Still trust the NY Times?

The Italian newspaper Il Foglio has published an article criticizing the New York Times for relying on a "very rough" computer generated (Yahoo) translation in an attempt to implicate the Holy Father in the notorious Milwaukee abuse case. According to the Italian paper, the NY Times article relied on "a gross translation mistake" and, they charge, the Times "seems to be in need of some consultants." While the "very rough" translation - used by the American paper - may have appeared to support their allegations, "that same conclusion is not possible if a correct review of the sources is done, in other words, if (the story) is based in the official text written by the CDF in Italian", according to Il Foglio. Recently, the Judicial Vicar who presided over the canonical criminal case of the accused priest said that he found "that the reporting on this issue has been inaccurate and poor in terms of the facts" and indicated that he was never contacted by reporters to verify details of the case.

Commentary: If nothing else, wouldn't one expect the legal department of a major newspaper such as the New York Times to insist that only proper translations be used as sources - especially in light of the serious nature of the allegations made? Isn't the Times' apparent negligence in this case especially ironic considering the piece essentially accuses the Holy Father of negligence?

[4/7]

More Scandals Update...

* According to a CNA article, the Vatican never ruled out defrocking Fr. Murphy, the Milwaukee priest alleged to have abused as many as 200 deaf boys: "An expert translation of that document ['a memo recounting a key Vatican meeting' regarding the priest] provides evidence that appears to exonerate Vatican officials accused of wrongdoing in the case." According to the article, a "very rough" translation of the article may have "skewed media attempts to implicate Pope Benedict"

* A Wall Street Journal article has taken to the defense of the Pope against negative coverage in the New York Times. In part, the WSJ article states, "The man who is now pope reopened cases that had been closed; did more than anyone to process cases and hold abusers accountable; and became the first pope to meet with victims. Isn't the more reasonable interpretation of all these events that Cardinal Ratzinger's experience with cases like Murphy's helped lead him to promote reforms that gave the church more effective tools for handling priestly abuse?" The article also notes that documents posted by the Times were provided by plaintiffs' lawyers - and one of the lawyers "isn't just any old lawyer. When it comes to suing the church, he is America's leading plaintiffs attorney. Back in 2002, he told the Associated Press that he'd won more than $60 million in settlements from the church, and he once boasted to a Twin Cities weekly that he's 'suing the s--t out of them everywhere.' Nor did the Times report another salient fact about Mr. Anderson: He's now trying to sue the Vatican in U.S. federal court. None of this makes Mr. Anderson wrong or unworthy of quoting. It does make him a much bigger player than the story disclosed. In fact, it's hard to think of anyone with a greater financial interest in promoting the public narrative of a church that takes zero action against abuser priests, with Pope Benedict XVI personally culpable."

[4/6]

NY Times Still Fanning the Flames

Despite being taken to task over recent "sloppy reporting", the NY Times' attempt to implicate Pope Benedict in abuse scandals was ratcheted up a level with a recent op-ed column titled "Should There Be an Inquisition for the Pope?" The article was filled with offensive comments, such as ...

* "It doesn’t seem right that the Catholic Church is spending Holy Week practicing the unholy art of spin."

* "The church gave up its credibility for Lent. Holy Thursday and Good Friday are now becoming Cover-Up Thursday and Blame-Others Friday."

* "This week of special confessions and penance services is unfolding as the pope resists pressure from Catholics around the globe for his own confession and penance about the cascade of child s*xual abuse cases that were ignored, even by a German diocese and Vatican office he ran. If church fund-raising and contributions dry up, Benedict’s P.R. handlers may yet have to stage a photo-op where he steps out of the priest’s side of the confessional and enters the side where the rest of his fallible flock goes. Or maybe 30-second spots defending the pope with Benedict’s voice intoning at the end: 'I am infallible, and I approve this message.'"

The paper's "sloppy reporting" of late has been criticized in various quarters, including by the presiding judge in the case of Fr. Murphy, who said he was never contacted by the paper regarding their coverage of the matter. As Damian Thompson remarked, "It’s pretty clear now that The New York Times has scr*wed up its coverage of Pope Benedict XVI and the child abuse scandals. In fact, I doubt it could have done a worse job if it had brought back Jayson Blair to report the story." Mr. Thompson also said that while he "[doesn't] normally wish unemployment on fellow journalists - even snooty and snarling PC ones from the Big Apple - but if the paper folded tomorrow I reckon I could contain my grief. Couldn’t you?" Comment: I think we could also contain ours.

[3/31]

More News Highlights

More brief summaries of recent news items...

* Controversy has erupted over where to house Mother Theresa's remains. Various areas including the country of her parents and the area where she was born have demanded or may demand possession of her remains.

* An alleged Eucharistic miracle which occurred a year ago in Poland "may have merit" according to reports concerning the investigation. The case has been forwarded to the Apostolic Nunciature in Warsaw for further review.

* A "wealthy homosexual activist" speaking to a group of 'gay rights' advocates has stated that Catholic leaders are among their "greatest adversaries" and advises them to take "active measures" against those who oppose homosexual causes.

* A "leading ecumenicist" Cardinal Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, has published a new book regarding ecumenical efforts which he says "aims at creating a welcoming atmosphere for ecumenism". Although tradition-minded Catholics are not likely to rejoice in the news of its publication, they may be interested in his comment regarding the claim that ecumenism "has not borne any fruit and left us with our hands empty", namely "that is not the official opinion". Interesting, no?

* The New York Times has made waves by publishing a sordid story about a serial-adulteress (now terminally-ill) woman and the philandering, vow-breaking priest who fathered children with her and suggested an abortion. The story involving two consenting (yet gravely sinful) adults appeared on the front page of the paper while another story involving the "Safe Schools Czar" which involved a case of homosexual statutory rape appeared on page 19 of the publication. As the Catholic League's president stated: "There is a reason why this story about an irresponsible priest and an irresponsible woman merited 2,424 words on p. 1, and the story about the irresponsible gay activist turned 'Schools Czar' merited 488 words on p. 19: the lead story was about ginning up public sentiment against priestly celibacy."

[10/16]