Pope tells journalists to be fair and serve the Truth
On Friday Pope Benedict XVI urged Catholic journalists to “courageously serve the
truth, presenting the reasons for faith beyond ideological visions”. He was speaking
to a group of editors and reporters from the Italian Federation Catholic Weeklies.
In
his comments he said "The unique function of Catholic newspapers” is to “proclaim
the Good News” by reporting the concrete facts and real situations that Christian
communities experience”. "As a small amount of yeast, mixed with flour, leavens all
dough - he continued - so the Church, present in society, helps grow and mature, what
is true, good and beautiful, and you have the task to account for this presence, which
promotes and strengthens what is authentically human, and gives modern man a message
of Christ’s hope and truth".
You are called to "serve the truth with courage
- he added - to help the public to look and see reality from a Gospel perspective.
We have to present the reasons for faith, which, as such, are beyond all ideological
visions and have full citizenship rights in public debate. This need inspires your
continued efforts to give voice to a perspective that reflects Catholic thought in
all ethical and social questions”.
"Continue to be newspapers for the people,
that seek to promote a genuine dialogue between the various components of society,
to be schools for comparison and fair debate between different opinions. In so doing,
Catholic newspapers, while fulfilling the important task of informing the public,
at the same time, fulfil an irreplaceable educational function, promoting an evangelical
intelligence of the complex reality, as well as critical conscience and Christian
education". Listen to teh full report by Emer McCarthy: