The image and the mask

“Establishing a single system providing training for Catholic journalism; setting up a European Catholic broadcasting station; creating a data bank of TV and/or audio programs; and a data, news and doctrine centre”. These were some of the proposals collected in the survey promoted by the Council of European Bishops Conferences (CCEE) on the “Church and the Media”. Msgr. Jean-Michel Di Falco Léandri, bishop of Gap and Embrun, and President of the Commission of European Bishops Conferences, presented the outcome of the research on October 1st for the Media (CEEM) to participants in the CCEE plenary meeting underway in Esztergom (Hungary). Media responsibility. The importance of investing in the media was underlined the previous day by CCEE President, Cardinal Peter Erdõ, who remarked in his opening address: “Investing in training programs providing the tools for a critical stand before the media” ought to be “a priority of the Church”. “This will enable the development of an authentic perception of the Church, rather than of its dummy”. Before the rapid spread of “Christianophobia” in Europe and throughout the world, and before “other Christianophobic expressions conveyed by the media”, through “denigration”, media distortion and “sensationalist approaches” – His Eminence remarked – the media must claim responsibility for “increasingly influencing social stands and behaviours”. Futhermore, Cardinal Erdõ pointed out, given “the complex media framework that is undergoing rapid transformations”, “the presence of professionally-skilled Catholic lay people is crucial”. Hence, “vocational training must not simply focus on technical aspects. It must repose upon humanistic, theological and ecclesial foundations”. This educational commitment appeals to “our own conscience that must be capable of distinguishing good from evil in the media to the light of Christian faith and inalienable values”. “A large number of Episcopal Conferences are already working in this direction – the Cardinal concluded – this is a sign that also within the complex media realm the Church takes on its responsibility of indicating the path leading to the truth, thus contributing to renewed conscience-awareness”. A network of highly skilled Catholics. According to the prelate, the survey highlighted the need “for a network of Catholics capable of writing extensively about all issues (each according to his expertise) and ensure the translation of their articles”; it is equally important to provide support to journalists through “on-line Multilanguage vocabulary on the Church’s technical terms”, promoting “training courses in different languages at European level”. “A network of diocesan media workers in Europe” is deemed extremely important. “It would be incorrect to say that European media is marked by a defamatory strategy against the Church” – claimed Msgr. Di Falco Léandri. “However, Christian values (the family, marriage, chastity, life protection from the moment of birth until natural death, Catholic education and officially recognized Confessional schools), are the object of ongoing criticism”, although “most news reporting Church activity is positive”. Ability to engage in dialogue. The survey revealed that “the space devoted to Church activity and the quality of the reported news largely depend on personal and direct dialogue with the journalists and on the bishops’ and press offices’ availability to answer their questions”. CEEM President pointed out that nearly all Bishops Conferences “agree that a positive approach to the media is crucial, while dialogue ought to be established along with an open attitude on the part of the bishops and press offices regarding their requests”. Indeed, “relations with the media have proved to benefit from the Bishops’ Conferences’ commitment in this direction”. This – Msgr. Di Falco Léandri explained, “is largely due to intensified dialogue, media officers’ vocational training, an increased number of diocesan offices for social communication, extensive and ongoing news diffusion, a larger number of lay Catholics contributing to public debate, the establishment of seminars for journalists and the creation of real and true Schools of Journalism”. For this reason, the prelate pointed out, a number of Bishops’ Conferences “focused on the creation and the development of their media sources (dailies, TV networks, radios, press agencies…). “However, websites and Catholic news agencies have proved to be the most effective tools”. “Having an official media channel bears special relevance both to journalists and to the man on the street, especially as relates to cases of media distortion”. A European yearbook of media officers. Msgr. Di Falco Léandri also anticipated “the development” of a handbook with information on “the structures and media sources that Bishops’ Conferences refer to”. Moreover, “the CCEE Secretariat will issue the first Yearbook of European Catholic media officers with a list of relevant “media structures and sources”. “The CCEE Secretariat will draw up the first yearbook of communication officers of the Catholic Church in Europe, including the social communication media owned by Bishops Conferences. The Yearbook will be presented during the next CEEM Plenary meeting”. This so far as relates to European Bishops Conferences media. However, what is the prevailing Church news reported by secular media? “By and large – remarked Msgr. Di Falco Léandri – special relevance is given to the important moments in the lives of the Popes (the death of John Paul II, the election of Pope Benedict XVI, or the Pope’s apostolic visit to a given Country), and to the life of local Churches (the election of a new bishop, the inauguration of a Church…)”.The opinion of the Church. Space is equally devoted “to the important moments of liturgical life (Christmas and Easter), to Sundays (many countries broadcast the Sunday Mass along with religious programs)”. Furthermore, “charity, education, health care along with life testimonies and specific pastoral care programs are usually described as pertaining to the Church”. Not only: “The Church is often consulted in social and ethical questions”, added Msgr. Di Falco Léandri. However, “the local media tend to convey higher quality news as compared to national media”. At times “the Church coordinates its television or radio programs. This of course entails higher quality”. Interestingly, “in Scotland the opinion of the Cardinal and of the Church is especially requested and positively accepted since the role of the Church is widely acknowledged in the public and social life”. In fact, “in most cases the Church is still viewed as an outstanding institution for the promotion of man and the protection of values within a strongly materialistic and liberal culture”. The present situation. In presenting the data collected in the second part of the questionnaire proposed to the bishops, Msgr. Di Falco Léandri pointed out that 19 Bishops Conferences have a Bishops Commission for the media; 14 have a national office for social communication; 19 have a press officer and 20 a spokesperson. As relates to the tools of the Bishops Conferences, “6 gave an affirmative answer regarding their ownership or their financial support to a TV station, 11 gave an affirmative answer to the question regarding ownership or financial support to a radio, while 10 Bishops Conferences answered positively to the question regarding press agency ownership”. 7 Bishops Conferences declared that they own or give financial support to a national daily. As relates to the Church’s presence in ‘lay’ media, 12 Bishops Conferences said they coordinate a religious program in a national TV network; 11 declared they coordinate a religious program in a national radio while only one Bishops Conference has a religious column in the national press. “This data – the CEEM president remarked – will encourage reflection on the mode and the amount that our Churches are willing to invest in the field of communication”. “The media world – he concluded – is to be considered as a land for evangelization”. But “success with the media requires time, skill, mutual knowledge and esteem, and is mostly based on a good communication within the Church”.