Diocesan papers need pastoral integrity

National Catholic Reporter, March 6, 1998 by Jim Murphy

A reporter from NCR called recently. Would I comment on the decision of Syracuse, N.Y., Bishop James M. Moynihan to drop Fr. Richard McBrien's column from The Catholic Sun? (NCR, Feb. 13).

The reporter raised the topic of journalistic integrity -- a subject widely debated since the Catholic Press Association released a white paper on censorship in 1991. The conversation provided an opportunity to reflect on the complicated nature of the Catholic press.

My premise is simple: There is no place for the pretense of journalistic integrity at a diocesan newspaper. It might be a fine policy for NCR, which is independent. But the Sun, like some 160 other diocesan newspapers, is owned by an institution, and journalistic integrity is simply out of sync with the nature of most institutions.

A diocesan paper must serve the needs of the bishop who publishes it. On the other hand, diocesan papers should not be unbalanced or unprofessional. Good journalistic standards should still apply, within the overall context of the paper's role as an integral part of the local church.

To balance these aims, I recommend that bishops consider a new model for guiding the editorial mission of Catholic newspapers -- pastoral rather than journalistic integrity. In a nutshell, the model would hold that a diocesan paper has a responsibility to support the teaching office of the bishop; but consistent with that responsibility, the paper should cultivate an open and comprehensive discussion of issues.

Pastoral integrity would recognize the following:

* A diocesan newspaper is undeniably a house organ.

* Subscription-based newspapers must cater to the needs of the readers, who by and large demand high standards of integrity and openness. Catholics don't want to pay for a subscription to a public relations vehicle.

* By addressing issues in which readers are interested, the publisher is a better steward. Diocesan subsidies would be reduced if papers attracted more readers and advertisers through high quality content and display.

* For every reader who calls the bishop with a complaint about coverage of a particular issue, there are thousands reading with an open mind. They deserve to be treated as adults.

* By allowing open discussion of sensitive matters, the publisher is presented wonderful teaching opportunities. A well-rounded story in a Catholic newspaper is a greater change agent than 50 confirmation homilies.

* A publication that allows a diversity of opinion demonstrates that the ordinary listens respectfully to his flock. In this respect pastoral integrity is itself a great public relations tool.

The biggest obstacle to pastoral integrity, besides the leap of faith it demands, is the hard work.

After buying The Catholic Sun from a private company, the late Bishop Joseph O'Keefe promoted me to editor in chief in September 1988 after a series of long conversations. They were particularly engaging because of his experience in having helped launch Catholic New York. While it was taken for granted that the newspaper must be clear on the magisterium of the church, I believed we should encourage a diversity of views, promoting dialogue and unity through common understanding.

I showed O'Keefe readership surveys that demonstrated interest in not only religious issues but public issues that pertain to religious values. And the surveys showed that a lack of coverage or balance in reporting affected his and the newspaper's credibility.

It seemed, at first, that our philosophies nearly matched. Within two months, my staff and I redirected the editorial content. In coverage we interviewed the prolife activist in jail, as well as members of Catholics for a Free Choice. We gave voice to Catholics interested in reinstituting Latin Masses, as well as men and women raising awareness of human rights issues in Latin America. We followed the pope in Denver, walked the slums of Jamaica and Guatemala and interviewed the president in the White House. And we reported on tough issues such as priest pedophiles and parochial school closings but never sensationalized them.

We also instituted greater regional coverage of outlying areas in our seven counties to promote diocesan unity. The majority of our stories were positive and uplifting, as they should be.

For all of the people that appreciated our efforts to be open in our coverage, a small but vocal minority didn't want to be confronted with subjects that made them feel uncomfortable. They didn't want to listen to others.

Certainly, the bishop sometimes agreed with them. The paper touched on issues -- men leaving the priesthood, for instance -- he would prefer weren't a subject of public discussion. To my knowledge, he always defended the paper publicly. But tension grew through the years.

There have been many casualties in the Catholic press as bishops have struggled to juggle the complex issues of being a publisher with the much larger responsibilities for being the ordinary. The controversy over Sun's decision to discontinue Fr. McBrien's column is the latest but clearly not the last.