Double Standard: Abuse Scandals and the Attack on the Catholic Church [Paperback]

David F. Pierre Jr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2010

"Double Standard: Abuse Scandals and the Attack on the Catholic Church is essential reading for anyone who wants to hear the other side of the clergy sexual abuse scandal. The side the media hasn't told you, and side most of the public doesn't know ... Even for someone who has read about this subject for years, it was eye-opening to me ... If someone attacks you or slanders the Church over the sexual abuse scandal, challenge them to read this book and continue saying such things."
- Thomas Peters, American Papist, CatholicVote.org

"This is a riveting analysis of how money, media, and mayhem transformed a tragedy in the Catholic Church into an attack on the Catholic Church."
- Author Charlene Duline

"I highly recommend this book."
- Gus Lloyd, Seize the Day with Gus Lloyd, The Catholic Channel, SiriusXM Radio

----

Yes, Catholic priests terribly abused minors, and bishops failed to stop the unspeakable harm. That is an undeniable truth. Nothing justifies such an evil. However, major media outlets are unfairly attacking the Catholic Church, and this fast-paced, compelling book has the shocking evidence to prove it. This book addresses numerous topics, including:
... appalling cases of abuse and cover-ups happening today - but they're not happening in the Catholic Church
... proof that Catholic clergy do not offend more than teachers or those of other religious denominations
... data that shows that the Catholic clergy scandal is not about "pedophilia"
... affirmation that the Catholic Church may be the safest environment for children today
... research that uncovers the shady relationships between SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests), lawyers, and the media
... the alarming roots of SNAP's attacks on the Church
... the surprising truth about "repressed memories"
... unheard, agonized priests who deny the accusations against them
... evidence of how the "documentary" Deliver Us From Evil deceived moviegoers
plus much more.

Double Standard covers topics that the major media won’t. There is no other book about the Catholic Church abuse narrative like this one.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dave Pierre is one of the country's leading observers of the media's coverage of the Catholic Church abuse narrative. Dave is the creator and author of TheMediaReport.com (www.TheMediaReport.com) and is a contributing writer to NewsBusters.org (www.NewsBusters.org), the popular media-bias blog of the Media Research Center.

Dave lives with his wife and family in Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1453730699
• ISBN-13: 978-1453730690
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #755,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dave Pierre is one of the country's leading observers of the media's coverage of the Catholic Church abuse narrative. Dave is the author of two critically acclaimed books, 'Double Standard: Abuse Scandals and the Attack on the Catholic Church' and 'Catholic Priests Falsely Accused: The Facts, The Fraud, The Stories.'

Readers have cited Dave's work as "essential reading," "a must-read," and "a great service to the Church."

Dave is the creator and author of TheMediaReport.com (www.TheMediaReport.com) and is a longtime contributing writer to NewsBusters.org (www.NewsBusters.org), the popular media-bias blog of the Media Research Center.

Dave has been interviewed on National Public Radio (NPR) as well as by other radio outlets and newspapers for his work. He has also contributed to print publications.

Dave is a graduate of Boston College and lives with his wife and family in Massachusetts.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very thought-provoking book.... August 27, 2010

By davidwrites

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a very unusual book, in that it examines the other side of the histrionics surrounding the Catholic priest abuse scandals of the last few years. Leave it to the American media to muddle things so badly that a book like this is required to get a true picture of what actually happened! I'm certainly not a very religious person, so I read it from a secular point of view--very interesting facts, anecdotes, and insights. I can very much recommend this book to anyone; I think any practicing Catholic, however, would find the book even more thought-provoking. The author certainly has some very valid points to make, and he doesn't mince words making them.

57 of 70 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars SNAP, Certain Lawyers and MANY in the Media are guilty... January 8, 2011

By Truth Be Told

Format:Paperback

The book DOUBLE STANDARD: ABUSE SCANDALS AND THE ATTACK ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH by David F. Pierrre jr. was referanced in a *Special Report* bombshell Jan. 2 of this year by the website Media Report. Att'y Donald Steier, a veteran and champion for truth states approx. 1/2 of the claims made in the clergy cases are entirely false and/or greatly exaggerated-so much so that a prosecutable claim would not be attainable. Priests were given a polygraph test but when their accusers were asked they flat out refused in EVERY case.

Steier also has brought SNAP into the light for it's money making collaboration with a number of lawyers. SNAP steadfastly refuses to divulge how much of its income is derived from said lawyers.

The Media outlets have largely ignored this major element to the entire Catholic abuse stories they headline. It is a sad truth that crimes are commited by priests as well as pastors. This abuse is unacceptable!! But when the media plasters the Catholic abuse cases across the frontpage headlines (I've yet to see even one concerning pastors make front page)and leaves this bombshell curiously vacant it makes me wonder about their "agenda".

The lies and manipulation clearly show that their efforts have little to do with the victims, for it is a huge money making proposition for them. To put a finer point to this fraud, since 2005 the Church has doled out an additional ONE BILLION in settlements.

We will see if the media takes a closer look this year at the claims being made as well as the business of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests).

*The following commentary is NOT in ANY way excerpted from the book DOUBLE STANDARD: ABUSE SCANDALS AND THE ATTACK ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH by David Pierre.

The following paragraphs were written by Sam Miller - a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman.

"Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important
institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic
Church?"

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at
the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other
hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to
graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment
of 700,000 students..

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which
account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just
Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the
Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia
on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the
institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember. For
example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual
intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual
contact in a study by the United Methodist Church , 41.8% of clergy women
reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually
harassed.

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia.
10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This
is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and
find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the
choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR
the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that
Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the
Church. You have been hurt by a very small number of wayward priests.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the
most important non-governmental agency in the United States .

Then remember what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for
the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for
your souls'. Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence
and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More facts than other accounts I've seen August 22, 2011

By Paul

Format:Paperback

Most people have read headlines concerning accusations of abuse in the Catholic Church, but few have had an opportunity not only to knit all those headlines together into a coherent story but also to look behind the headlines to see where that story fits into American culture in general. This book is the single best attempt that I have seen thus far to do both of those things. Far from being an uncritical defense of the Catholic Church, the book acknowledges the many mistakes that some Catholic leaders have made, along with their aftermath. I'm a journalist in the Boston area who covered several of those stories several years ago, and I was happy to find that the book's accounting of specific incidents with which I am professionally familiar was accurate. Also as a journalist, I note that the book is quite readable, that is, much more like the kind of journalistic account one might find in a newspaper than a difficult academic treatise. I do recommend the book to experts and casual readers alike.