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The compleat respectable Catholic journalist
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Apr 30, 2018
So you want to be a respected Catholic journalist? You want to be invited to all the right conferences and symposia? Beginning tomorrow, try these simple steps.
- Wake up, shower, have a good cup of coffee, and jump on Twitter.
- Begin the day by denouncing any criticism of Pope Francis. (You’ll want these tweets posted early in the morning, East Coast time—right about when Vatican officials break for lunch.)
- Next, denounce anyone who has dared to disagree with your analyses of Vatican statements.
- Don’t just disagree; impugn the integrity of your adversaries. Question their motivations.
- Accuse them of calumny, blasphemy, and schism.
- Demand retractions. Threaten lawsuits.
- Then, to close out a busy day, deliver a magisterial lecture on how Catholic commentators must learn to disagree politely.
Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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