The Catholic press is a means - a "medium" that the church employs specifically "to transmit the Gospel." The commercial press may, ideally, have a commitment to the "common good," but they are not consciously an arm of the church. The Catholic press is an arm of the church. It exists to further the progress of the People of God, to proclaim the Gospel, and help the bishop - ultimately - fulfill the mandate that he has to teach.

So the goal is a bit different. What about the methodology? If the "credo" of commercial media is "fair and balanced," regardless of whether they achieve it - is it the same for us in the Catholic Press? This I believe depends upon a few things: what we mean and don't mean by "fair and balanced," and what part of the newspaper we are referring to.

There is a difference between strict news reporting and those sections which are perhaps the most significant part of a Catholic paper: the editorials, editorial page columns, and the more extensive commentary we provide to deepen our readers' understanding of theology, encyclicals, etc.

We must report the news, good and bad. The sex abuse crisis renewed our awareness of this, however that is not to say that the crisis was always reported in a fair and balanced way in the commercial press. In some quarters it was not.

News reporting is necessarily selective. We have choices to make, and the editor's choices show his or her priorities. In the case of the diocesan paper I hope they align with those of the bishop, who usually is called "the publisher." When a writer writes about a news event, he or she tries to give a thorough representation of the most important things that took place in a limited space. You make your choices. It is here, in more strict "news reporting," that a comparison between commercial media and the Catholic press may be made.

What about the other parts of the Catholic paper? Editorials, editorial page columns, and commentary?

Here I think the methodology of the Catholic press and the commercial media is somewhat different. People need us here to be the Catholic press. Here we must apply the principles of the faith to the situation in the world around us. Instead of fair, let's be "faithful."

If it is necessary to talk about so-and-so's dissenting views in a news article and accurately quote what he or she said or wrote, don't leave the story without a strong response by a responsible spokesman of the church.

We are, on occasion - and sometimes frequently - shooting ourselves in the foot. Does it make good sense to use the limited space of the Catholic paper to present and apply what the church teaches and on the same page give a platform to someone who is challenging the very roots of the Catholic Faith, and/or ridiculing the pope or the bishops?

We have some particular beliefs and responsibilities that are different than non-denominational journalism. What if I dilute the Christian message in order to appear as though I am not a Catholic journalist? It matters little if I reach more people, if I am reaching them with un-truth.

The identity and power of the Catholic press must be fully realized by unashamedly putting this medium at the service of the church for the work of a new evangelization - where we are obliged to contribute all our energies to the construction of a thorough-going culture of life and light. Only the message of Jesus Christ and His Church is capable of transforming and saving the world.

Part two in a two-part series.

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