By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
New York City’s Archbishop Timothy Dolan is once again publicly rebuking The New York Times for its blatant anti-Catholic bias, this time over its gushing reviews of an offensive art exhibit and play that profane Catholicism.
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is reporting that the current feud began with the October 15 issue of the Times which featured a positive review of an art exhibit by the homosexual activist group, ACT UP. The exhibit features a picture of the late John Cardinal O’Connor resembling a condom with the inscription, “Know Your Scumbag.”
In his October 19 blog, the Archbishop reminds readers about the history of ACT UP.
“Remember them? They invaded of St. Patrick’s Cathedral to disrupt prayer, trampled on the Holy Eucharist, insulted Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger when he was here for a conference, and yelled four letter words while exposing themselves to families and children leaving Mass at the Cathedral.”
He goes on to say that the man ACT UP most detested was Cardinal John O’Connor, “who, by the way, spent many evenings caring quietly for AIDS patients, and, when everyone else ran from them, opened units for them at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center and St. Clare’s Hospital. ”
The Archbishop was also incensed about a glowing review of a play called The Divine Sister that featured a large photo of a cross-dressing homosexual in a nun’s habit. Calling it “yet another tiresome production making fun of Catholic consecrated women,” he took exception with the Times’ reviewers who referred to the production as a “gleeful” tale described as “fresh and funny.”
The play was produced by another homosexual activist group, Rainbow Sash, the same group known for disrupting Masses throughout the country on Pentecost Sunday while trying to receive the Eucharist.
The New York Times responded to the Archbishop’s criticism by suggesting that he “might not have liked the intense spotlight cast on the Church when the Times extensively reported on the widespread abuse and molestation of children at the hands of the Catholic Clergy.”
Dolan responded to this charge yesterday by saying that he and his brother bishops “welcome, need, encourage, and appreciate such coverage, as long as it is fair and accurate. The problem — as so many have pointed out – is precisely that the reporting of the Times on this issue is not.”
He goes on to say that even bringing up the issue of the sex abuse scandal, which they always do whenever Dolan confronts them, only clouds the case in point.
“In its glowing reviews and glaring photographs in the October 15 edition, the Times insulted the image of a consecrated woman, a nun, and a revered Catholic figure, Cardinal John O’Connor. That they feel nothing wrong with this only proves my point.”
The Archbishop claims he will make no further comment “on this spat” because “as my allies tell me, it’s a waste of my time, as it’s been going on for decades.”
His friends have not been afraid to keep fighting. however.
On yesterday’s edition of Fox and Friends, Catholic League president Bill Donohue said: “The New York Times has never found an anti-Catholic TV show, movie, artistic exhibition or play that it didn’t like, save, perhaps, for artistic reasons. That it now sides with ACT UP, a gay fascist group known for busting into St. Patrick’s Cathedral during Mass, throwing condoms in the air and spitting the Host on the floor, shows just how low it has sunk. Archbishop Dolan is right to slam the Times, and the Catholic League proudly stands with him.”
Anyone wishing to voice their concern to the Times can contact the public editor – Arthur S. Brisbane – at public@nytimes.com
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