WATANI International
6 September 2009
Last week I opened a file long placed on hold, that of the Church’s response to publicity, especially adverse publicity. I reminded that, since Pope Shenouda III became patriarch in 1971, the Coptic Orthodox Church opened up in an unprecedented way; its role was transformed from a spiritual umbrella sheltering the Coptic community into a significant institution with an indisputable impact on society. The new role brought the Church into the limelight, with journalists rushing to print its news; shortage of real news led at times to fabrication of stories or the spreading of rumours. I wrote that the Church ought to stand up to this challenge of the modern age; otherwise it would be able to protect neither its congregation nor the entire public.
Given the gravity of the problem, I believe it is imperative for the Church to have an efficient tool to communicate with the media. The establishment of a Church media office is, in fact, long overdue. It should be the responsibility of such an office to track down everything published about the Church, along with national issues on which the public would be keen to know the Church’s position. The information should be processed by analysts who would proffer their recommendations to the decision makers in the Church. This would help the Church respond adequately to the media; a spokesman would convey the message to the public via press conferences and periodic meetings.
In pursuing such a course, the Church would in no way be bowing to the pressure of the media. Rather, it would be acknowledging the public’s right to know and fostering a climate of confidence that would serve to abort rumours and offer direct access to reliable information on even the most sensitive issues. It did happen before that, on a few occasions which involved sectarian violence, Coptic demonstrations, or conferences organised by various Coptic groups, the Church had issued official declarations on the topic. A bishop would temporarily act as the Church’s or the pope’s spokesman. But these remained sporadic moves which never turned into full fledged tradition. Most of the time, the media found it difficult to be availed of a credible source on Coptic or Church issues. Those who wanted reliable information and failed to get it gave up and left the ring. Others had no qualms about fabricating stories under the guise of making scoops or uncovering Church secrets.
Understandably, the Church can neither afford—amid its grave responsibilities—the time or energy to be unwittingly dragged into pseudo battles with the press. Such an argument, however, oversimplifies the matter. In principle, the Church has the right to avoid involvement in this or that squabble over this or that story. But, on a more down-to-earth scale, the fact that the victim of false information is the entire public should not be overlooked. The Church, therefore, cannot afford to turn a blind eye on the media, but has to take swift action to prevent anyone with evil intentions from trifling with its affairs.
I know that some may argue that a Church spokesman would not be immune to the machinations of the press and could be lured into statements that may hurt the Church. Better, thus, to avoid such treacherous waters. Yet such exaggerated worries are inconsistent with the Church’s openness to society, a process there can be no going back on. A well-heeled spokesman would have to be sufficiently equipped with the skills required to manage the media in a manner beneficial to the Church. His mandate would not go beyond releasing information licensed by the Church. Even if he happens to make a wrong move, it is the Church’s prerogative to correct it.
In short, it is about time to abandon the exaggerated fears preventing the Church from establishing a proper media office and appointing an official spokesman. It is about time to fill the vacuum created by the reluctance of the Church to talk to the public. This is the only way to dispel any mystery or uncertainty and put an end to the manipulations of the ill-intentioned.
