Most of us know the experience of sitting at the lunch counter or on a barstool near a man who has the answer for all the world's problems. It can be an entertaining conversation to hear him spout off about how to solve the Mideast crisis or why gas prices are so high or who was really behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
But when Jon Wisser opined about the heart-breaking news of sexual scandal at an Austin church, he wasn't on a barstool or in a diner booth. The judge for the 299th Judicial Criminal District Court was being interviewed by the local Fox News affiliate.
Since he was the presiding judge over a similar scandal involving a staff member at the same church in 1998, it makes sense that the media would ask him for a comment on the latest police report.
His response? In last night's Fox-7 News report, he said, "The media is filled with stories about various religious orders . . . especially the Catholic church has been under constant siege all over the world for sexual improprieties of young people . . . we've had monks recently just south of Austin . . . and now this. I can see where some citizens would start thinking that any male who goes into these religious orders or ministers is somewhat suspect."
Huh?
This response went way beyond the scope of the current unfolding scandal to remark on all ministers in general. Were the judge's comments misrepresented through a reporter's sloppy editing, or did the judge think he was chatting with tavern patrons over a cold one? Either way, this segment was a grating insertion into last night's report.
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