Why are religious minorities often demonized by the news media?

Why? Well, for many reasons and one of then is that it makes good ratings – right? People want to hear about religious fanatics, terrorist, evil cultist, satanic sects and on it goes. They don’t want to know about peace loving people who live together in love and harmony – NO that’s boring. “I’d rather come home from work, pull out a beer and hear about bad people who do evil things to children. Then they get shot down because the abused children grew up and finally got a chance to make justice”. Yeah, that sounds like a story that would sell.

It kind of reminds me of the inquisition: People burning on the stake because they thought and acted different than the vast majority. Does the news media play the role the Catholic Church did back then? Do they look at both sides of the coin? Are they consulting unbiased sociologists and psychologist that have studied the Family International? Or do they rather crucify us because “we’re weird” enough?

If you are true to your profession, then do what no one else has the guts to do. Cover the whole story!

Open the door to debates between members of the Family and those that accuse us, come visit our communities, investigate our projects and programs that aid thousands around the globe and give people a good show! Or you can do what most people prefer doing; attack what they don’t understand, try and get rid of it as soon as possible so they can keep on with their “normal life”.

Even in this day and age of tolerance and understanding of cultural and religious differences, I still wonder if there will be a man or woman among you who will give us a fair trial. Will you?

Thanks for your time.

Daniel Gomez is a second-generation member of the Family International