The 20th National Convention
of Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) and the conclusion of its Golden
Jubilee took place at Thozhamai Illam Jesuit Retreat Centre, Kanyakumari, close
to the Sunrise and Sunset Points, on 24-25th October 2014.
ISAAC HAROLD GOMES, Kolkata
Email: isaacgomes@hotmail.com
Member – ICPA
The programme began with the lighting
of lamps and a warm welcome address by Fr. Alfonso Elengikal, President.
After Fr Alfonso, Justice Cyriac Joseph
addressed the gathering on the theme “Prophetic Challenges Before Media
Today”. Hesaid he was very reluctant
to call journalists friends because of some bitter experiences. On 1st
June 2000, during a jubilee function, he said in Malayalam that Jubilee
Celebrations were alright but these should reflect in our lives as Christians. This calls for a lot of sacrifice in personal
life including giving up on legitimate pleasures. Next day, The Hindu reported
that Justice Cyriac had exhorted the congregation to be ready for martyrdom.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad immediately moved a resolution with the Law Department and
demanded his dismissal. The second
instance was during a Syro-Malabar Laity Gathering. On being introduced as a Supreme Court Judge,
he said that he had gone there not as a judge but as an ordinary church
member. He said he was loyal to the
church and was proud to be a Christian.
News reports came out that Justice Cyriac instead of declaring allegiance
to the Indian Constitution, had expressed his loyalty to the Church! There was
no report on his 45 minute talk on Indian Christians’ role in a secular society
and the need to respect others’ religion.For one week there was heated
discussion on Malayalam TV channels on the matter. He said Media was one of the
most corrupt institutions in India. Corruption
in media was dishonest reporting by taking money and also not reporting.
He acknowledged
Media’s significant contribution in promotion of justice, scientific
temperament, sports and culture,exposing corruption, transmitting information,
supplementing formal education and giving value education. The biggest challenge before the media is to
uphold, protect and be Human Rights Defendants. He said neutrality is not a
virtue and journalists will have to take a stand for truth and justice. The hottest place in hell is reserved for
those who remain neutral in a moral crisis.
He ended his address by quoting Martin Luther who said: “The day we see
the truth, but cease to speak the truth, we begin to die.”
Bishop Salvadore Lobo, Chairman of the
Gathering of Bishops’ Office for Social Communicationsaid journalists have a
very important role as communicators of the Good News.He lamented that
journalism is no longer a vocation but has become a profession, catering to the
rich, the famous and the powerful. A very good paper like the Statesman was
dying because it is not bowing to any business house or political party; that Christian
reporters should be in search of truth and report only the full truth. They have
a challenge today which must be taken up in its veracity without adding other
spices to it. He stressed that we need not be martyred but need to stand by the
truth.
Fr Cedric Prakash emphasized that Christian journalists
must take an unequivocal stand for truth and justice.If we do not, we cannot
call ourselves journalists and Catholics.
He said the
Prophetic Challenges before the Indian Media today are the five Cs:
·
Corporatisation
of the Media (Big corporate
players have taken over the print and electronic media. The Statesman has
refused this and is dying a dignified death.
·
Commercialisation
of the media(full-page
advertisements and propaganda of political parties. These advertisements which
cost a lot of money (black money) result in loss of news space and the very
heart &soul of the print media.
·
Co-option of
the mediadue to Corporatisation
and Commercialization. Co-option basically meanslosing one's ability to think
for oneself. Example: In a parish
council co-option of members who would toea given line.
·
Compromising of
the Media because of
fear, sting operation and blackmail. Paid media indulges in a lot of
compromise. This is also done by many Catholic publications in spite of their espousing
the cause of Gospel values!
·
Communalisation
of the media
Fr Cedric said
that as ICPA and others in the media, we are challenged to reflect urgently on:
·
Have we as
Church taken Social Communications (specially the Print Media) seriously?Do we have aSocial Communications Commission?The
Commission should necessarily constitute people from all walks of life especially
lay professionals.
·
Do we engage
the Church vocally (writing) and visibly in confronting injustice
that plague our society like discrimination, displacement, corruption,
communalism and casteism?We lack vision, concrete and vocal church
leadership. We are afraid of our land, our
buildings, our prestige and our power. This can no longer be the bane of the
Catholic Church. 15 days ago when his office was broken open and his records
were destroyed, not one Christian journalist came to see him but 80
non-Christian journalists came up. This
is the Church today.
·
Have we prophetically denounced the
grave ills in our society in order to boldly proclaim the "Good
News"?
·
Do we engage in
social media on important issues concerning Constitutional Rights and Freedom for all?
On the way ahead
Fr Cedric said:
·
One should
never compromise on Gospel values especially on truth, human dignity and
justice
·
Every effort
should be made to enter mainstream print media (both vernacular and English)and
more Catholic youth trained in journalism/media.
·
They should be
encouraged to create their own social media/ group blogs and even tweet which
our Pope does.
·
Church
newspapers, magazines and bulletins urgently need to REINVENT themselves.The
tragedy is that Church media instead of expounding on Vatican II documents,
Pope Francis’reforms and his exhortation on Smelling the Sheep, was only busy highlightinginauguration and
garlanding by Bishops and priests. This was a mortal sin.
·
A sense of majoritariasm
(rule by majority) was being created in the country. But the majority of our countrymen are for
peace, human rights and justice. So Catholic
journalists need to network and collaborate with people of other faith.
·
ICPA will be
true to its name if it demonstrates unbridled courage to be visible and vocal
(through the written word) given the context and challenges that India faces
today.
The
other speakers were Prof. Dr. John Vergis, former VC of Kerala University, Mrs
K.C. Rosakutty, Chairperson, Kerala State Women’s Commission, S.P. Udhaykumar,
Founder, People’s Movement against Nuclear Energy, Fr George Plothottam –
Secretary CBCI Social Communications Delhi and Fr M.J. Edwin.
Cash awards
of Rs 10,000/- each were given away by India’s youngest Bishop (of Thuckalay)Most
Rev. George Rajendran, sdbto:
1.
Reji
Joseph, Bureau Chief, Deepika, Kottayam - ICPA-Louis Carreno Award
2.
Richard
Joseph, Deepika, Trivandrum - ICPA-CBCI SC/BC Commission Award
3.
BulundPrajatantra,
Delhi - ICPA- Best Hindi Writer / Periodical Award
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