Archbishop Lori: Catholic media can build bridges across society

By Devin Watkins – Baltimore, USA

Hundreds of Catholic media professionals are gathered this week in the US city of Baltimore for the annual Catholic Media Conference, held on 7-9 June.

Journalists, editors, and social media managers from various US dioceses and Catholic media outlets are seeking to learn from one another and share their experiences.

In an interview with Vatican News, Archbishop William Lori, who hosts the event this year in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, shared his hopes and advice for Catholic communicators.

Communicating Christ, shedding light on our times

The Archbishop of Baltimore expressed his support for the important mission of Catholic media “in our increasingly self-absorbed and polarized world”.

“Catholic communication is above all a means of evangelization, a means of sharing the good news, a means of communicating the truth, goodness, and beauty of Jesus Christ,” he said.

At the same time, Catholic media professionals have the responsibility of “shedding light on the people and events of our times, and helping people… to read the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel.”

Prayer should guide our work

Archbishop Lori also serves as the Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, which offers financial support for many Catholic initiatives, including various media agencies.

The Archbishop offered a piece of advice for Catholic media professionals on how to organize their priorities.

“The first priority for each of us is to communicate first with the Lord and to ask the Lord continually to fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we can to carry with us the good news, the person of Christ, such that the light of Christ really shines through us,” he said.

Building bridges in mutual respect

Building relationships is another important factor in the work of media professionals.

He invited Catholic reporters to build relationships with opinion leaders and the secular media, but he admitted that this interaction between Catholic and secular media can be challenging at times.

“However,” concluded Archbishop Lori, “I think that it's important continually to try to build those bridges and to keep on doing it even when the love and respect that is offered is not returned measure for measure as often as it isn't.”