The Church and the media

The 'A Christian Outlook' item entitled 'The Church and the media' (The Sunday Times, June 29) requires clarification.

On June 16, the Press Office of the Archbishop's Curia distributed to all the local media a communiqué about a consultation document in Maltese entitled 'The Digital Face of the Lord'.

It also distributed the document.

The media were free to publish the communiqué and/or the consultation document.

The communiqué and the document were also posted on the Archdiocese of Malta's website.

The communiqué presented the consultation document, also explaining that the document's aim was to help in the necessary exercise to put into effect what the Diocesan Synod (1999-2003) had proposed as regards the Church and the media.

The communiqué also explained why the document was being published at that stage, that it was available on the Archdiocese's website, that comments and suggestions were welcome, and that comments could also be sent by e-mail at pastoral.secretariat@maltadiocese.org, up to the end of June.

In view of this, it was very surprising to read the comment made by 'A Christian Outlook' that, "considering that this is the launching of a media-related document one would have expected at least some basic PR - a decent explanation and introduction as to the point of the whole exercise", and the question on whether "there is a postal or e-mail address anywhere where one can address one's opinion".

The 'A Christian Outlook' piece also refers to the proposal for the setting up of a Communications Office that would also incorporate the present Press Office.

The 2003 Synod document on 'Culture, Society, Church' states:

"Il-Knisja għandha bżonn ta' communications office b'numru adegwat ta' nies imħarrġa professjonalment u specjalizzati fil-qasam.

"Tajjeb li l-funzjoni ta' dan il-communications office tkun waħda proattiva" (16).

As regards the current Archdiocese website, which does not fall under the responsibility of the current press office, a discussion is already underway to see how to make it more user-friendly.