Archbishop Chaput's Hat Tip to Catholic Bloggers

Who can you trust for news about faith in the world around you?  Not the mainstream media, according to Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., soon-to-be-installed new Archbishop of Philadelphia. 

Archbishop Chaput spoke to World Youth Day pilgrims in Madrid, cautioning them that the major media outlets may not give us the straight story regarding religious faith—either because they don’t really understand themselves, or because they have an anti-Catholic perspective which is apparent in their reports. 

The archbishop told English-speaking youth that:

We make a very serious mistake if we rely on media like the New York Times, Newsweek, CNN, or MSNBC for reliable news about religion.  These news media simply don’t provide trustworthy information about religious faith—and sometimes they can’t provide it, either because of limited resources or because of their own editorial prejudices.  These are secular operations focused on making a profit.  They have very little sympathy for the Catholic faith, and quite a lot of aggressive skepticism toward any religious community that claims to preach and teach God’s truth.

OK, so where should we turn for reliable news and intelligent discussion regarding the things of God?  Archbishop Chaput tipped his mitre (proverbially) in praise of some of America’s major Catholic news outlets, which offer accurate, unbiased reporting on issues of greatest concern to Catholics. 

I was especially excited by his inclusion of Catholic bloggers in the list of effective communicators who help to spread the good news of the Gospel in the world: 

You have more media choices, and more ways to access those choices, than I ever could have imagined at your age.  Many of those choices include outstanding Catholic media like Catholic News Agency, EWTN, the National Catholic Register, and Our Sunday Visitor; Salt and Light and Catholic News Service; plus Catholic blogs, websites, and Catholic satellite radio stations.  Support these media and encourage their great work for the Church.  Visit their websites.  “Like” them on Facebook.  Follow their Twitter feeds.  These excellent media sources will nourish and deepen your faith in ways that the mainstream public media can never provide.

Thank you, Archbishop Chaput—both for the good advice, and for the kind words.  May you experience God’s abundant blessings as you lead the faithful in the City of Brotherly Love.