Handling Crisis And Controversy In The Church

ROME, APR. 29, 2008, 09.10 Hrs (CBCI News):

Catholic Church communications officials from around the world are meeting in Rome 28-30 April for a conference on how to spread the Church's message in an era of crisis and controversy. The conference, "The Sixth Professional Seminar for Church Communications Offices," organized by the Pontifical University of Santa Croce Rome has about 300 participants from 55 countries.

The three-day seminar is specifically organized for communications personnel of dioceses, bishops' conferences and other Church institutions. About ten Indian students from the Roman Pontifical Universities are participating in the Conference which occurs once in two years.

"Church communications personnel need to address numerous controversial issues, including public discussions about the family, protection of the needy, and respect for religious freedom," said Diego Contreras, president of the organizing committee.

He added: "We need to explore the fundamental question: How should church officials intervene in debates about topics of public interest?"

Besides meeting with the pope at the general audience on Wednesday, the participants will have a tour of the Vatican Press Office and meet its Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, on 30 April.

CNN Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher will comment on her experiences working with Church communications offices while John L. Allen of the National Catholic Reporter (USA) will explain how to show the "other" news about the Church.

The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is an institution in Rome for research and study in the ecclesiastical sciences. The university is chartered by the Holy See and entrusted to the Prelature of Opus Dei.

Photo by: Anthony Lobo
Photo Caption: Mr. Ashley De’Mello assistant editor of the Times of India, Mumbai with Fr Tony Charangatt, editor of The Examiner weekly Mumbai and Fr C.M. Paul, Salesian Univeristy Rome.