Catholic bishops worldwide met in Atlanta this week for their yearly meeting to discuss and address issues. One of the most debatable issues that still lie on the table is whether they should hire a chief spokesperson to address their nation's issues. This would be the first time the hierarchy would have ever done this before.
The debate was difficult because it questioned whether bishops were comfortable with giving up their pulpits, but also considered the fact that bishops have a dwindling media presence, especially with high-profile controversies that have been in the news within the past few years.
"We need more help and more sophistication in our messaging," said Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley, to the Washington Post.
Cardinal O'Malley reminded bishops about past media issues such as Rome's censoring of a nun's scriptural writing, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) investigation of the Girls Scouts and the organizations connection with Planned Parenthood, and even bishops contesting Obama's contraception directive. The church has had a very weak fight in these issues due to diminishing public relations.
"We need someone who is going to be able to strategize this better for us," said Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre in Long Island, N.Y.
Although the USCCB does have a communications department, its focus is less on bishops' public presence and more on distributing press releases and creating promotional campaigns for bishops.
"We have to be in on the digital conversations, and we have to listen as well," Bishop John Webster of Salt Lake City, head of the bishops' communications committee.
Although the idea was highly favored by many of the bishops, others were not too fond of it. It is tradition that Catholic bishops speak on their own behalf and only answer to the Pope.
"In most organizations our size, these kinds of changes would make half of us redundant within five years," said Bishop Timothy Doherty of the Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana. He added that hiring a spokesperson,"is going to change us."
