Opinion: Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times, Backhanded Compliments of the Catholic Church

By Deacon Keith Fournier
5/6/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Nicholas Kristoff in an editorial entitled "Who Can Mock This Church" does just that - he mocks the Catholic Church. While I am always happy to see the little ones who serve so faithfully in the Body of Christ called into the public eye by any commentator, woven throughout this backhanded compliment are derogatory caricatures of Catholicism. His true intent needs to be exposed. He continues the anti-Catholic agenda of the New York Times.

Nicholas D. Kristof.

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CHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) - On May 1, 2010, Op-Ed Columnist for the New York Times, Nicholas D. Kristof, penned another opinion piece on the Catholic Church. It was entitled "Who Can Mock This Church?" Ostensibly, he wanted to call attention to some of the wonderful faithful Catholics serving selflessly in the world. Writing from Sudan where he met some of the many such servants of the Lord, he purported to be responding to his own rhetorical question. In fact, his editorial mocks the Church.

Was it irony? Was it ignorance? I propose it was something more. It was a "backhanded compliment". It was also an example of subtle Anti-Catholicism, the kind that is sometimes even more dangerous than the run of the mill kind which the New York Times now regularly spews forth.

A "backhanded compliment" comes disguised as a compliment but is actually a way of expressing disdain or demonstrating condescension. We are all aware of the more obvious kind of such verbal darts: "That dress is lovely; it does wonders for your figure", "You're smarter than you look", "You drive very well, for a woman". . Kristoff began his editorial with these words: "Maybe the Catholic Church should be turned upside down. Jesus wasn't known for pontificating from palaces, covering up scandals, or issuing Paleolithic edicts on social issues. Does anyone think he would have protected clergymen who raped children?"

It's like asking your colleague at work in front of the entire staff, "When did you stop beating your wife?" Even though the poor fellow never laid a hand on her and loves her deeply - no matter how he answers he is destined to have his reputation and standing in the community impugned. In fact, the question is designed to do just that! So was this awful introduction, written for the whole world to read!

He continues: "Yet if the top of the church has strayed from its roots, (It hasn't) much of its base is still deeply inspiring. I came here to impoverished southern Sudan to write about Sudanese problems, not the Catholic Church's. Yet once again, I am awed that so many of the selfless people serving the world's neediest are lowly nuns and priests - notable not for the grandeur of their vestments but for the grandness of their compassion. As I've noted before, there seem to be two Catholic Churches, the old boys' club of the Vatican and the grass-roots network of humble priests, nuns and laity in places like Sudan."

He is using his words as weapons. He appears intent on turning the faithful of the Church against her. He also seeks to denigrate the Church in the eyes of the world. He contrasts the vestments of those who serve at the Liturgy (by the way Mr. Kristoff, every priest wears vestments including those who work directly with the poor) with compassion. Some of the most compassionate ordained members of the Church I know also have some of the most beautiful vestments. The two are actually connected.

These Bishops, Priests, and Deacons love the Lord Jesus Christ and honor him in many ways; by recognizing Him in the face of the poor and by dressing in a manner which befits worship of the only true and eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords when they serve at the Altar. This dig at Church vestments is one of the oldest slurs used by anti-Catholics.

It's just another version of the biblical story of the disciples who rebuked the woman who poured expensive perfume on the Lord at the house of Simon the Leper because the money could have been sold and given to the poor. (Matt. 26:7) One of the leading voices of objection was a man named Judas. Even St. John Vianney, the poor Cure d' Ars, and the Little Poor Man of Assisi, St. Francis insisted on proper vestments to honor the Lord at the Altar.

Kristof's suggestion that the Church be "turned upside down" reveals his true intent. He views the Church through a power matrix as some sort of corporation with misguided CEO's at the top. He wants to restructure it. However, the Church is a communion of all who have been baptized into Christ and are joined in Him with one another - for the sake of the world. This caricature of top down/oppressive institutionalism is an old canard of anti-Catholicism.

It also strikes at the heart of what Catholics believe about the purpose of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. We believe the Lord came to establish the Church, founding it upon His Apostles. The Church is His Body. He structured it. He continues His redemptive work through the Church until He returns. The Church is not some-thing- an organization which we made up and can refashion as we see fit. Rather, it is "Some-One", the Same One who was raised from the Dead and is with us now in his Body until he returns.

The Church is the "new world" and is meant to become the ...

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1 - 10 of 33 Comments

Raymond Forsch
2 years ago
Mr Kristoff has a long history of spewing Anti-Catholic Bigotry. Granted he does so in a deceitful way, but lets just imagine he said the same thing about Jewish people. If he began his column "Maybe Judaism should be turned upside down." then he launched into a diatribe about greed, corruption, banking scandals, the theft of Palestinian homelands. Buffering it with accounts of good works by individual Jewish people. An obligatory "Some of my best friends are Jews." But we all know his Jewish bosses at the NYT would never let that happen. Let's not hold our breath waiting for any Op-Ed piece that questions the leadership of a religion other than Catholicism.

