NY Times accused of anti-Catholic bigotry, cowardice

Sometimes what you don't say reveals as much as what you do say. Following the New York Time's publication of an ad that constitutes a direct, frontal attack on the Catholic Church on behalf of the atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation, the Times has refused to run a nearly identical ad criticizing Islam. 

NEW YORK, NY (Catholic Online) - The new (anti-Islamic) ad was rejected by the Times from fear of Islamic backlash. The Times has promised to reconsider the ad for publication in a "few months" time. 

The ad mimics the anti-Catholic ad to the point the two would appear almost identical in appearance and tone. 

The anti-Catholic ad was run without fear. The ad targeted "liberal" and "nominal" Catholics telling them "It's time to quit the Church." Although there was criticism over the nature of the ad, there were no threats of violence and no calls for crusades. 

Conversely, it is fear that has halted the Times from publishing a nearly identical ad from the group Stop the Islamization of Nations, with the intent of criticizing Islam. The Times explained, "the fallout from running this ad now could put U.S. troops and/or civilians in the [Afghan] region in danger."

Meanwhile, Catholics have criticized the Times of promoting an anti-Catholic agenda. Bill Donahue, Catholic League president, said the Time's motivation to publish one article but not the other was the result of "either bigotry or fear and they've painted themselves into that corner."

Could it be the Times is focusing its fire on the wrong target?

The Times did issue the following comment, "we publish this type of advertising, even those we disagree with, because we believe in the First Amendment." However, the author of the anti-Islamic ad, anti-Islamic activist Pamela Gellar said, "When is it ever a good time to blaspheme under the Sharia?" Gellar does not believe the Times will ever publish the ad.

Donahue feels the decision is unjust. "No rational person can maintain there is anything but injustice" concerning the Time's decision.

Catholics do not have a history of attacking journalists, however militant Islamists do. At least two Muslims have been jailed for threatening media professionals and other journalists and authors have gone into hiding to avoid backlash for their criticizing Islam.

And those simple facts say a lot.

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