catholic” high school attended with me. She got a very cool response from fellow faculty upon her invitation to attend the conference. The truth is not their cup of tea, it seems.
As for media coverage, what did we expect ? Over 7000 Catholics give up a weekend to hear the truth proclaimed and we don’t even get a mention, other than bad press in the Herald. Today’s Globe did have a front page pic of Archbishop O’Malley at the women’s conference but the accompanying article did not mention the conference.
I’m a Prostant (Episcopalian) currently in RCIA, and I attended Saturday’s conference.
I found Father Corapi the weakest of three main speakers. The topic he apparently meant to address was spiritual warfare. Which is an important (even vital) one, and one widely ignored in both Protestant churches (at least the mainline ones) and Catholic churches.
So it was disappointing to hear little in the way of theological or, with a few exceptions, pastoral substance. It I heard “Surrender is not an option” one more time, I was going to scream. What, exactly does that mean in the context of men living in Christ in their parishes?
Fr. Corapi’s comment near the end of his second speech, the comment about politicians who claim to be Catholic and then vote for in favor of things like abortion, was typical of his basic approach—provocative, playing to the crowd, but with little substance (and I’m one who thinks the bishops of the church should be doing more to hold such elected officials accountable).
Those politicians are being elected, at least in Massachusetts, by some significant number of voters who are Catholic. Fr. Corapi would have done a greater service to his listeners if he’d taken the time to help them think “Catholicly” and Christianly about their actions.
Sean Forrest’s “advice” came very close to being “Go home and tell your wife and kids what things are going to be like from now on.”
I think it’s fair to say he passed lightly over the necessary preconditions (although he did indeed touch on most of these): a knowledge of the church’s teachings, a spirituality grounded in scripture and prayer, a humility born of regular confession, and a thorough-going conversion to authentic self-giving, and totally giving, love.
Fr. Cantalamessa’s talks were the most significant in my opinion: biblical, pastoral, and as a result, prophetic.
He was the one who actually spoke to the dynamics of the spiritual battle, and our responsibility to have the “mind of Christ” through repentance, which “makes everything new.” He spoke of the collective nature of our repentance, and its implications for hour families and parishes; and the beauty [!] of the sacrement of confession.
It was Cantalamessa who following John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, related the Edenic created order of male and female, the full expression of erotic love between husband and wife, to the nature of the love shared in the Trinity itself.
It was he who spoke practically and pastorally about the meaning of Paul’s exhortations in Ephesians, about dead marriages, about the essential role of the Holy Spirit in reviving and healing them, and about the equally essential role of men in that process: of humility, of self-giving, self-sacrificing love; of the diabolical forces arrayed against families and children, and the nature of sanctified fatherhood.
That’s the preaching and thinking and care of a pastor, not a polemicist. And while I’m the first to agree that the polemicists have their role in the life of the Church, in this case it was the difference between equipping the saints for the work of service, and soldiers heading out half-cocked. So to speak….
I heard back from an editor at the Herald that their reporter came to the conference just in time for Sean’s talk. His quote: “As I understand it, she covered the speaker who was on when, or shortly after, she arrived. I wish it had been any of the big names, if you will. Bad luck, but no evil plan.”
Still seems like sloppy reporting, but that’s their explanation.
To jwcox, I would like to point out that there are different approaches possible in these conferences. One could convince those who don’t believe, or one could encourage those who already do. Fr Corapi’s talk definitely belonged in the latter camp, and I say that it addresses a perfectly legitimate problem.
For many of us—myself definitely guilty—there has been a failure of nerve. That is the problem Fr Corapi was addressing. We watched in horror as things got worse, knowing something is wrong, but unwilling to act. We don’t need to be convinced that something is wrong. We need to find that courage to do something about it, courage to be Catholic.
Recently when it was bitterly cold in Boston, I saw that anti-war protesters in Arlington (MA) were out again waving signs. Whether they are right or wrong, the fact is that these people are willing to brave the bitter winter cold for hours night after night for a purely secular cause. Where is comparable passion for the Kingdom of God?
Remember that Yeats poem? “The best lack all convictions, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” That’s our problem. I pray that the men’s conference will help us find that “passionate intensity”.
jwcox,
I really enjoyed Fr. Cantalamessa, in particular his remarks about marriage. Yes, Fr. Corapi did not dive deeply into theology, but I found him refreshing and inspiring. After years of listening to people reduce priests to effeminate homosexuals and child molesters, I am can’t begin to to tell you how much I appreciate a warrior like Fr. Corapi.
That man has an edge and a fire. He serves a real purpose. I love theology, philosophy, etc. as much as the next Christian thinker. But his passion and attitude spoke volumes. And the simple reality is that Corapi spoke to those men and I on terms that we appreciated.
I would like to comment on this remark of yours: “Fr. Corapi would have done a greater service to his listeners if he’d taken the time to help them think “Catholicly” and Christianly about their actions.”
I went to the conference with 30 other guys. Everyone one of us was perfectly clear about what Fr. Corapi was asking of us. There was no ambiguity there whatsoever.
God bless him. If the American Catholic Church had only ten Father Corapi’s it would have few of the probems facing it today.
Got Fr Corapi’s newletter last night and I think this conference might be his latest offering.
Anyway, Dom, I think I might have spotted you in the sample clip:(http://www.fathercorapi.com/surrender.aspx).
It’s in the audience scan when he says “make reparation for each other” a guy with the same type beard as you shows up about 1/3 the way up from the bottom of the screen. All I’ve got to compare it with is that news photo you posted recently (the hatchet job one where they tried to make you look like you have a huge neckless head on a progressively tiny body) so I’m not at all sure. Maybe you can confirm one way or the other.
Sorry DJ. Not me. That guy’s a lot bigger than me.
DJ,
If you want to see a photo of me at the conference, go to the conference photo gallery at
http://www.collages.net/store/guest_login.asp?username=bcmc&password=10286&Login;.x=27&Login;.y=10&Login=Submit
and then go to photo 248, in the middle of the Sean Forrest photos. You’ll find me in a group shot there.