Medium is message? Catholic bishops debate hiring a spokesperson

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washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/medium-is-message-catholic-bishops-debate-hiring-a-spokesperson/2012/06/14/gJQA3fjGdV_story.html

Medium is message? Catholic bishops debate hiring a spokesperson

The nation’s Catholic bishops, gathered in Atlanta this week for their annual spring meeting, have discussed various issues of great import for the church, from their policies against sexual abuse to their campaign on behalf of religious freedom.

But the suggestion on Thursday (June 14) that the hierarchy consider hiring a chief spokesperson for the first time ever prompted the most intense soul-searching so far. The debate reflected a tension between the historic reluctance of individual bishops to cede their own pulpits and the recognition that the bishops have been losing the media war in recent high-profile controversies.

“We need more help and more sophistication in our messaging,” said Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley. O’Malley strongly endorsed the proposal to hire a chief spokesperson for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is the hierarchy’s Washington-based organizational and public policy arm.

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This is an interesting idea. I know a lot of people who lament the fact that the USCCB doesn’t react instantaneously to breaking news. This would address that. But I can see how it could get dicey theologically.

I do not envy whoever that spokesperson would be. I certainly wouldn’t want that job.
 
The fact that they are admitting they are failing to get the message out is a good thing. That they want to outsource the teachings of the Church is a symptom of a greater problem. They are consecrated as bishops to teach the faith and to shepherd the flock of Christ’s Church the fact that they want to bring in a hireling to do the job of addressing the world is very problematic.

They are given the grace through having the fullness of Holy Orders to do this very work. Forget about winning the Media War and start proclaiming the truth. The hireling can never do the work of the Shepherd.

John 10:
[12] But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep: [13] And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. [15] As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep.
 
Inhimthroughher said:
The fact that they are admitting they are failing to get the message out is a good thing. That they want to outsource the teachings of the Church is a symptom of a greater problem. They are consecrated as bishops to teach the faith and to shepherd the flock of Christ’s Church the fact that they want to bring in a hireling to do the job of addressing the world is very problematic.

They are given the grace through having the fullness of Holy Orders to do this very work. Forget about winning the Media War and start proclaiming the truth. The hireling can never do the work of the Shepherd.

John 10:
[12] But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep: [13] And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. [15] As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep.
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It seems to me that most employ a spokes person to make themselves look good. This is done by spinning the message. If that’s the plan, this can’t be good. I agree with you that they should have the grace they need supplied by the Holy Spirit. But they have hired lobbyists in the past and this seems like a natural progression. Not a good idea in my humble opinion
 
Perhaps one of the means God may use IS a good spokesperson/media savvy person.

This isn’t one or another- this is in addition to their current work, I’d presume.
 
They should hire an atheist, with a good understanding of Catholic teaching, so they will be warned beforehand of the impact their utterances are likely to have, and also told regularly that while they think they know what they are saying, their words themselves are so vague that they cannot predict what other people will hear them saying. I’d be pretty good I think. Maybe Atheistgirl and I could job-share. Triumphguy could be our religious adviser. Are there benefits?
 
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