Bishop on journalists' responsibilities

Bishop Nikol Cauchi appealed to journalists to act responsibly and be guided by truth and objectivity in his homily during a Mass marking the feast of St Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists.

The Mass was concelebrated recently at the church of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Victoria by Bishop Cauchi and eight priests involved in the Church media and community radio stations.

The service was led by Chev. Joe M. Attard, secretary of the Gozo Tourism Association. The Lesson was read by Charles Spiteri, president of the Gozo Journalists' Association, and the responsorial psalm by Joe Bajada, representing the Gozo Sports Writers Association.

In his homily, Bishop Cauchi said that in countries which denied their citizens the right to freedom of expression there was no democracy but totalitarian regimes. This is why the Church upholds the right to freedom of exprsssion.

But this right also entailed responsibility by the media. Those involved in the diffusion of information should observe certain rules and criteria, Bishop Cauchi said. Every journalist, particularly if he or she is Catholic, should be guided by truth and objectivity, and act with prudence, justice and respect towards others.

If a journalist had the right to freedom of expression and information, persons in the news too had the right to privacy and the freedom to enjoy it and protect it as long as it had nothing to do with their public lives.

Bishop Cauchi said that a journalist had a difficult and sometimes dangerous task, and we often hear of journalists and other media people who are killed in the course of their duties.

He urged prayers for journalists to enable them to carry out their work for the benefit of society.

Mass was followed by a reception at the Sisters' convent.