Cebu Citizens Press Council

Young Clergy of Cebu holds dialogue with journalists on improving coverage practices

By Justin K. Vestil / with Cherry Ann T. Lim
Sun.Star Cebu, July 10, 2009

YOUNG Cebu priests have asked members of the Cebu media to work with them to improve the relationship between the Church and the media.

On the third day of their annual residency program for young clergymen yesterday, the Young Clergy of Cebu, a group of young and newly ordained priests of the Cebu Archdiocese, conducted a dialogue with members of the Cebu media at the Talavera House of Prayer in Barangay Quiot, Cebu City.

Fr. Bernardo Oyao, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Basak, Mandaue City and president of the Young Clergy of Cebu, said the relationship between members of the media and of the Church is vital, as both stand as moral guardians of society.

Oyao said church officials and media personalities must learn to relate to each other, rather than argue.

He asked media to relate with the Church through understanding how church officials work out ways to handle the challenges they encounter.

Speakers at the dialogue led by CCPC executive director and Sun.Star Cebu editor-in-chief Pachico Seares also advised the young priests on how to deal with the media, particularly in issuing statements, such as by getting the advice of a lawyer, or by giving their side to the media through other outlets such as letters to the editor in the opinion pages of community papers.

Clearing the air

Aside from Seares, Bobby Nalzaro, radio and TV personality and Sun.Star Cebu columnist, Eddie Barrita, lawyer and Sun.Star Cebu columnist, and Cherry Ann Lim, Sun.Star Cebu managing editor for special pages and features, also attended the dialogue.

For almost a decade, the Archdiocese of Cebu has been hounded by various scandals involving priests, with reports stating that church officials are issuing “gag orders” to prevent priests from commenting on the issue.

In a film screened during the dialogue, “Covering Priests: Clearing the Air, Bridging the Gap,” Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said there was no such gag order.

Produced by the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC), the film features views of the clergy, headed by Cardinal Vidal, and the media on the handling of crisis stories involving the Church.

Aside from the alleged gag order, other issues tackled during the dialogue were how media outfits identified priests in alleged scandals and how they reported on speculations against priests.

Conditions

Back in 2006, the CCPC issued guidelines to media practitioners on how to handle issues concerning members of the clergy, such as priests and bishops.

According to guidelines issued by CCPC, a priest or any religious official who is accused of criminal or civil wrongdoing cannot be named until a complaint is filed with the prosecutor’s office or in court, or unless the press is able to get the side of the religious official, personally or by a spokesperson, or unless by extensive inquiry media is convinced there is probable cause, and not just because other media outfits have named or otherwise identified the religious official.

But in the last case, media must always see to it that the story or commentary includes the side of the religious official, not necessarily from him but from others who are familiar with the facts.

Finally, a religious official can be named if the religious group or denomination to which he belongs names or otherwise identifies him.