Bangalore: As part of the episode of Extraordinary Mission Month, the Archdiocese of Bangalore held Catholic Journalists and Writers Meet at Paalana Bhavana, pastoral center of the Archdiocese. The program witnessed the active participation of a group of eminent Catholic journalists and writers from different parts of Karnataka.
Kanthraj, PRO and Spokesperson of the Archdiocese led the program as Fr. Cyril Victor, Director, Paalana Bhavana and ACC, Fr. Faustin Lobo, regional PRO for Karnataka, Fr. Divya Paul, Editor of Tabor Kirana and Clifford Pereira, senior journalist were the dignitaries on the dais.
Fr. Cyril Victor, in his inaugural address emphasized the role and responsibilities of journalists in today’s context. “Harmony between religion and media is not easy.” He added.
Fr. Faustin Lobo commenting on conversions said “We are not converting anyone rather people get converted… Church is always on the side of the marginalized.”
While Fr. Divya Paul stressed on the need to propagate Christian values through media, Clifford Pereira quoted that “we have to follow one of the Ten Commandments ‘Bear no false witness to your neighbor’ scrupulously.
Archbishop Peter Machado, who joined the program on the later note addressed the gathering and highlighted some of the key points pertaining Church and global media. In his address he said “Journalists are the eyes, ears and mouth of the Church. We all are a message. If we do not have anything within us, we cannot give anything to others.”
Also, highlighting the role of media in current situation, the prelate added “In this crazy world, good news becomes no news and bad news is all news. When a person does a lot of good works, nobody recognizes and if he, by mistake slides away from doing good, people instantly condemn him.”