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Sexually explicit web ads raise censorship debate

12 Sep 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

In the story of the "prodigal son" included in this Sunday’s longer gospel option, the elder son complains bitterly to his father that the younger had “swallowed up your property with prostitutes.” Attorneys general and advocacy groups have been pressuring the popular website Craigslist to close down its lucrative “adult services” section because of the number of prostitution ads it attracts. The website responded over Labor Day weekend by shutting down the services and slapping a “censored” label in its place. Analysts say the move may be a high-stakes stunt to gain sympathy and influence public opinion. A letter from 17 state attorneys general dated August 24 demanded that Craigslist close the section, contending that it helped facilitate prostitution and the trafficking of women and children. Since blocking access to the ads—and suspending a revenue stream that could bring in an estimated $44 million this year—Craigslist has refused to discuss its motivations. But using the word “censored” suggests that the increasingly combative company is trying to draw attention both to its fight with state attorneys general over sex ads and to issues of free speech on the internet. Analysts said that if the block were a temporary statement of protest, it could backfire because of the avalanche of news coverage that the site had received for taking down the ads. “I’m very convinced that this is permanent, even if it was not their intention to make it permanent,” said Peter M. Zollman, of Advanced Interactive Media Group, a consulting firm that follows Craigslist closely. “I think it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to go back and reopen that section without really running into a buzz saw of negative publicity and reaction.” Source: An article by Claire Cain Miller for the New York Times

craigslist free speech internet advertising prostitution
How far should free speech go?

03 Oct 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

“Do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,” counsels this Sunday’s second reading. Hate speech by an infamous Kansas church group whose leader clearly knows no shame may be the hot-button case of record during the U.S. Supreme Court term that opens this Friday. When Matthew Snyder, a U.S. Marine, was killed in Anbar province in Iraq in 2006, Rev. Fred W. Phelps, Sr. of Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church showed up with his small band of followers at the fallen Marine’s funeral at St. John's Catholic Church in Westminster, Maryland. They were not there to mourn but to insult--or exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech, they say. Church members held up signs reading "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "God Hates Fags," and "You're Going to Hell." Among other things, Phelps' self-styled church preaches that God is punishing America because of its tolerance for homosexuality, especially in the military. Phelps also posted an "epic poem" online titled "The Burden of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder," which among other things tells his parents, "You raised him for the devil." The fallen Marine’s father sued. Albert Snyder said the Phelps' protests aggravated his diabetes and depression and that he vomited when he read the "epic poem." Snyder prevailed on his claims of invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress and won a large damage award, but that ruling was reversed on appeal. There is, not surprisingly, a groundswell of support for Snyder's case. U.S. Senate majority leader Harry Reid, minority leader Mitch McConnell, and 40 other Senators--ranging from Barbara Boxer on the left to David Vitter on the right--have signed a friend-of-the court brief urging the court to reverse the lower court’s decision and reinstate the verdict against Phelps. Another brief is signed by the attorneys general of 48 states and the District of Columbia. But the question remains, will the Supreme Court--historically reluctant to restrict speech, even offensive speech--rule for Snyder or leave him with a lament similar to that of Habakkuk’s in the first reading: ”I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not intervene.' "? Source: An article by Adam Cohen for TIME

supreme court freedom of speech us supreme court free speech albert snyder westboro baptist church fred w phelps matthew snyder first amendment
Free speech can be suicidal

