Handling Crisis and Controversy in the Church

(April 30,2008) 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 Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is an institution in Rome for research and study in the ecclesiastical sciences. 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. Besides meeting with the pope at the general audience on Wednesday, the participants will have a tour of the Vatican Press Office and meet Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Spokes Person of the Holy Father and Director of Vatican radio, on 30 April.