The New York Times works itself into a pretzel on the sexual orientation of father Mychal Judge, whose spiritual heroism is rightly seen as a shining moment on that terrible day of 9/11:
Many Roman Catholics find in him a positive, indeed shining, example of a priest at a time when the priestly image is suffering from the sexual abuse scandal in the Church. His Irish-American friends celebrate his Irishness. Firefighters across the country have embraced him as the chaplain of chaplains. Another group has publicly sung Father Judge’s praises since his death: gay rights advocates. Some have spoken openly about what they say was his homosexual orientation, and the former New York City fire commissioner, Thomas Von Essen, said that Father Judge had long ago come out to him.
“What they say was his homosexual orientation”? Judge was gay; he told others; many others knew. This is not a debatable matter, even if it offends some people. And why on earth should it offend people? Is it Catholic doctrine now that gay people cannot be heroes and saints? The notion that bearing witness to his orientation is somehow “using” his memory is equally offensive. It was a part of his life and soul. It’s not the only thing, or even the main thing, about his life and work. But it matters. In the current church, where Rome is clearly moving toward a purge of gay priests, the example of this one great gay priest is a severe problem for the reactionaries. Perhaps Judge’s posthumous sanctity will be shown in resisting the forces of darkness and intolerance that are now circling the heart of Rome.
THE TIMES AND POLLS: It’s gotten to the point now that I always check the actual poll when reading the New York Times’ version. This particular story is from the AP, so I’m not sure where the bias lies. But the Times headline is a complete distortion of the poll numbers. The Times’ story reads: ‘Poll: Support For Iraq Action Drops.” The poll itself shows that on the generic question of supporting military action against Iraq, those supporting it numbered 59 percent in June and 64 percent today. Those opposing it dropped from 34 percent to 21 percent. Lies, damned lies, and the New York Times!
The Dish 