Why This Priest Has Spent 50 Years Fighting With The New York Times

The Catholic News Agency ^ | 3/1/15 | Mary Rezac

[marshmallow]

New York City, N.Y., Mar 1, 2015 / 04:23 pm (CNA).- A lot has changed in journalism since 1961, but not Msgr. Daniel S. Hamilton’s resolve to rebut the New York Times on its editorial opinions regarding matters of faith and morals.

The New York priest has submitted Letters to the Editor of the publication since 1961 and recently compiled them all in a self-published book entitled “Jousting with the New York Times 1961-2014: Worldviews in Radical Conflict.”

Why has he written so faithfully?

“Among various instruments contributing to and constituting the political process, newspapers with their editorials and Letters to the Editor are one way of keeping in focus the truths and freedoms we hold dear,” he writes in the book’s introduction. “People with a strong sense of responsibility should use the letters instrument liberally.”

And liberally use them he has. Msgr. Hamilton has written The Times over 300 letters; some have made it to print or online, though most have not. The pieces printed by The Times are signified in the book by including their publication date next to their headline.

In his straightforward style, Msgr. Hamilton takes on what he sees as the secularist view of New York Times editorial pieces by explaining and defending Catholic teaching, typically in about 200 words or less.

Always interested in journalism, Msgr. Hamilton first took issue with The Times in the early 1960s, when its editorials questioned whether religiously affiliated schools were entitled to receive any public funding. Not long after his first letter in 1961, he became a question and answer columnist and eventually the editor for the now-defunct but once-thriving Long Island Catholic publication.

Although Msgr. Hamilton disagrees with many of the opinions of the New York Times’ editorial board, he maintains a high respect for the paper and.....

[Carl Vehse]

Msgr. Hamilton disagrees with many of the opinions of the New York Times’ editorial board, he maintains a high respect for the paper

Just consign the fifth-column Slimes editorial board back to hell where they came from.

[Gay State Conservative]

There are some anti-theists that just can't be reached.

[NorthMountain]

Readers might be reached
even if the Slimes staff cannot.

[mosesdapoet]

Not suggesting anything here. But look up what the French resistamce did to those publications supporting the Vichy government during the occupation

[CondorFlight]

Everybody should write their publications. Letters amount to “mini editorials” and reach the same readership.

Just write a 200 words or less post, but instead of posting it here, email it to the newspaper.

Everyone who posts here can do that.

No need to abandon the playing field to the other side.

[Salvation]

**Everybody should write their publications**

Agree

[iowamark]

Although Msgr. Hamilton disagrees with many of the opinions of the New York Times’ editorial board, he maintains a high respect for the paper and its reporters. Their news articles are “dependably diligent” in including all relevant facts and weaving them into interesting and understandable stories, he said.

That might have been true in 1961 but not today.