Speaking about the synod on synodality taking place in Rome Oct. 4-29, columnist Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese wrote, "The Vatican wishes to project an image of prayerful harmony in which the bishops exchange ideas with no conflict. The media, on the other hand, thrives on conflict. You will never read a headline saying, 'Participants love one another; everything is fine.'" Following are NCR reader responses to this opinion with letters that have been edited for length and clarity.
I submit the problem is with the press. You are correct, "good news" seldom is reported. Or it’s buried on page 37, below the fold. Yes, a free press is essential for a democracy to function. But even in that context there are deliberations that must be kept out of public discourse for a variety of reasons. Is there abuse of this? Of course, there is.
The assumption that if you are not saying something, you must be hiding something, is so flawed that the press winds up providing a disservice to their readers.
As we all should know, the Roman Catholic Church is not a democracy, although there are some in the American hierarchy that play to the press as if it were a democratic institution. The problem is a combination of the need of the press to fill column inches or airtime with the inability of sources to hold their water.
Once presented with material, the press is obligated to report it. The onus of the problem belongs to Pope Francis'brothers at the synod who are immature enough to follow his request and trust their fears in sacred, prayerful, silence to the Holy Spirit.
JOSEPH KOSSUTH
Irving, Texas
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Thomas Reese, in an article Oct. 18, states that Pope Francis does not like the Western media because "it only writes about issues of concern to the Global North," such as married clergy. Reese then lists red button issues for Francis, which are quite different, such as the treatment of immigrants and human-made climate change.
I would suggest that the red button issues are different because they represent different needs for their respective groups.
Interesting articles may well consist in an analysis of why the needs are different and what different processes might exist for satisfying such needs.
HARRY J. BURY
Saint Paul, Minnesota
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The entire Roman Catholic Church dislikes the media, and has for many decades, if not a century or more. Or at least since the invention of the printing press which could arguably be the beginning of mass media.
The author seems to dismiss a healthy skepticism. The synod on synodality is book length and not yet done. Is it possible Pope Francis is asking a lid be kept on what information is being released because of the strident conservative forces using every tactic to sabotage the multiyear synod?
This is year one of the Synod with year two following in 2024. A final report will be issued at that time. Is it not possible for the author to have this as a focus of his articles? Be patient as the Spirit is patient. Why would the Holy Spirit show its hand so early in the game? The humans are only learning to crawl in accompaniment, they haven't yet learned to walk.
The author is correct about the press, yet so too is Francis. He knows he's under attack.
Pray to the Holy Spirit for a successful synod no matter what is written about it.
MICHAEL J. MCDERMOTT
North Brookfield, Massachusetts
