Headline of the Year? 'Maureen Dowd Is an Idiot'
More than a few writers have chimed in on the New York Times' recent obsession with the Vatican's efforts to align the dissident leadership of an organization of nuns with Catholic doctrine.
Real Clear Religion's Rod Dreher, however, should get special notice for his blistering and deadly accurate column with the unforgettable headline, "Maureen Dowd Is an Idiot."
Dreher's column is indeed a must-read. He systematically demonstrates that when it comes to reporting issues related to the Catholic Church, the New York Times abandons all journalistic standards and tosses accuracy and honesty out the window.
Take it away, Rod:
The New York Times has once again distinguished itself with perfectly idiotic staff commentary about the controversy between the Vatican and radical American nuns.
Honestly, Maureen Dowd writing about anything having to do with religion is about like me writing about the storm and stress of the PGA Tour ...
One doesn't expect The New York Times to be First Things, but one expects the nation's leading newspaper to have enough respect for itself and the seriousness of the issues at hand to require its columnist to write with a modicum of thoughtfulness. Then again, if that were the editorial page's standard, Maureen Dowd wouldn't have a column.
Dreher also targets the Times' Nicholas D. Kristof, who wrote an article nearly identical to Dowd's on the exact same topic on the exact same day.
After blasting Kristof's column as "vapid," Dreher concludes that the columns from both Dowd and Kristof are "extraordinarily weak" and declares, "This isn't column writing; these are typed tantrums."
The clips here of Dreher's piece don't do the entire column justice. Check it out. It is an important and sharp take on the New York Times' "intellectual laziness" when it comes to reporting on issues related to religion and – most notably – the Catholic Church.
-- Dave Pierre is the creator and author of TheMediaReport.com, which analyzes the media's coverage of the Catholic Church abuse narrative. Dave is also the author of two books and is a contributing writer to NewsBusters.
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Comments
Fantastic column by Dreher!
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 6:02pm.
He hits the nail on the head with his assessment of intellectual laziness. They eschew real thought; belonging to that segment of the population that says "I feel like this or that should happen, rather than "I think.."
They just don't get it. And they don't want to. Because their way makes column-writing a lot easier.
Yes, great article, which also applies to almost
Submitted by WhoIsJohnGalt on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:33am.
every topic that certain members of the left media comment on. As Bernie Goldberg said, "A fish doesn't know it's wet".
Spanked Maureen good, didn't he? Oh, wait...ewww!
Good work, Mr. Dreher.
Submitted by drsamherman on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:10pm.
Looking at the sources he provided, you see that one of the "nuns" disciplined by the Vatican directly contradicted Catholic and Christian teachings by saying "Christ was not the only son of God". This a direct contravention of the Nicene Creed and other doctrinal teachings of nearly every Christian church in existence.
I also wonder whether these women were really full members of any particular religious orders or simply lay women who had associate status. Taking a vocation in the Catholic church, e.g. becoming a nun or a priest or a monk, is not as simple as paying dues and signing up for the committees. It takes, on average, about four to six years (depending on the particular religious order or function) to go through the training and adopt the tenets of the Catholic faith to take final vows. One of the most important vows that any nun, priest or monk will take is the vow of obedience to the Church and its hierarchy. Apparently the "nun" who gave that speech thought that vow was optional. I guess she thought it didn't count if she crossed her fingers behind her back when taking holy orders. Tells you a lot about the character of someone who chooses a religious vocation and then whines about its rules because they don't suit her political agenda. Did she forget that taking holy orders means you leave your politics at the door?
Nuns don't take Holy Orders
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:14pm.
Holy Orders is the sacrament by which men are ordained priests.
Nuns merely take vows. And yes, one of those vows is obedience.
Mea culpa.
Submitted by drsamherman on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:17pm.
I was always taught that "holy orders" included the complete vows of Sister nuns.
Thank you for correcting. I better take a Catechism refresher!
NP. And to be precise,
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:23pm.
NP. And to be precise, priests don't "take" Holy Orders either. They "receive" it. It's a gift. Timothy Cardinal Dolan explains it well in this beautiful video.
Yeah, I know it's kind of OT, but I can't watch this video without being moved.
Doesn't the Catholic Church produce some great stuff?
Submitted by drsamherman on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:26pm.
I remember seeing a Vatican-produced documentary on John XXIII years ago. Very well done and just amazing. They showed his life through priesthood to taking the papacy into the space age.
Definitely I will check out the video.
Good evening MB
Submitted by cocodrie on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:44pm.
Thank you. What memories that brought back of the church music being played on a real pipe organ and the Gregorian chant being sung by the choir (50 plus monks and brothers) in the seminary. I was privelidged to witness ordinations firsthand. Really awesome.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Clergy & Religious
Submitted by GW on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 10:51am.
Sometimes, you'll hear prayers for "Clergy and Religious". "Clergy" refers to those who have been ordained. The "Religious" are the folks in Religious Life, e.g. Brothers, Sisters, who have taken vows.
Maureen given a real lesson on the real issues and facts ..
Submitted by Southern voter on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 10:16pm.
Great link as to what we are really dealing with ...
http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Gee-Maureen-These-Nuns-Don-t-Look-Dead-to-Me
Young Nuns
Submitted by GW on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 10:53am.
I remember seeing a bunch of young Domicans from Tennessee while I was visiting Rome. They told me that folks inthose parts weren't very familiar with Catholic nuns nd they were sometimes asked if they were Muslim.
Ms. Dowd
Submitted by oldfart on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 5:42am.
She, Ms. Dowd, has no concept of religion where the individual acknowledges that there is something greater in the world than being self-centered where she, Ms. Dowd, is the measure of all that is good and wonderful. Therefore, she is incapable of understanding that making the decision to become a priest or nun is an open, voluntary decision. When a friend become a permanent deacon in the Catholic Communion we attended the ceremony. As was stated during the ceremony, this was a voluntary decision on the part of each individual. What people like Ms. Dowd fail to understand is that people who choose to join the church, whether priest, nun or lay, may withdraw at any time. The key word is VOLUNTARY. If a person finds the teachings, laws or actions of the Church in conflict they have three choices.
1. Seek guidance through instruction and study on the issue.
2. Work within the framework of the Church for change.
3. Leave
Actually the Catholic Communion is very tolerant of questioning. However, after a period of 'discussion', if the individual finds themselves in open conflict with the leadership of the Church, the individual must resolve the issue by silence or leaving. Again, the association is voluntary, no one holds a gun to a person's head and says, “Obey or die”.
She's not an idiot. She's a
Submitted by texastommy on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:36am.
She's not an idiot.
She's a blithering idiot. Always has been. Always will be.