Hudson and Fournier: Catholic Countdown to Election 2012, Day 26. Bishop Michael Sheridan and Media Savvy Bishops

By Deal W. Hudson and Keith A Fournier
10/11/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Lay Catholics should take into account how easy it is for a well-intentioned bishop to generate a controversy that does not benefit the pro-life, pro-marriage effort. Savvy bishops have learned that lesson

Our Catholic bishops are getting better and better at handling a usually hostile media. One reason for the improvement is their realization that much of the media is not merely hostile but playing a "gotcha" game, looking for an angle to embarrass or otherwise cause the bishops a problem.

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Our Catholic bishops are getting better and better at handling a usually hostile media. One reason for the improvement is their realization that much of the media is not merely hostile but playing a "gotcha" game, looking for an angle to embarrass or otherwise cause the bishops a problem.

Some of the bishops are now so adroit at interviews, reporters themselves have grown wary of attempting to trap them into making quotable, that is, controversial, statements. Cardinal Dolan, Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop Chaput, Archbishop Gomez, Archbishop Lori, Archbishop Nienstedt, Bishop Morlino, and Bishop Vasa are among those who cannot be backed into a corner by an aggressive reporter.

Another excellent example of how to handle the media was published Wednesday in the Colorado Springs Gazette. Bishop Michael Sheridan responded to a series of questions posed by columnist Daniel Cole. Cole, in fact, was not out to trip up the bishop; he is a fair and reliable journalist. But, the questions he posed in the interview are typical of the mine fields through which our bishops must navigate, especially in an election season.

Controversy can erupt at any time: Recall the controversy elicited by the 2008 interview with then Archbishop Burke just after he arrived in St. Louis. When asked by a reporter whether or not he would give Holy Communion to Senator Kerry if he was standing in line, Archbishop Burke replied, "I would have to admonish him not to present himself for Communion."

That "admonition" line became the national story, whereas the comments that followed were ignored, "I might give him a blessing or something," Burke said, and added, "If his Archbishop has told him he should not present himself for Communion, he shouldn't. I agree with Archbishop (Sean P.) O'Malley (of Boston.)"

In other words, all Archbishop Burke was saying is that he would follow the example of Senator Kerry's ordinary, Archbishop O'Malley. The press paid no attention to O'Malley and set out to demonize -- unsuccessfully -- Archbishop Burke.

Here is the way Bishop Sheridan handled the question: Daniel Cole asked, "If Vice President Joe Biden, who is Catholic, were to swing through Colorado Springs on a campaign tour and attend your Mass, would you deny him Communion?"

Bishop Sheridan's answer avoided any inflammatory rhetoric, "He should know, and I would do everything I could do to make sure that he knows, he ought not to be receiving Communion."

The simplicity of Bishop Sheridan's answer, his matter-of-factness, contained nuances that inhibit the possibility of controversy. Sheridan said nothing about a public pronouncement; he looked at the issue from Biden's perspective -- "He should know...."; and suggested it is Biden's responsibility to withhold himself from Communion.

Cole then moved to questions about the death penalty and federal entitlement programs that are not easy to answer incisively, but Bishop Sheridan did as good a job as we have ever seen.

Take his answer to Cole's tricky question, "The USCCB has also called for an end to the death penalty, as did Pope John Paul II. Are Catholics obligated to share that position?"

Bishop Sheridan's answer was a model of clarity:

"Catholics are bound to take that teaching seriously, but you'll note that in the Catechism, it says there actually may be circumstances under which the death penalty can or should - I'm not quoting it exactly - be applied. As soon as you say that, you know you're not talking about intrinsic evil, because there would be no circumstances under which it could be done. So again, I think a Catholic is obliged to take that seriously...."

The reporter then asked whether, "the Church's social justice teachings require Catholics to support government welfare programs?" The bluntness of the bishop's answer was surprising, even to us:
"Not that I'm not aware of. I think we recognize that the government can and should do things for people, especially people who are in great need. But, really, the obligation is for us as individuals, as Catholics, as believers, to be charitable toward our neighbor. I don't know that that extends to supporting government welfare programs."

