In last Wednesday's Page 1 story headlined "Rome is to Ban Gays as Priests," New York Times reporters Ian Fisher and Laurie Goldstein reported the following:

"Experts have noted that it is incorrect to equate pedophilia with homosexuality."

These Times writers do not mention the names or arguments of a single one of these "experts" – suggesting that classic definition of experts: "X the unknown quality, followed by 'spert' – a short drip."

Does the New York Times believe that this nation's largest and best-known pedophilia organization, the North American Man/Boy Love Association is comprised of heterosexuals?

Do these Times reporters have any evidence that the vast majority of Catholic priests whose sexual use of children or early adolescents cost the church so much in lawsuits and priestly imprisonment was due to heterosexual priests seducing or raping young girls?

The new Vatican document, officially published Tuesday, excludes from the Roman Catholic priesthood candidates "who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called 'gay culture.'"

Only candidates for the priesthood who experienced "transitory" homosexual tendencies that were "clearly overcome" at least three years before ordination as a deacon are to be allowed ordination.

The Times also reported – this part probably accurately: "Many conservatives called the document a necessary correction, saying the number of gay men in seminaries has deterred heterosexual men from applying."

But the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Most Rev. William Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., declared in his diocesan newspaper in October the following:

"There are many wonderful and excellent priests in the church who have a gay orientation, are chaste and celibate, and are very effective ministers of the Gospel. Witch hunts and gay-bashing have no place in the church."

But what about the Vatican document signed by Pope Benedict XVI that denies ordination to anyone who is "actively homosexual, has deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or supports the so-called 'gay culture'"?

Does Bishop Skylstad believe that this is either "witch-hunting" or "gay-bashing": And if not, why not?