Why Not Name The Others?

Why Not Name The Others?

Topic Author: Jared Cerullo

Posted: 4:33 PM Aug 8, 2009

Replies Posted: 11 comments

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The reporting of the arrest of a Catholic priest this week has shocked and angered many people. Here are a couple answers to questions I've been getting:

Q: Why don't you name the other people involved in the sting?

A: As a priest and prominent member of our community, many believe Father Campbell is held to a higher standard than the other people who were involved. He is the leader of a large, vibrant congregation. The diocese immediate response, with a news release and temporarily removing the priest from his duties, seem to reflect that.

Q: He has not been formally charged. Why did you report his name?

A: Our policy at KAKE News, as it always has been, is to report the names of individuals who have been arrested and jailed for newsworthy crimes. Arrest records are public records. If someone is being held for a prior warrant or probation violation, but police are holding them for suspicion of a new crime, we will not report their name until formal charges have been brought against them for that new crime. In this case, Father Campbell was arrested and jailed on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior, public nudity, and remaining in a park after hours.

Hopefully, this will answer a few of your questions. If you have any others, feel free to leave a comment below.

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

by Donna Location: Wichita on Dec 27, 2009 at 12:53 PM

Am I missing something? I am a Roman Catholic. This is a priest! Yes, he is human, but his behavior is unfitting not only for a responsible adult, but for a Catholic and yes for a clergy. Some actions do not need to be defended. Are some people not seeing this? If he has the inclination to be nude at a public place with another man, should we not think this is not only embarrasing, but dead wrong? Don't defend him. It's embarrasing for him? I feel sorry for the parish,the bishop and our other Catholic priest's. This is just another case where defend a clergy who did something that is wrong...morally wrong...sorry, I can forgive him, but I can't defend him. I hope he is not allowed to be a clergy again. Surely he will not be!

by Barbara Location: Wichita on Aug 18, 2009 at 06:52 PM

We just returned home from our vacation and was catching up on the news. I was appalled to hear of the arrest of Fr. Campbell in the Oak Park sex sting. But I am also appalled that he is the only one named. Why is he being held to a higher standard? How do I know that one of the others isn't my neighbor, my doctor, my lawyer, my judge, or the man I just passed at Wal-Mart. I am disgusted with the news media that decides that they have the right to pick and choose what they tell the public. The News Media has forgotten that their job is to report the news....ALL of it...not just what they think we should here. Disgusting.

by DJ Location: Wichita on Aug 17, 2009 at 08:33 PM

If you have certain rules to follow, fine, but other people were arrested and I may be working with one of them???? It would be nice to know, high profile person or not....the public, if the record is for the public, should of been made known of ALL individuals. We have children, etc. that if we know one of these people, we should have the choice as individuals and parents on how to address these people if we happen to know them. If public is ok to know them, then report them ALL, just not the HIGH PROFILE in which you seem is the most important to get a story out.

by Anonymous Location: wichita ks. on Aug 15, 2009 at 09:55 PM

He Who Lives Without Sin May Cast the First Stone. And if you are truly christian you know about forgiveness and would be praying for Him instead of bad mouthing about him.

by Jared Cerullo Location: KAKE on Aug 9, 2009 at 08:18 PM

Barbara: We, as a news organization, ultimately have to make decisions on a daily basis what to report and what not to report. Our responsibility involves choosing what viewers, as a mass audience, want or need to hear about. Is there a written list of standards? Of course not. But we certainly have guidelines that we go by on a daily basis to determine what stories or information to report and what to pass up. Example: Nobody wants or needs to hear the name or see the picture of a career prostitute that got caught on South Broadway during a john sting for the fourth time. However, in this instance, someone of higher public stature, higher moral standard, higher authority if you will, got caught. That makes him and him only newsworthy.

by Jean Location: Wichita on Aug 9, 2009 at 03:45 PM

Any chance you could investigate prior behavior by this priest? I have been told by others in the parish that this isn't a new thing for him. He apparently had an appartment downtown at one point which was used for certain types of activities. Although he wasn't caught with a child, I do not think he was beyond it. There is a lot more to him and I hope you are able to bring it in the opening.

by Anonymous Location: wichita on Aug 9, 2009 at 10:02 AM

The founders of your station are rolling over in their graves at your style of "news reporting" They never stooped so low.

by Local Viewer Location: Wichita on Aug 9, 2009 at 05:36 AM

Amazing how the Police website doesn't always get updated with this info inspite of the fact that it would help deture this type of behaviour if it was (or at least that the argument they made for starting it in the beginning). Not a very level playing field by the Wichita PD.

by Anonymous Location: Wicita on Aug 8, 2009 at 07:45 PM

I believe all names all of the time should be posted for the public to see in the Wichita Eagle or on line.But for someone like a man of God to do this.Who do we have to look up to if not them. NO ONE Yes he is human but there is absolutly no excuse for him.How stupid could you be to be in a park and not expect to maybe get caught.The type of job he has makes him very newsworthy. I sure wouldn't want him preaching in a church i go to.

by Anonymous on Aug 8, 2009 at 06:18 PM

It seems to me that the only ones who are complaining about the reporting of this man's name are the ones who would rather have this issue just swept under the rug. KAKE had every right to call this person out and I am glad they did.

by Barbara Location: Wichita on Aug 8, 2009 at 05:03 PM

Are these "standards" that certain people are being held to posted somewhere as public records? Do these "standards" also list what is "newsworthy"? Since the other people involved are not being deemed as "newsworthy" enough to name their names than are they free to go and live the same lifestyle that they were just arrested for since their good names have been left intact?

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