Communication in a Powder-Keg World [Pope Benedict XVI]

CatholicExchange.com ^ | 09-22-06 | Russell Shaw

[Salvation]

by Russell Shaw

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Communication in a Powder-Keg World

09/22/06

		Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., new director of the Vatican press office, recently remarked that he saw no need to interpret the thinking of Pope Benedict XVI. The pope does an excellent job of speaking for himself and doesn't need interpreters, the priest explained.
In This Article... Here’s What I Meant Unintended Consequences Imagine That

Here’s What I Meant

Poor Father Lombardi! Scarcely had he uttered those sentiments when all Hades broke loose over Pope Benedict's comments about Islam. All of sudden the director of the sala stamp found himself scrambling, along with the pope and others in the Vatican, to interpret the papal comments in Regensburg and douse the raging flames of Islamic wrath.

There are many conclusions to be drawn from this painful episode. Begin with the fact that Pope Benedict was seriously misunderstood and grievously misinterpreted by outraged Muslims. It appears that the angry residents of the famous Arab "street" were misled by the media, misled by their leaders, and above all misled by their own readiness to see themselves as victims.

But these ugly events also underscore another important lesson, one that has to do with communication — and miscommunication — in the Church. The lesson is that popes and churchmen, like other public figures, need to receive and heed prudent advice from seasoned communicators before they speak publicly about sensitive matters.

Unintended Consequences

As people who've spent time giving such counsel are all too aware, however, it can often be difficult to get people at the top to seek such advice and listen to it. Hubris, carelessness, or failure to grasp the dynamics of the media world underlie many a costly gaffe.

And the pope? I don't pretend to know the inner workings of the Apostolic Palace these days, but it seems pretty clear that Pope Benedict, writing in the manner of the professor he once was, composed his complex Regensburg remarks on faith and reason without worrying much about the public relations implications of what he proposed to say. In anecdotally quoting — in a speech intended for delivery in an academic setting — a 14th-century Byzantine emperor's highly critical comments about Islam and Mohammed, without embracing them himself, he evidently saw no pitfalls ahead.

A smart and experienced media advisor might have begged to differ. Unfortunately, it's unlikely any such advisor ever got the chance.

Imagine That

It's easy to blame the media for quoting out of context in a case like this, and to some extent the blame is deserved. Still, no one familiar with the way media work would have imagined that the guys from AP, Reuters and the rest were going to spend time trying to parse Pope Benedict's subtle thoughts about philosophy, religion, and interfaith dialogue. The job of reporters in such situations is to discern and report whatever news they find there — and when the head of the Catholic Church says (or simply quotes) something violently critical of Islam, that very definitely is news.

I was reminded by this incident of something the Vatican's own social communications council said a few years ago in a document called Ethics in Communications. It says in part:

The Church would be well served if more of those who hold offices and perform functions in her name received communication training. This is true not only of seminarians, persons in formation in religious communities, and young lay Catholics, but Church personnel generally.

That's a good point and one applicable, as the Regensburg uproar indicates, starting at the very top. Obviously it would be absurd to expect a pope to be a PR professional. Now and then, though, he needs to hear from those who are.

Russell Shaw is a freelance writer from Washington, D.C. You can email him at RShaw10290@aol.com.

[Salvation]

Communication, communication, communication!

[Salvation]

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[TheCrusader]

"It appears that the angry residents of the famous Arab "street" were misled by the media, misled by their leaders, and above all misled by their own readiness to see themselves as victims."

I think the Holy Father's words were 'misinterpreted' by muslims simply because of their hatred for Christianity. When people truly hate others, they will never accurately hear what is being said by them.

I believe that once people begin to understand that islam is all about hatred, fear, oppression, despotism, conquest and bloodshed, they won't have the need anymore to try to "understand" muslim rage. Evil is what it is, hateful, restless, implacable, vile, rude and vengeful. Conquest, warfare, fury and cruelty are what mohammed taught; peace, love and service are what Christ taught; so understanding islam's violent response to all things Christian and Western should not be difficult for Christians to understand.

[Theophane]

Now is the time to rally around the Holy Father. Now is not the time to quibble about this or that.

It sends the wrong message for Mr. Shaw to raise the issue of the need for media consultants at this time, and in this manner. Those issues can be addressed later, in the proper Vatican offices in a non-public and deliberate manner.

I am surprised that such a savvy and normally very Roman person as Mr. Shaw would come forward with these comments now. It makes the lurking Straussian in me wonder what is the hidden ("esoteric") message behind the stated ("exoteric") points.

[Suzy Quzy]

Mr. Shaw doesn't even capitalize the word Pope....shows disrespect.

[saradippity]

If this is the same columnist that used to write for "My Sunday Visitor",and I do believe it is,then he is just allowing his basic underlying contempt for the papacy to resurface.

Ten or fifteen years ago the "Visitor" ran a seven part series on the Catholic Church. Five parts were excellent,one other I was less than pleased with and the one on the "Papacy" caused me to cancel my subscription.

I can't remember any specifics,I can only recall that he watered down the importance of the Pope and tried to divorce the Vicar of Christ from any scriptural basis and/or legitimacy. At that time I knew that those who wanted the Catholic Church to be destroyed,intended to go about it by corrupting the clergy and denying or diminishing the authority and/or position of the Pope.

Seems the smarmy little man is still at it. I will try to find my copies of the articles to make sure it was Shaw that wrote them but I have files and files of not too well categorized info. If you can confirm it somehow,please let me know but I would say I am 95% positive it was him,nonetheless,you can't take it to the bank without a little more checking.

[Diva]

It makes the lurking Straussian in me wonder what is the hidden ("esoteric") message behind the stated ("exoteric") points.

Seems he isn't getting the attention he feels he deserves and so is whining about it in the press.

[LadyDoc]

yUP....

That's why John the Baptist was beheaded, Paul stoned and left for dead, Jesus Crucified, and a lot of Christians martyred...it was all unnecessary, since all they needed was to hire public relations experts.

On the other hand, the speech was NOT that hard for me to understand, so why did the reporters have a problem? And why did the NYTimes, who wasn't the first reporter who might have been clumsy and dumb, still manage to misread what was said?

[Salvation]

**I believe that once people begin to understand that islam is all about hatred, fear, oppression, despotism, conquest and bloodshed, they won't have the need anymore to try to "understand" muslim rage.**

Bump that!

[Salvation]

**Now is the time to rally around the Holy Father.**

Amen!

[Salvation]

I missed that. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Salvation]

I'm not familiar with the author. Your suspicions may be true here.

[Salvation]

**so why did the reporters have a problem?**

I don't think the reporters really had a problem. I just think they like to 'spin' everything Catholic or Christian to the left. What do you think?

[Salvation]

Adamant in Our Support of the Pope