Page 6 The Catholic Journalist June 2011 Newspaper Award Winners first person, storytelling anecdotes, etc. — draws the THE CATHOLIC NORTHWEST PROGRESS CATHOLIC CLARITY FOR A COMPLEX WORLD 6 COMMENTARY sEPtEMBER 30, 2010 The mission of The Catholic Northwest Progress is to assist the reader in. Serving the Catholic community in Western Washington Archbishop of Seattle in his ministry of service that unites the Publisher: Archbishop J. Peter Sartain Assistant Editor: Terry McGuire Catholic community of Western Washington in communion with Associate Publisher/Interim Editor: Contributing Editor: Fr. Marc Powell the Catholic Church throughout the world. Greg Magnoni Reporter: Kevin Birnbaum The Progress supports the faith of this community of believers by Graphic Manager: Ellen Bollard Third Place Advertising Manager: Keri Hake publishing material that informs, educates, inspires and challenges Graphic Production: Sandra Raynor Circulation Coordinator: Shannon Callahan people to live the fullness of their Catholic faith. Graphic Production: Lena Kartzov The Dialog, Wilmington, Del., “This Lent, Let’s Give Up LIGHT NOT HEAT The church’s communication problem, and how to deal with it Snow; Headlines and Hope; My Grandpop, My Phillies” by The “mainstream media” is out to get the Catholic Church. Are some editors eager to scandal — they have harmed Rome, “Jesus was pretty good spin stories in the most sensa- the faith of the faithful. at sound bites.” Joseph Ryan This seems to have become a common sentiment among tional way possible? Naturally. We can also learn from Jack many Catholics in recent years, as the church has gone Do some media outlets have ‘Always be ready’ Valero, the spokesman for Car- HAITI: through round after round of bad press. an animus against the Catho- So what’s a concerned dinal Newman’s beatification, The range of Ryan’s columns — from snow to clergy lic Church? It would seem so. Catholic to do? who assembled and trained Catholic League president Up Close. Speakers included But the fault for the church’s Our first pope gave the a team of 20 young Catholics JANUARY 31, 2010 Bill Donohue recently accused cardinals, Vatican officials and bad press does not lie solely answer more than 1,900 years — called Catholic Voices — to sexual abuse to baseball — is intriguing. And the column’s The News York Times of trying prominent Catholic journal- with the media. When it comes ago: “Always be ready to give present a Catholic perspective to “manipulate public ists, and a recurring to PR, the church is often its ANEXPLANATIONTOANYONEWHO in media interviews during opinion against the theme was the frank own worst enemy. Remember asks you for a reason for your Pope Benedict XVI’s recent trip layouts — with a pullout quote or graphic and interesting Catholic Church.” A admission that the when: hope, but do it with gentleness to Great Britain. well-known Catho- church is pretty bad sxTHEPOPELIFTEDTHEEXCOM- and reverence” (1 Pt 3:15). We can’t all be on TV, but lic apologist referred at communicating, munication of a Holocaust- When the church turns up we can prepare ourselves for headline — draw the reader in. We want to know more. on his blog to “The especially in the age minimizing bishop without in the news, people will ask inevitable conversations about New York Times and of the Internet and anyone on his staff so much us about it, and the church and like-minded organs 24-hour news. as Googling the guy? some may de- When it comes to PR, the faith. This category was very difficult, because the range of of modern-day an- During one ses- sx A PROMINENT CARDINAL mand to know Peruse the tipathy toward the kEvIN sion Jesuit Father gave a speech in which he how we could the church is often its Catechism of the Catholic Church.” bIrNbAum Federico Lombardi, dismissed media reports belong to such an own worst enemy. Catholic Church; columns was very diverse, and there were many excellent One popular priest the high-profile di- OF PRIESTLY SEXUAL ABUSE AS institution. keep up on the blogger bluntly calls The Times rector of the Holy See Press “petty gossip”? We must be latest church- “Hell’s Bible.” Office, candidly told attend- sxTHE#ONGREGATIONFORTHE ready to clear up confusion related controversy and how examples of commentary. ees, “We have to grow in the Doctrine of the Faith an- and defend our faith, and that it’s being reported; balance A different perspective direction of transparency and nounced new disciplinary means being well informed. your media intake with news For loyal Catholics, the communication.” rules that lump child abuse Italian “Vaticanista” Andrea and commentary from reliable temptation to blame the media in with the attempted or- Tornielli’s advice for journalists Catholic sources. for the church’s bad press can Blame to spare dination of women, practi- applies to all