Why Do Secular Journalist Get Religion and Catholicism So Wrong,?

I think that is a great question. The three most horrible news reports about Catholicism over the past year were over the Pope's comments on hell, The Vatican Document on the fate of unbaptized infants, and the whole" there is only one Church document" issue by the CDF. The competence of the reporting was akin to having a Newspaper assign to their sports writer to write a piece on the latest Parisian fashions.

Our Sunday Visitor has a piece here that is quite interesting. It is called Just the Catholic facts – Religion journalists point to reasons why secular media often get faith wrong. I think it makes a lot of great points. Raymond Arroyo, veteran journalist and host of EWTN’s “The World Over,” is one of those interviewed. Get this quote:

Arroyo recalled one journalist for a major network approaching him at the papal conclave in 2005.
“He said, ‘I know they call this the Holy See, so when did the water recede?’ And he was being serious,” Arroyo told Our Sunday Visitor.

Good Grief. This of course has real practical effects. Like people leaving the faith because of bad secular news reporting. We as sinners in Christ's Church create enough problems. We don't need this.

I do think that Catholics have got to start recognizing they have a voice as consumers. When I am getting horrible sports coverage I complain. When I think a paper is being biased I complain. Sometimes they listen. If Catholics would start demanding that people who write for the religion section or write Catholic stories be competent in that field, then we might see a change.

I should Point out Holy Smoke (which is on my links section) which is the Catholic reporter for a major UK paper is a exception to the rule. Hopefully we can see more of that kind of reporting here in the USA.