Posted by Paddy MacLachlan
The long established website catholicculture.org runs a regular monitoring and appraisal system for other Catholic-related sites. It accords the sites with rankings of green, amber or red, the meaning of each classification being self-explanatory.
A quick perusal of its top rated “green light” listings holds few surprises, but a scrutiny of its danger-rated “red light” listings might raise a few eyebrows. A number of sites that are openly critical of Catholicism make their way onto it, as do sites that espouse contentious causes such as women’s ordinations or the acceptance of homosexuality. Much as you would expect.
But the Jesuit-published America, the National Catholic Weekly is also on the list, to our surprise. The reviewers says that many of its articles “should be read only with extreme caution (as) some of the authors and material directly oppose or undermine the Church’s teachings and authority.”
The Dominican-sponsored Aquinas Institute of Theology website also gets a hammering. The reviewer writes: “many of the courses offered by the Institute are littered with Protestant viewpoints and feminism, and often focus on a “contemporary” understanding of the Church. Those searching for an authentic preparation for ministry should look elsewhere.”
The Franciscans International site is described as ”a sad example of the decline of many of the traditional religious orders.” And the reviewer is, if anything, even more dismissive of the Maryknoll mission. “With few exceptions this site has nothing of real value for Catholics,” it says.
However, to its great credit, Catholic Culture does post a link to each site alongside its review, so you have the opportunity to make your own mind up.
Do you think the reviewer’s comments are fair? Let us know your views.
