The Myth of Anti-Catholicism

Abstract

The Boston Globe has had an unfair reputation as an anti-Catholic newspaper since the 1970s, but the claim surfaced with new vigor in response to the newspaper's coverage of the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church in 2002. The accusations stems from three misconceptions: (1) that the Globe is a remnant of Protestant power in Boston; (2) that the Globe seeks to antagonize the Catholic Church with its liberal social positions; and (3) that the Globe intentionally sensationalized its coverage in 2002 and essentially mounted a media attack on a defenseless archdiocese. The idea that the Globe holds a longstanding gripe against the Catholic Church is completely false. Through a historical account of anti-Catholicism and journalism in Boston and an analysis of the Globe's 2002 coverage, this work shows that (1) the Globe was the first Boston paper to appeal to the interests of the Irish Catholic population and has maintained a consistent policy of fairness since the 1870s; (2) the Globe's liberal editorial stances are formed without consideration for Church positions; and (3) the coverage of the sex abuse scandal in 2002 was the product of fair and balanced reporting, with the antagonism originating from the archdiocese.