November 21, 2009 |
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Journalists from around the world gather to view “Church Up Close”ROME | Print and broadcast journalists from around the world converged here Sept. 8 for the eight-day seminar, “The Church Up Close,” sponsored by the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross – the university created by the Holy See. The seminar combined classroom time, visits and encounters with Vatican insiders and key players in Rome. Two-and-a-half thousand years of history, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and the rich flavors of Roman cuisine were the backdrop for journalists to reflect on the relationship between the church and the media. Jeanne Hanline, publisher of “The Official Catholic Directory, in Skokie, Ill., also participated in the seminar. She told the Florida Catholic she’s visited Rome many times before on business but there was something special about this trip. “This was a set agenda which I absolutely love. Plus, we were exposed to so many different elements and things that go on at the Vatican. That’s the source of everything in the Catholic religion. It was just so special. We were back to back with people who were giving us information,” she said. Daniel Soñé, a Miami correspondent for Florida Catholic, said, “The entire seminar, from beginning to end, provided me with useful information regarding the Catholic Church, its approach and stance on issues, as well as its role and influence in the world.” Soñé continued, “One of the things that stood out to me about the seminar was not only the incredible on-site visits, informative lectures, or encounters with key figures of the church, but also seeing so many journalists from around the world taking a genuine interest in the Catholic Church and putting forth the effort to better understand it. It was great to see a group of journalists dedicating themselves to accurately reporting the Catholic Church.” Hanline was also impressed with the diversity of journalists in the group. “We were exposed to so many different people in our group – Ireland, Australia, Africa – how awesome that we were all a part of this,” Hanline said. Soñé was surprised by the diversity of the church’s interests. “What surprised me was how the Catholic Church was at the cutting edge of the arts and sciences and fostered it, contrary to allegations that the church stifled those developments. The Vatican Museum and the lecture by Father Rafael Martinez demonstrated how much the church cultivated the arts and sciences,” he said. Hanline added, “I thought it was amazing. Father (John) Wauck had put together such a good week and exposed us to so much.” Father Wauck is president of the organizing committee for the seminar. “If you’ve never been to Rome before, you couldn’t have asked for anything better,” said Hanline. To learn more about the “Church Up Close,” visit the Web site www.church-communication.net.
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