There is more than enough religious anger in the world. So it is

particularly disturbing that the New York Times, the leading voice of

secular liberalism (America’s fasted growing religion), has insulted

Catholics by falsely accusing the Pope of fomenting religious

discord.

In the most provocative part of today’s editorial, The New York

Times uses the Pope’s opposition to Turkey’s entry into the European

Union as proof that the Pope did in fact mean to offend Muslims,

despite his protestations to the contrary. Of course, the conviction

that national or regional boundaries ought to take account of

significant cultural differences cannot and should not be stigmatized

as offensive and bigoted. Yet the Times expanded this already

provocative line of argument by implying that traditional Catholics

are intolerant, and incapable of interfaith dialogue. The Times also

intentionally confused the boundary between deliberate offense and

unintentional offense based on carelessness or misunderstanding.

The New York Times therefore needs to offer a deep and persuasive

apology to the Pope, and to Catholics everywhere, thereby

demonstrating that editorialists and secular liberals can heal as

well as offend. The future of comity between secular liberals and

our nation’s religious Christians depends upon it.