Catholics: Know Then wait — it won’t be certainly be attractive — and Are there real problems cally begging news outlets some history, some theology, LONGUNTILTHENEXTmARE UP many a poorly researched, ap- with the way the media reports to report that the church some canon law. parently biased article makes on the Catholic Church? Yes. was equating the two? !NDBEABLETOEXPLAINTHEM Kevin Birnbaum is a reporter for N11e it seem reasonable. Are journalists who cover In these and too many clearly, succinctly and compel- The Catholic Northwest Progress. But a different perspective the church often ignorant of other cases, the cultural tone- lingly. For this, we have an ide- Contact him at emerged at a recent week- even the rudiments of Catholic deafness and lack of media al model: As theologian Father [email protected]. long seminar for journalists doctrine and discipline? Quite savvy displayed by church of- Paul O’Callaghan reminded Best Regular Column in Rome entitled The Church obviously. ficials have risen to the level of the journalists gathered in A CATHOLIC PErsPECTIvE Family Life Consistent ethic of life links justice, pro-life advocacy Early this year, as the battle over health care was near- moting social justice causes. about it so much. Besides mis- ter of good manners. At the ing the end, something deeply disturbing happened. Unfortunately, the homilist representing a writer he thinks deepest level, the dichotomiz- First Place couldn’t leave it at that. For he disagrees with, the homilist ing of morality that the tactics The Catholic bishops’ con- both headings, pro-life and no apparent reason, he began was killing off the possibility take for granted is not allow- ference, true to its word, said justice, converge in the human by lambasting a prominent of conversation, not encourag- able. Concern for social justice The Criterion, Indianapolis, Ind., “Faith and Family” by it couldn’t support the bill be- person. Integral human devel- Catholic layman for saying the ing it. and concern for human life cause of its abortion- opment — the fullest bishops should “stop talking” necessarily come together in related provisions; but POSSIBLE mOURISH- about justice issues. Dichotomizing morality defending the human rights of Sean Gallagher the Catholic Health ing of people in all Consulting the source cited This was a small yet symp- mESHANDBLOODHUMANBEINGS Association, which dimensions of their by the homilist, an article in tomatic incident. Pro-life con- This is what an authentic, up to then had stood personhood — is the The New York Times Maga- servatives err the same way by consistent ethic of life is all These columns offer depth and good spiritual reflection by the bishops, broke goal that links both. zine, revealed that what the USINGEXAGGERATEDRHETORICAND about. ranks and backed the writer really said was that the simple misstatements of fact By no means does that rule plan. stop talking? bishops should “stop talking to slam social justice people. out operational specializa- on everyday life with a family of small children. Good After devastating quake, This incident dra- russELL Real life, alas, is so much” about these things. This quarrel has been going tion. Some people need to UNFOLDING matized the church’s sHAw not so simple, and Of course on a long concentrate on human life is- long rebuilding process diminished ability the clash between you can dis- time though, sues, others on issues of social use of literary and scriptural references entwined with to present a united front on a the bishops’ conference and agree with The values at stake under both as noted, justice. No individual and no major political issue. But it did Catholic health care interests that as well, headings, pro-life and justice, the Obama group can be fully competent starts in Caribbean nation something more, spotlighting was a painful reminder of that. and disagree- converge in the human person. agenda has and effective on both. the family life anecdotes make these columns helpful and a split between pro-life people Often enough, what we get in- ment could helped bring But people in both camps > PAGES 2, 4, 9-12, 19 and social justice people in the stead of working together for conceivably it to a head. should recognize and ac- church that has grown wider SHARED GOALS ARE CONmICT AND serve as a starting point for No matter who pursues knowledge that issues of both inspiring. and deeper in the Obama name-calling. a useful conversation. But it them, tactics of misrepresenta- kinds are serious, and those MISERYVOLUME 98, NO. 40 • $2.00 WWW.OSV.COM PHOTO BY TOM TRACY FOR OUR SUNDAY VISITOR years. Here’s a small case in point. should be obvious that there’s tion and unjust reproach are who work on them deserve In theory it shouldn’t be .OT LONG AGO THE TEXT OF A a world of difference between not only unfair but destructive.