The Reverent and the Rude

"Is the Pope Catholic?" we ask, meaning, "Are you kidding?" But when a pope dies, one is tempted to ask, "Is the media Catholic?" and one is not kidding. For a few days at least, our journalists seem caught up in a contest to see who can achieve the most sublime level of reverence. The anchors turn toward the camera, and in the split second before their voices go "live," their faces achieve baroque expressions of dolor....I think that journalistic reverence stands out mostly by way of contrast with the media's own affectation of "attitude," its surly insinuation that everything and everyone is fair game for its all-seeing eye. "Is nothing sacred?" we ask, and lo and behold, as incredible as a new star rising over Bethlehem, the media proclaims that something is.

[via The Revealer]