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In All Things

Vatican to become 'Fair and Balanced'

Some breaking news from the Vatican today, via Reuters:

The Vatican has hired an American journalist from the Fox News Network and member of the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei to help improve its relations with the media, a senior Church source said on Saturday.

Greg Burke, Fox's Rome-based roving correspondent for Europe and the Middle East, will become a "senior communications adviser" to the Secretariat of State, the key department in the Vatican's central bureaucracy.

Burke, 52, a native of St Louis Missouri, has been working for Fox for 10 years. Before that he worked for Time magazine in Rome. He has also written several books, one about an Italian soccer team.

The source said the Vatican was expected to announce the appointment soon.

Michael J. OLoughlin

 

Show Comments (
6
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Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
Rick Fueyo
11 years 10 months ago
A Fox new reporter a member of Opus Dei?  Shocking
Brendan McGrath
11 years 10 months ago
Oh dear... Fox News?  Though then again, any improvement in the Vatican's public relations would be welcome.  But could they perhaps also hire someone who'd be able to "publically relate" better to the more liberal segments of society?
Michael Barberi
11 years 10 months ago
The Vatican's objective is to improve the communications and relations with with the media and its readers. Whether the Fox news person is liberal or conservative should irelevant. The movement must be from far right and authoritatively dismissive to a middle ground between too extremes of written communications.

This means that Vatican communications must adequately explain the issue, objectively address criticism and not ignore legitmate disputed questions. The overall tone must not be demeaning of the press or others who may ask the hard questions. In other words, the communications should be positive and respectful while attempting to make the Church's position more understandable and acceptable. 
 
Jim McCrea
11 years 10 months ago
Sure, Michael. Uh-hun. Righty-o. My offer to sell the bridge across the Golden Gate still stands - and I'm reducing the price,too
Susan GANNON
11 years 10 months ago
Apparently his mission is to "shape the Vatican's message." The powers that be in Rome  seem to feel they need a "spin doctor." Well, it's easier than a profound conversion experience, followed by repentance and a firm purpose of amendment.   
Michael Dent
11 years 10 months ago
A graduate of Columbia University's School of Journalism?  I suppose the Ivy League could be a knock but the Church has done well of late with Catholics named Burke!

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