23 Mar 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The responsorial psalm this Sunday implores, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” While there may be few things more hard-hearted than encouraging a depressed person to commit suicide, a former nurse who did just that with despondent people he sought out on the internet had his criminal conviction overturned by the Minnesota Supreme Court Wednesday.William Melchert-Dinkel was convicted in 2011 of two counts of aiding suicide after a judge found he "intentionally advised and encouraged" an English man and a Canadian woman to take their own lives. The Minnesota high court ruled that part of a law banning someone from "encouraging" suicide is unconstitutional. The court found that language in Minnesota's law that makes it illegal to "advise" or "encourage" suicide is too broad and encompasses speech that expresses a viewpoint and is protected under the First Amendment.However the justices upheld part of the law that makes it a crime to "assist" in someone's suicide—and said speech could be considered assisting. Because the lower court judge did not issue a ruling on "assisting" suicide, Melchert-Dinkel's case was sent back to that judge for further consideration."It's a legal system; it's not a justice system. The two are completely different," said Deborah Chevalier, the mother of the Canadian woman who took her life after communicating online with Melchert-Dinkel. "At the very least, the world knows what he's done. His friends, his family know what he's done. He can't run away from that.Evidence in the Melchert-Dinkel case showed he was obsessed with suicide and sought out depressed people online. When he found them, he feigned compassion and offered step-by-step instructions on how they could kill themselves. Melchert-Dinkel told police he did it for the "thrill of the chase."According to court documents, he acknowledged participating in online chats about suicide with up to 20 people and entering into fake suicide pacts with about 10, five of whom he believed killed themselves.Homily hint: Studies on suicide suggest that many suicides could be prevented if despondent people had a way of successfully connecting with a caring network of individuals and access to mental health services that treat the deeper issues involved. Let our faith communities be caring communities that welcome the despondent and offer hope and assistance. Source: An article by Amy Forliti for the Associated Press

suicide minnesota minnesota supreme court free speech william melchert-dinkel
Ritual of ridicule moved off Harvard campus

18 May 2014 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Upright and trustworthy are the works of the Lord, the psalmist informs us this Sunday. A reenactment of satanic rituals known as a “black mass” scheduled to take place Monday evening on the Harvard University campus aroused vigorus protest from those who see it as the farthest thing from upright and worthy of being allowed ar a college. The event was moved to off-university property at the last minute.The Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club, which hosted the event, decided to move it off-campus, Robert Neugeboren, dean of students and alumni affairs at the extension school, said in a statement. “The Harvard Extension School is grateful the student group has recognized the strong concerns expressed by members of the Harvard community and beyond.”Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley and Harvard University’s president had been at odds over the university’s initial decision to allow the reenactment on campus. O’Malley said the event is disturbing because the satanic ritual mocks the Roman Catholic religion. “Why people would want to do something that is so offensive to so many people in the community, whether they’re Catholic or not, it’s very repugnant,” O’Malley said. “There’s a great fascination with evil in the world, but you know, it doesn’t lead to anything good.”In a statement released Monday, Harvard University President Drew Faust said the performance would be allowed on campus. She called the student group’s sponsorship of the so-called black mass “abhorrent” but said she must protect the group’s right to free speech. At the time that the student organization was hosting its event, Faust said she would attend a service at St. Paul’s Church in Cambridge organized by the Boston Archdiocese. Faust said she was going to “join others in reaffirming our respect for the Catholic faith at Harvard.”Yet O’Malley said he is disappointed because he would like the university to cancel the event. “I was disappointed,” said O’Malley. “I was hoping that Harvard would see how offensive and how evil this was, and at least ask them not to do it on their property.”Nearly 60,000 students, alumni, and faculty members signed a petition against the ritual, according to a statement released by Harvard Rhodes Scholar Aurora Griffin. “I am ashamed that my university is allowing such a hateful event to happen under the auspices of ‘education,’ ” Griffin said in the statement. The Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club had said the event was meant to be educational, not offensive.Griffin, a former president of the Harvard Catholic Student Association, said there is no value in this event. In the statement she said she believes it promotes contempt for the Catholic faith and other religions.Homily hint: Where do we draw the line between free speech and standards of basic human decency? A society that chooses not to uphold even the most basic of shared values is on the road the becoming an amoral society. Source: An article by Travis Anderson, Laura Crimaldi, and Jacqueline Tempera for the Boston Globe

sean omalley free speech black mass harvard university