The Rest of the Church

My friend Mary Leary of Catholic Law School passes along these interesting observations about the mainstream media's uneven coverage of issues in the Church, prompted by her attendance at a conference last week in Rome on Ending Modern Day Slavery: 

"Whether the media coverage, or its absence, is a product of actual hostility or ignorance is surely a matter of debate.  Whichever the case, my own observation is that the problem is twofold.  First, it does appear that more often than not our scandal hungry 24/7 news cycle clamors more for stories of tragedy that triumph.  A scandal, poor conduct, or misstep by a clergy member or some sort of “official” in the church hierarchy is what is largely covered by the media.  However, the positive examples of faith in action occurring daily throughout the globe are ignored.  Secondly, the media use of language is misleading and fails to do justice to the faithful.  There is confusion in the media as to who  “the Church” truly is.  Often it seems that when the media references “the Church,” it intends to include only the church hierarchy and its structures.  This misnomer creates the same response in me as when the media lets a commentator speak as to what “the women’s” view is on any given political issue, as if the “women’s view” is something that actually exists.  So often forgotten is the rich diversity of the congregation and the triumphs of its individual members, as well as the eternal truths pronounced by the hierarchy.

            Last week I had the pleasure of witnessing such a triumph.  In Rome, the United States Embassy to the Holy See and St. Thomas University in Florida co-hosted an excellent conference entitled Building Bridges of Freedom: Public-Private Partnerships to End Modern Day Slavery.  This conference displayed much of what is good about both the institutional Church and congregations: its diversity, openness, commitment to serving our vulnerable brothers and sisters, and support for the suffering members of the Body of Christ.  Collectively, the conference provided a reminder that as an institution, the Catholic Church has been an important voice in the modern anti-slavery movement.  Institutionally, the publications from the Holy See and the work of its organizations  such as the Office of Migration, Talitha Kum of the International Union of Superiors General, and St. Thomas University’s Program in Intercultural Human Rights  have long provided a voice for those destroyed by the scourge of human trafficking .   Similarly, the conference reflected the long practice of an ecumenical approach embraced by the institution.  The conference featured speakers from all faiths brought together for a productive dialog about conquering the problem.  The speakers were not invited due to their status  or fame, but due to their subject matter expertise. 

            However, the more compelling story was not the institutional one.  Rather it was the individual one.  This conference reflected the individual efforts of so many who combat human trafficking on the front lines in the name of their faith.  Sister Estrella Castalone reminded us of the thousands of sisters throughout the world providing protection and care to these victims.  Dr. Eleanor Gaetan pointed to the parallels between the feminist work in this area and the direct work of religious orders throughout the world with victims, both drawing from a deep recognition of the inherent dignity of women not to be sold.  The meeting also reflected numerous individuals who are leading voices against Trafficking in Persons who openly discuss their motivation is influence by their Roman Catholic faith, such as United States Ambassador to the Holy See Miguel Diaz, Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), United States Ambassador to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Luis CdeBaca, Baroness Mary Goudie from The House of Lords, to name just a few.   

            Unfortunately, this significant event which focused on important discussions of combating modern day slavery did not get the coverage it deserved.  To their credit, the wire services (which were indeed picked up by a handful of national media outlets), as well as Italian, French,  and Catholic news services gave it coverage.  However, compared to the scandal of the day, the mainstream American media gave it inadequate recognition.  This conference provided a candid assessment of one of the most significant affronts to human decency of our time and necessary steps forward.  It was ecumenical and located within one of the few organizations with global reach to many regions of the world affected by this trade.  It featured all that is good about the institutional Church as well as its individual members and members of other faiths.  Unfortunately, it, like so many other efforts of the faithful, went somewhat unnoticed.  Today, more people are estimated to be enslaved than at any other time in our history.  Yet, somehow, that tragedy is not worthy of massive American press coverage.  Perhaps, the true scandal is in that."