The New York Times is constantly barraging our faith … are they so afraid of losing their franchise that they will pander to the least common denominator?

We all know that the best days for the Times have already occurred. Their brand of editorial is becoming more useless and juvenile as every day passes. People are getting their information from myriad sources, and that is a great thing, it takes away the power from old media. And therein lies the problem, “The Times” needs to pander to a dwindling constituency that still thinks “The Old Grey Lady” is relevant.  For days now, during this momentous time for 1.2 billion Catholics, here is a sample of some of the stories they printed:

-Give Up Your Pew for Lent

By PAUL ELIE

-Discord Remains at Vatican as Pope Benedict Departs

By RACHEL DONADIO

-Catholicism’s Curse

By FRANK BRUNI

It is just plain awful.

As Catholics we all have made our fair share of mistakes, and sins, both mortal and venal. The difference is that we do not blame and attack those who tell us what we do not want to hear. We suck it up, go to confession, try to be better and move on….toward God. It is high time that the Times realize how sophomoric their whining sounds.  Much of what they excoriate the Church about revolves around their own guilt. Even if The Holy Father gives permission to some of the lunacy they subscribe to it would still be wrong in God’s eyes. After all he is only infallible as to the dogma of the Church, and has only spoken that way twice since the doctrine has been instituted. One time for the Blessed Mother’s Assumption into Heaven and another for her Immaculate Conception. If he told us to live on a steady diet of Big Macs, we would question his wisdom. However I digress.

The Times has served over the years as a beacon for many great causes, and, before the internet and twenty four hour media, gave us a chance to see the world globally. Unfortunately like most man made things their time is passing. Rather than attack our faith to preserve readership, concentrate on retaining some semblance of dignity and germaneness. At this point they are just higher end versions of the tabloids.

The Church will correct its mistakes and go on, until the second coming. I leave you with this story recounted by Pope Benedict when asked about the future of the Church given its problems;

“There is a story of a Jew who travelled to the papal court and who became a Catholic. On his return, someone who knew the papal court well asked him: “Did you realize what sort of things are going on there?” ”Yes,” he said, “of course, quite scandalous things, I saw it all.” “And you still became a Catholic, that’s completely perverse” replied the other man. Then the Jew said, “It is because of all that that I have become a Catholic. For if the Church continues to exist in spite of it all, then truly there must be something upholding her.”

God Bless Pope Benedict, his successor, and the readers and producers of The New York Times.