If this were the only smear against Catholics, from the poison pen of Kristoff, it could perhaps be overlooked. In his columns "The Pope and AIDS" and "Learning From the Sin of Sodom" he practically flat out accused the Pope and Vatican for causing the AIDS epidemic. Apparently administering to the poor and sick, paying for medicine, vacines and hospital beds, providing for the childern left orphaned is not enough. Kristoff thinks the proper role of religion is to hand out condoms on the street corner (funny how he doesn't criticize Islam of Judaism for failing to do so) In "Taking Bin Laden's Side" he dredged up the Crusades. In "A Church Mary Can Love" He began with an insulting and lame joke about the Holy Mother. He referred to some Gnostic writings as being a Gospel. Newsflash: There are 4 and only 4 Gospels. Mr. Kristoff, to the best of my knowledge has never questioned other religious groups about what is, or is not, in their religious books. Why only Catholics? In "Healers of 9 11" He makes a point of stating Susan Retnik is Jewish, but says nothing about the co-founding member of Beyond the 11th, Patti Quigley being Catholic. And in "Is This America" he goes out of his way to defend Moslems, distancing the Islamic faith from the actions of a few of its members. Ironic, considering that the NYT, has done their best to brand all Catholics Clergy as pedophiles, due to the actions of a small minority. He has yet to suggest that "Maybe Islam should be turned upside down" to stop terrorism.
Anthony Moore
2 years ago
I think Mr. Kristof's article is very fair, and much more balanced than anything we could hope from the Irish press. It is unclear to me whether Mr. Kristof is a catholic, lapsed or other denomination. It is obvious from his writings that Mr. Kristof has rejected aspects of catholic doctrine, but it is equally certain that having found the 'great soul' of the church, his return or conversion to catholicism would become unstopaple if, with grace, he could reconcile the church's moral teaching/hierararchical structures with the great underbelly of good he witnesses. He will hopefully recognise that in spite of the frality of the human dimension of the church the structures/ moral teaching and the works are not ultimately contradictory, but opposite sides of the same coin. I had never heard of Mr. Kristof until 6th June 2010. I cannot understand how anybody considers his article as unbalanced, and I would wish him, his wife and family that they will find the Truth which they are so obviously seeking.
Cecilia
3 years ago
I just believe that we should not give value to the ignorance of these people by sending their message all over the internet. I prefer to pray for them that God will change their hearts ( and if He doesn't change their hearts, may He break their ankles so we'll know them by their limping.) We need to recognize the devil is at work, and our unceasing prayer is the answer to deliver them from ignorance.

Have a Blessed Day in Christ Jesus Name.
Steve Newark
3 years ago
What the people you are writing about are guilty of is the sin of Pride...in today's world it's known as presumption that is considering oneself more knowledgeable than anyone. What they should do is start out a column by saying ...'I believe' or 'I think' or some such. Otherwise they are dealing in - can you say it any other way...Pride.
Cyril
3 years ago
Excellent comment Bulbajer in response to the article by the Deacon. Thanks for your response to Rose, you are correct I was not referring to anyone being murdered. God bless and have a good day.

Cyril
Michael Evers
3 years ago
Deacon Fournier, I am honored that you chose to respond to my post. As a cradle Catholic -- albeit one with a significant detour involving Nietsche -- I am thoroughly aware of the intent and purposes of the various symbols employed by the Church to more effectively spread the Good News. Vestment-wise, I particularly enjoyed His Holiness, Pope John Paul II's decison to change the colors used for Advent to "the blue of the sky just before sunrise." The intent of my (I hope constructive) criticism was to suggest that, however valid your argument in this regard might be, it is a secondary one -- much as the teaching/communication value of vestments is secondary to the reality of the sacrements being administered by those wearing them. Better not to waste our ammo on stuff like that. At least that's my opinion.
Liam
3 years ago
With all the bad news that we hear daily about the Church,its about time that somebody brought the issue of missionaires in far away desolate places to the fore. I have only one statement if I was asked "And what do you say...." My reply would be "Where would I go, You have the means for me to gain ever lasting happiness.
Gregory Marino
3 years ago
Deacon, with all due respect, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, the article is a spot-on reflection of how many, many Catholics feel about the hierarchy - the real Church, the real body of Christ, is reflected in those who truly give up their lives in faith to give aid and comfort to the least among us according to Christ's command. On the other hand, the Church's hierarchy...especially the Vatican...appear to be a clueless, imperious, self-important, disconnected, largely irrelevant and anachronistic club of canonical lawyers.
jo
3 years ago
In the Bible We read 'for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs'.I do not think Kristoff is that simple.The true intention of Kristoff may be many.His ulterior motive is something that we should not ponder over.He has criticized the so-called 'bad things' like the luxurious life of the top not officials but bishops of the church, even pope is the bishop of Rome. And in that process he has sandwiched some good deeds done by the church so as to give importance to the behavior of the top servants of God.The hierarchical structure of the church has always attracted the anger of many as they lead a so-called ostentatious life like owning a luxurious car, a palace, vestments, etc.The woman who poured perfume on Jesus was truly worshiping Jesus and she spent all that she had to respect Jesus.If the priests are able to understand the mind of Jesus,or able to become Christ- like, there is nothing like worshiping Jesus in costly vestments.The criticism comes when they go away from the true spirit and influenced by worldly interests.Priests are to lead a secure and holy life that requires material support and divine help.The poor are to be finally taken into account and if no one cares them God will finally care them.In the final banquet, the Host will invite all those who are seen on the wayside leaving behind the front runners media magnates.
Don
3 years ago
Nathaniel: guess what? You are not a devout Catholic otherwise you would understand what the vestments symbolize - get yourself a copy of Catholics for Dummies.

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