AMECEA: African Catholic Journalists Urged to Promote Idea of the Synod, Speak the Truth
Panelists
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
At a virtual session prior to the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to commence from 4th to 29th October in Rome, Catholic journalists have been called upon to be truthful when disseminating information about the Synod and to amplify the idea of the Synod which stresses on dialogue and Spiritual Conversation.
“Communication of the synod is regulated by the rules of the assembly, which will be managed by a special commission appointed by the Holy Father. In this case, the role of the Catholic journalists is to promote the idea of the synod which is dialogue between all the baptized, men and women, brothers and sisters in Christ,” Ms. Sheila Pires the Communications officer, for the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) shared with communicators on Wednesday, September 27.
She added that the communication commission created by the Holy Father has been given the responsibility to communicate the information to participants and communicators hence the need to communicate the truth without speculation.
Ms. Pires who is an elected delegate for the synod and who will work hand in hand with the Prefect for the Dicastery for Communications reminded the over 20 Catholic journalists that as the synod requires the participants to respect each other’s opinions, they too (journalists) should disseminate what has been discussed in the assembly and respect confidentiality of the synod which is key.
On his part, Mr. George Sughuh, a member of the communication commission of the Synod emphasized that with the historic nature of the Synod which is the first to bring together Bishops, clergy, religious, lay men, and women as well as the youth, the assembly has the trust on Catholic journalists to disseminate the right information.
“We are going to count on you as Catholic journalists. Nobody can present this information better than a baptized Catholic,” the former president of the Union of African Catholic Press (UCAP) said reminding the participants, “We call upon you to rely on the information that will be coming from the synod.”
Fr. Andrew Kaufa the Social Communications Coordinator for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) echoed further the concern about promoting the idea of the Synod and speaking the truth saying, “Based on our understanding of what has been going on about the spiritual conversation process and what the Church requires, the Holy Father calls us as Catholic communicators to support the agenda of the synod.”
“Some activists will come up with their agenda which may mislead the people and that is why it is our duty to disseminate the right information,” Fr. Kaufa who will be with the communication team in Rome for the monthlong meeting warned the online participants and continued, “Catholic journalists should be ready to correct any misinformation communicated during the synod.”
The virtual session that was convened under the theme “The role of Catholic communicators during Synod gathering was to remind communicators to get as much information as possible during the Synod and make people understand the Synod processes when ongoing. Besides, Fr. Kaufa asked the Catholic journalists “to build up the synergy of communicators in Africa and ensure the people of God are well informed.”
