Cliff Kincaid
Bret Baier's forced withdrawal from Catholic conference
By Cliff Kincaid
Even while our media pay lip service to freedom of expression in France, the pressure to conform to the left-wing homosexual agenda continues in the U.S. and has now scored a direct hit on the Fox News Channel. Fox News personality Bret Baier has been forced to pull out of a Catholic Christian conference because of homosexual pressure.
Once again, for all the world to see, we have a stark example of how the freedom to object to the homosexual agenda is being denied to those in the news business.
Baier has been an outspoken conservative voice at the channel, hosting the blockbuster "13 Hours: The Inside Story," a Fox News special featuring exclusive interviews with the American security operatives who fought on the ground during the terrorist attacks in Benghazi.
The Baier case comes on the heels of the firing of Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran because of a book he wrote for a men's Bible study group at his Baptist church that included statements in favor of traditional marriage and values.
A practicing Catholic who says his faith has pulled him through some family and personal turmoil, Baier carries the titles of Fox News Chief Political Anchor & Executive Editor and Anchor of "Special Report with Bret Baier."
LifeSiteNews criticized Baier, saying that by backing out of a speaking engagement at a Catholic conference, he "has shown himself to have a thinner skin than might be guessed from his on-air persona." But it appears, based on what is known about decision-making at the channel, that corporate pressure was behind the capitulation to the gay lobby.
Fox News Channel is a major contributor to the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), and recruits homosexuals at the group's events.
While Baier is apparently being muzzled because of the Catholic credentials of the group he was scheduled to speak to, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith has been able to spout pro-homosexual views on the air, such as when he denounced Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day as the "National Day of Intolerance." The outburst was triggered by a Chick-fil-A executive speaking out against gay marriage. Smith is said to be dating a young Fox News male staffer.
Baier was advertised as a speaker at a Catholic conference sponsored by Legatus, a group promoting Catholic teachings. The conference was to begin with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, celebrated by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
Homosexual activists had demanded that Baier and other speakers withdraw because some Legatus material advocates that homosexuals change their lifestyle. Catholic teaching holds that the practice of homosexuality is a violation of Biblical standards of morality. But some gay militants assert that homosexuals are born that way and cannot change their sexuality under any circumstances.
The "Good as You" militant gay lobby group had attacked Legatus as "a very anti-gay organization of Catholics" because of passages in some of its material opposing the practice of homosexuality and saying that homosexuals can change.
Baier's talk was supposed to be about his book Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love, describing in eloquent terms how his family coped with their son's heart problems. "Faith was crucial," he told Legatus in an interview. "I try to paint that picture in the book. I don't shy away from it."
Baier's withdrawal from this conference stands in stark contrast to Fox News' regular practice, carried out over many years, of providing financial support to the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA). Fox News chief Roger Ailes has refused to discuss the ethics of these money transfers to the special interest group.
It is believed that these payments are a form of hush money to keep the gay lobby from complaining too loudly about the conservative orientation of some Fox News programs and personalities.
But that strategy went out the window with the Bret Baier fiasco involving Legatus, which is now making headlines across the country. "Bret Baier Withdraws from Legatus Summit" is one of many headlines resulting from the successful homosexual pressure campaign to force Baier out of the event.
Now the whole world can see that even the powerful Fox News Channel can be intimidated to toe the homosexual line. The thousands of dollars in payments to NLGJA did not keep the gay lobby at bay.
The conference that was supposed to feature Bret Baier also includes Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana. Actor Gary Sinise also withdrew under pressure, saying he didn't want to look divisive.
Baier was asked in the Legatus interview, "You're in a high-profile job with a ton of pressure. How does your faith help you?" He replied, "I rely on it heavily. I think it helps ground me. When the world is spinning faster and faster, the occasional close-the-door-and-meditate-in-prayer is helpful for anybody, no matter what your religion is. It's the vehicle that takes you to that place and calms you down."
But the pressure from the gay lobby has apparently proven to be too much for this Fox News personality. Or perhaps he was pressured to withdraw by his corporate bosses.
A Fox News spokesperson told LifeSiteNews that Baier pulled out of the Legatus conference "due to the controversy surrounding some editorial stances in the organization's magazine." The spokesperson added, "Bret accepted the invitation to speak about his book, his faith, and his son's congenital heart disease. He was unaware of these articles or the controversy surrounding them."
It is unclear why the "editorial stances" that are consistent with Catholic teaching should have been a surprise to the Fox News anchor, or why they should be controversial.
Baier was raised a Catholic, attends a Catholic Church in the Washington, D.C., area, and has raised money in the past for Catholic schools. He must surely be familiar with Catholic teachings on homosexuality and the role of Catholic groups like Legatus in promoting the official church position.
The only possible explanation is that the homosexual lobby is so powerful that even the mighty Fox News cannot stand up to the pressure it can generate.
The motto of Legatus is, "To study, live, and spread the Catholic Faith in our business, professional, and personal lives." That now seems to be difficult to do at Fox News.
