In many ways, I’m pleased by the way that religion journalism has improved over the years, even with large cuts in newsrooms and other pressures. But if there’s one example of how religion journalism has not improved — indeed, gotten worse — it would have to be the way that the Roman Catholic WomenPriests stories are covered.
I believe I may have made a public proclamation that I will never cover another one of these stories. There have been so many, and they’re hardly ever even halfway decent, and how many times can you say that? But now that this story has been sent in by everyone and their mother, I have to take a look. “This is an article where the Indy Star failed at covering the Catholic teaching of the priesthood,” said one reader. “Ripe for your fisking: One of the most misguided Womynpriest stories I’ve ever read,” said another. “You’ve gotta love this … Not a single question about what constitutes ‘ordination’ or the validity of sacraments administered by this woman,” said another.
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