It is time to address the distortions and misinformation about the Holy Father and the Church that is being perpetrated by the New York Times and by newspapers throughout the nation, including the Dallas Morning News, that mimic it.
In what seems to be a determined attack to discredit Pope Benedict XVI the New York Times insists that when he was serving as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith he prevented Father Lawrence Murphy, a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, from having imposed upon him the proper penalties for his confessed crime of abusing deaf children.
There is no evidence that the then Cardinal Ratzinger ever blocked any penalties against Father Murphy. In fact, the Vatican and the Holy Father have taken steps to facilitate the punishment of clerical pedophiles.
Father Murphy’s crimes were despicable and loathsome and apologies and redress can never fully compensate the victims. However, they are not justification for a journalistic vendetta against the Pope.
One of the New York Times’ own columnists, Russ Douthat, called the charges “unfair” in his column of March 29.
The Bishops of the United States have struggled mightily, as has the Diocese of Dallas, to put in place programs to insure the safety of our children and the recent release of an independent audit marking the progress of these programs has largely gone unnoticed by the press.
In addition, references to a “dying church” are ludicrous. The Diocese of Dallas will welcome 3000 new Catholics in ceremonies during the Easter Vigil.
It is not a plea for no criticism, but rather a plea for fairness and accuracy that prompts me to make these observations.
If you want to know the truth in the words of Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, follow this link. Cardinal Levada’s Article.
NY Times article: Keeping the record straight on Benedict and the crisis
NY Times Article: Shame on the NY Times
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