Defending the Pope against Hot Air
Since this most recent attempt to smear Pope Benedict began a couple of weeks ago, I have felt little need to defend him on these pages, because no credible charges had been made against him.
Well today, there still haven’t been any credible charges made against him, but the attacks keep coming so we have to take action. These attacks on the pope, after all, are at heart attacks on the Church. Look at what David Dayen of the liberal FireDogLake blog wrote:
“The cumulative effect of the scandals, across countries and continets, have sapped the pontiff’s ability to lead and blown a hole in any effort by the Church to raise morality in any context.”
Liberal Andrew Sullivan is writing daily for the resignation of the pope and the end of priestly celibacy. Meanwhile their have been scattered protests in London and a couple other places demanding the pope’s resignation. But these are the same people who can be counted on to demonstrate/write against the pope or the Church anytime. And when you talk to them, it’s clear they hate and feel hurt by the Church.
With people writing and doing such preposterous things about and to the Church and the pope, we need to respond with the truth. I find it very interesting that this attack has been leveled at the Church during Holy Week, when the Church is most trying to focus on Christ and His sufferings. Well, this year we can identify with some of His suffering a little more easily.
I am so disappointed, I have to say, with Laurie Goodstein of the New York Times. She should know better, and I think she has done something seriously wrong by being a part of these disingenuous efforts to attack the pope. Fr. Raymond Souza has penned an excellent concise response to her article. He writes: “The story is false. It is unsupported by its own documentation. Indeed, it gives every indication of being part of a coordinated campaign against Pope Benedict, rather than responsible journalism.” Goodstein used former Archbishop Rembert Weakland as a source for pete’s sake!
I’ve spent years covering stories which attempted to smear the pope. This most recent batch is no different, is is simply more intense. And I sincerely trust and hope the truth will once again come out.
If any real journalist is looking for a story here, I’d recommend they look at the behind-the-scenes coordination between the news “outlets” and demonstrations which are fomenting this story.
I’ll write more on this as soon as I get a chance … in the meantime I’d welcome your (charitable) discussion: What is the most disturbing thing you have seen written or claimed? What is the best defense of the pope you have come across? How have you heard other Catholics reacting to this reporting – do they believe the journalists or do they believe the pope?
update – more: Ross Douthat has a fairly even treatment of the situation, and what it means in terms of liberal/orthodox tendencies in interpreting it. And veteran Vatican-watcher John Allen documents the swift actions Pope Benedict, as Cardinal Ratzinger, took while in the CDF to address the problem of clergy sexual abuse. Raymond Arroyo has re-published a second op-ed by Fr. de Souza which is excellent.
update 2 – if you are looking for more reading, Sean Murphy at Catholic Education Resource Center has written a lengthy (80+ reference) and much shorter response to Christopher Hitchens’ “venemous attack” on the pope. George Weigel writes about the “Scoundrel [New York] Times” at On the Square. Finally, Fr. Longenecker debunks some of the myths surrounding media reports about pedophile priests.
update 3 – the Anchoress has a must-read update on this story, leading with this:
Archbishop Timothy Dolan got a stand ovation in the middle of mass, this weekend, for his passionate defense of Pope Benedict XVI against what seems to be a concerted effort to undo his papacy, via distortion and a media rushing-to-judge.
update 4 – even more context from John Allen. Damian Thompson is also an essential resource for this story, partly because he lives in the UK where some of the most violent attacks are being made.