The most common complaint we hear from lay Catholics during a presidential campaign is "Why aren't the bishops speaking out more?" Those same lay Catholics should take into account how easy it is for a well-intentioned bishop to generate a controversy that does not benefit the pro-life, pro-marriage effort. Savvy bishops have learned that lesson, and it's time for the laity to catch up.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Cardinal Dolan, Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop Chaput, Archbishop Gomez, Archbishop Lori, Archbishop Nienstedt, Bishop Morlino, Bishop Vasa, Bishop Michael Sheridan, campaign 2012, Deal W Hudson, Keith A Fournier

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1 - 10 of 10 Comments

Bill Sr.
8 months ago
Well said Harold and Vance.
The Bishops are not required to discuss Catholic teaching with the press and other media but they are certainly OBLIGED to diligently proclaim and preach the truth to their flocks and our priest especially in times of eminent threats to our moral conscience and civil society.
Judy Claar
8 months ago
The article was informing. However, I also agree with all those who have posted. Sunday Blessings
mike robertson
8 months ago
Catholic democrats are kidding themselves if they think democrat-run national heath care will save these "mothers with no health insurance". If the democrat philosohy of governmet control was applied to housing, we would all be living in tin shacks. If the democrat philosophy was applied to food, we would all have nothing but water and moldy bread to eat. And the Catholic democrats, with their spread the misery logic, would be happy, in clear violation of the Commandment "You shall not covet your neighbor's goods". We ned a true free market for health care and housing and food. This will result in a maximum number of those of us (like myself) in the lower half of the economic spectrum being able to rise as high as possible above the poverty line. And we could have more to help those who are truly in need.

Of course the main reason to fight the demorats with all of our strength is because of the evil man leading them. He believes it is OK to kill babies outside of their mothers' womb
even after the doctors fail to kill her or him inside of her/his mother's womb. And this evil man wants to change God's definition of marriage. Such arrogance.

Thanks, Catholic democrats, for giving us such evil at the national level. I hope you get more than 30 pieces of silver from your favorite pet social program.
John Mainhart
8 months ago
The lovely Bishops will never be able to handle any mean spirited newsperson. The newsperson may ask many questions and highlight the parts they want to show how Christians are meanspirited. The only thing a conscience driven person can do is to tell the truth, be thorough, and pray fror God's grace.
Tom McGuire
8 months ago
A good class in Business Communications would help the Bishops with their media problems. I do not see the content of this article as relavant to the critical issues of the present election cycle in the United States.

How about a good article on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching as applied to government welfare? How do the candidates postions compare with regard to the needs of the poor?

Vatican II Constitution Gaudium et Spes made a remarkable important statement:

"The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ."

Are the pains of a mother who is dying because she has no health insurance, who cannot get proper medical care and is unable to feed and comfort her children our pains?

A powerful statement from the Synod on the New Evangelization said it well, I paraphrase: We can preach to those with empty stomachs, but the message is not effective if the preachers stomach is not as empty as the listeners.
Tom McGuire
8 months ago
A good course in Business Communication would help the Bishops. I do not understand how this article contributes to formation of prudential judgments in an election as critical to the future as this one is. Why do the authors not take up the issue of welfare in light of Catholic Social Doctrine and the positions the candidates have taken?
michael
8 months ago
Deacon Keith and Deal...the time for nuanced language is over, as well as being media "savvy." St. Paul, I believe discusses this issue after leaving Athens. Dialogue doesn't work when people have their ears stopped up. No...today bishops need to be clear...utterly clear as opposed to savvy and cute with the media. Biden should be publicly condemned and excommunicated, along with any other Catholic who publicly stands for and brings about policies that are either blasphemous or against human dignity. Biden like many public "Catholics" in the Demon-crat party are, objectively speaking, publicly sinning. They are therefore, objectively speaking, in the state of mortal sin and instruments of the devil. It's time to preach Christ crucified in the power of the Holy Ghost and disregard how the media views us. You are focusing in on the natural plane only while souls like that of Biden are being lost daily because the trumpeting bishops are unsure.
abey
8 months ago
Off the Untruth to the wickedness, the Bible states" Whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth & shall destroy with the brightness of His coming" signifies the power of truth. So let the bishops move in the Truth & let the media play their "Gotcha" games, for the light of God- Christ pierces the darkness & the darkness comprehend it not. The trap they set is the trap they fall.
Harold Olsen
8 months ago
This country does not really have a news media any more. What we are stuck with are a bunch of propaganda angencies pushing their agendas. They do not care about truth or accuracy in what they report. I refer to them as the brain dead media and I have as much contempt for them as I do politicians. The media's motto should be, "We'll give you the truth even if we have to make it up."
vance
8 months ago
Eventhough the Bishops need to be media savvy, They still have a duty to lead. They still need to tell the truth. The media may not like to hear the truth but who cares? The faithful love to hear the truth and that's where it counts.

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