Many conservatives are, at the moment, cheering for several U.S. Catholic bishops. So be it.
However, Julia “Stairway to Heaven” Duin has a timely Washington Times column today about another reality — the vestments of secrecy that continue to surround the life and work of the nation’s Catholic shepherds. In fact, there is evidence the situation may be getting worse, at least in terms of how the bishops relate to mainstream reporters (forget bloggers and new media at this point, let’s settle for the printing press).
The hook for the column is a new book entitled “Nothing to Hide: Secrecy, Communication and the Communion in the Catholic Church.” That’s a timely and important topic, especially when the author of the book is Russell Shaw — the press aide for the bishops 18 years. It’s also interesting that this book was published by Ignatius Press, a conservative Catholic company.
I have that book in my in basket at the moment, while I read another interesting book on a similar topic, which is “Witness to Truth: Lessons learned by a veteran journalist through four decades of watching the church” by Louis Moore, who did national level work at the Houston Chronicle (where Duin spent a chunk of time, as well) before working directly for the Southern Baptist Convention in the years after the great revolution of 1980s. I plan to write columns about both of these books, which pull important lessons from two radically different — yet at times, similar — flocks of clergy.
If you care about religion news, you can start by reading Duin’s fine column. Here is a sample:
The TV cameras with Eternal Word TV Network used to pan the room when various bishops spoke up during their sessions. Helpful subtitles would appear under the name of each speaker for those of us who didn’t have the visages of all 300 men memorized. But two years ago, the subtitles were removed and the cameras were trained only on the front podium, making the discernment of who was who unbelievably difficult.
Back in the 1980s, reporters were able to walk about the main meeting room during breaks to ask the bishops questions. Now you have to submit a media request form - with the exact question you want answered - to the USCCB’s media desk, which transmits the request by courier to the desired bishop.
The bishop can agree or decline to talk.
Shaw knows that the bishops have to walk some high wires in private, when dealing with the Vatican, dissenters and, well, you know what. Still, most debates work better in the light of day.
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Comments (10) |
August 28, 2008, at 10:01 am
The Russ Shaw book is uncommonly fair and good, and written by a lifelong Catholic communications pro. It’s well worth reading.
August 28, 2008, at 10:04 am
But they only wear vestments during Mass, or similar paraliturgical events. Does that mean there’s only secrecy when they’re inside a church building, or what?
I dunno. “Cassock of secrecy” sounds kind of dorky, and “cope of secrecy” is never going to be understood. “Ombrellinos of secrecy”? “Purple yarmulke of secrecy”? “Crozier of silence”?
Maybe you should’ve stuck with “shroud”.
August 28, 2008, at 10:13 am
This is an issue that transcends the usual divisions among the Catholic laity. I think everyone wants more transparency from the bishops.
August 28, 2008, at 10:31 am
If my experience working in the Church holds true in this case, it is the liberal bishops who probably have moved for less access and visibility. They simply do not want their views broadcast and held up for scrutiny.
Bishop Trautmann, call your office.
August 28, 2008, at 10:35 am
Mark:
Thus, that term I use here often that raises eyebrows — referring to “pro-Vatican” or “pro-Rome bishops.”
August 28, 2008, at 12:23 pm
Maureen, obviously vestments of secrecy are what the albino assassin monks wear when engaged on official Church-ordered missions
August 28, 2008, at 12:28 pm
The history of the past few decades shows what happens when there is no transparency including the scandals that rocked and continue to rock the Catholic churth. The Catholic church should not complain about bad press when they refuse to meet the media outside of carefully scripted performances.
August 28, 2008, at 12:45 pm
Ohhhhh. Vestments of Secrecy +3!
But the DM won’t let me have those for my elf ninja cleric anymore. Not after what happened at the wifwolf ordination ceremony.
August 28, 2008, at 2:35 pm
There should definitely be an ombrellino of secrecy. We need this type of cool item for the Liturgical Revival.
August 28, 2008, at 3:46 pm
It might be more appropriate to use “anti-Vatican” and “anti-Rome bishops” for the dissidents and dispense with any adjectives for the vast majority who accept the authority of the Pope.
BTW The jury in that horrible child abuse case in Belleville came back last night with a $5M verdict against the diocese for the Plaintiff. The crux of the case was “fraudulent concealment” by the diocesesan chancery office. Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta, who had just become Bishop of the diocese at the time of the events in dispute, testified about missing files the other day. The jury believed his testimony and put the blame on the other folks in the chancery office at the time (in @ 1995) who withheld files from him. You will recall that Gregory was the head of USCCB when it dealt with the Boston mess.
http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/451475.html