A seminar for journalists covering the Church

By Thomas V. Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | Jun 18, 2014 | In On the Good

The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome is offering an intensive one-week English seminar for foreign journalists who write about the Church. The seminar, which goes from Sept. 8-14, is titled The Church Up Close: Covering Catholicism in the Age of Francis.

According to the website, "Participants will receive a basic sense of the lay of the land at the Vatican; a serious, in-depth analysis of specific hot-button issues confronting today’s Church; a personal introduction to some knowledgeable insiders and key players in Rome; a taste of the rich history and culture behind contemporary Church affairs; a chance to dialogue, in an ideal setting, with journalists from around the world, on the complex relationships between religion and the media." The seminar also includes visits to important Catholic sites in Rome, and meetings with curial officials, expert analysts and veteran Vatican journalists.

It goes without saying that the secular media could do with a better understanding of the Catholic Church and of Vatican affairs. Perhaps if more journalists attend this seminar, our own Phil Lawler won't have to spend so much of his precious time correcting shoddy coverage of the Church!

The seminar is intended for foreign journalists from any country, but fluency in English is required. The deadline to apply and request a scholarship is June 25th.