Bishop to Catholic Journalists: Take the High Road

This was a terrific speech, and I hope the entire text shows up on line.

Details, via CNS: 

In today’s age of cyberbullying and online vitriol, be sure to take the high road and build people up rather than tear them down, Bishop Christopher J. Coyne of Burlington, Vermont, told Catholic communicators attending the Catholic Media Conference.

“What can I say to make things better? What are the words that may impart grace to those who hear?” the bishop, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Communications, asked the group to consider June 2.

He said he knew the journalists in the room were “acutely aware of the significant decline in the tenor of public discourse” during the last few years, a fact that is readily apparent in publications’ comment boxes and social media.

In such an environment, the bishop urged communicators to lift up good examples of humanity, charity and grace and if possible, “engage in some form of active ministry to others: feeding, housing, counseling, visiting or praying.”

“We have to be even more careful to be reflective rather than reactive,” he added saying there is already enough anger and coarseness out there. “Let’s just not add to it.”

Bishop Coyne also noted that the church is not immune from such negative discourse, saying: “one of the most destructive activities in the church today is the internecine fighting among people and groups who claim to be Catholic.”

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Photo: Deacon Greg Kandra