© Cliff Kincaid
January 15, 2015
Even while our media pay lip service to freedom of expression in France, the pressure to conform to the left-wing homosexual agenda continues in the U.S. and has now scored a direct hit on the Fox News Channel. Fox News personality Bret Baier has been forced to pull out of a Catholic Christian conference because of homosexual pressure.
Once again, for all the world to see, we have a stark example of how the freedom to object to the homosexual agenda is being denied to those in the news business.
Baier has been an outspoken conservative voice at the channel, hosting the blockbuster "13 Hours: The Inside Story," a Fox News special featuring exclusive interviews with the American security operatives who fought on the ground during the terrorist attacks in Benghazi.
The Baier case comes on the heels of the firing of Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran because of a book he wrote for a men's Bible study group at his Baptist church that included statements in favor of traditional marriage and values.
A practicing Catholic who says his faith has pulled him through some family and personal turmoil, Baier carries the titles of Fox News Chief Political Anchor & Executive Editor and Anchor of "Special Report with Bret Baier."
LifeSiteNews criticized Baier, saying that by backing out of a speaking engagement at a Catholic conference, he "has shown himself to have a thinner skin than might be guessed from his on-air persona." But it appears, based on what is known about decision-making at the channel, that corporate pressure was behind the capitulation to the gay lobby.
Fox News Channel is a major contributor to the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), and recruits homosexuals at the group's events.
While Baier is apparently being muzzled because of the Catholic credentials of the group he was scheduled to speak to, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith has been able to spout pro-homosexual views on the air, such as when he denounced Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day as the "National Day of Intolerance." The outburst was triggered by a Chick-fil-A executive speaking out against gay marriage. Smith is said to be dating a young Fox News male staffer.
Baier was advertised as a speaker at a Catholic conference sponsored by Legatus, a group promoting Catholic teachings. The conference was to begin with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, celebrated by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
Homosexual activists had demanded that Baier and other speakers withdraw because some Legatus material advocates that homosexuals change their lifestyle. Catholic teaching holds that the practice of homosexuality is a violation of Biblical standards of morality. But some gay militants assert that homosexuals are born that way and cannot change their sexuality under any circumstances.
The "Good as You" militant gay lobby group had attacked Legatus as "a very anti-gay organization of Catholics" because of passages in some of its material opposing the practice of homosexuality and saying that homosexuals can change.
Baier's talk was supposed to be about his book Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage and Love, describing in eloquent terms how his family coped with their son's heart problems. "Faith was crucial," he told Legatus in an interview. "I try to paint that picture in the book. I don't shy away from it."
Baier's withdrawal from this conference stands in stark contrast to Fox News' regular practice, carried out over many years, of providing financial support to the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA). Fox News chief Roger Ailes has refused to discuss the ethics of these money transfers to the special interest group.
It is believed that these payments are a form of hush money to keep the gay lobby from complaining too loudly about the conservative orientation of some Fox News programs and personalities.
But that strategy went out the window with the Bret Baier fiasco involving Legatus, which is now making headlines across the country. "Bret Baier Withdraws from Legatus Summit" is one of many headlines resulting from the successful homosexual pressure campaign to force Baier out of the event.
Now the whole world can see that even the powerful Fox News Channel can be intimidated to toe the homosexual line. The thousands of dollars in payments to NLGJA did not keep the gay lobby at bay.
The conference that was supposed to feature Bret Baier also includes Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana. Actor Gary Sinise also withdrew under pressure, saying he didn't want to look divisive.
Baier was asked in the Legatus interview, "You're in a high-profile job with a ton of pressure. How does your faith help you?" He replied, "I rely on it heavily. I think it helps ground me. When the world is spinning faster and faster, the occasional close-the-door-and-meditate-in-prayer is helpful for anybody, no matter what your religion is. It's the vehicle that takes you to that place and calms you down."
But the pressure from the gay lobby has apparently proven to be too much for this Fox News personality. Or perhaps he was pressured to withdraw by his corporate bosses.
A Fox News spokesperson told LifeSiteNews that Baier pulled out of the Legatus conference "due to the controversy surrounding some editorial stances in the organization's magazine." The spokesperson added, "Bret accepted the invitation to speak about his book, his faith, and his son's congenital heart disease. He was unaware of these articles or the controversy surrounding them."
It is unclear why the "editorial stances" that are consistent with Catholic teaching should have been a surprise to the Fox News anchor, or why they should be controversial.
Baier was raised a Catholic, attends a Catholic Church in the Washington, D.C., area, and has raised money in the past for Catholic schools. He must surely be familiar with Catholic teachings on homosexuality and the role of Catholic groups like Legatus in promoting the official church position.
The only possible explanation is that the homosexual lobby is so powerful that even the mighty Fox News cannot stand up to the pressure it can generate.
The motto of Legatus is, "To study, live, and spread the Catholic Faith in our business, professional, and personal lives." That now seems to be difficult to do at Fox News.
© Cliff Kincaid
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