The New York Times yesterday ran one of its all-time corrections, informing readers that Doctor Doolittle is not the leader of the world's one billion Catholics.
The Times made that implication on Dec. 12 when it splashed a 1,075-word bombshell called "Dogs in Heaven? Pope Francis Leaves Pearly Gates Open" on its front page.
The article baffled theologians and drew scorn and ridicule from critics of the Catholic Church. "Where do mosquitoes go, for God’s sake?" on wag wanted to know. The article attracted 991 comments online.
Incredibly, the paper-of-record based its article on an analysis made by an Italian daily of Francis' remarks to a Vatican audience last month. “Holy Scripture teaches us that the fulfillment of this wonderful design also affects everything around us,” said the Pontiff. No pearly gate stuff there.
Francis' words, however, reminded Corriere della Sera that Pope Paul VI once consoled a young boy-- distraught over losing his beloved pooch,--that one day he'll see Fido in heaven again.
The Italian paper obviously made a huge stretch in linking Francis' talk to a general audience with an earlier Pope trying to cheer up a kid. But apparently that wasn't a big leap of faith for the NYT.
In the correction, the NYT admitted it "misstated the pope's recent remarks and the circumstances in which they were made." It also said it should have the quotations with the Vatican.
The original Times piece went overboard in noting that Francis took the name of the patron saint of animals, and now has "endeared himself to dog lovers, animal rights activists and vegans."
It suggested that "Pope’s remarks will prove to be a persuasive new reason not to eat meat, a potentially worrisome development to the multibillion-dollar beef, pork, poultry and seafood industries, remains unclear at best."
Those editorial points are now moot.
It's not clear what Francis' views are on eating crow. The Times ate a lot of that yesterday.
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