Madam, - I refer to Patsy McGarry's recent coverage of the Stewardship Trust, coverage that was facilitated by a detailed press release emanating from the March General Meeting of the Irish Episcopal Conference and supplemented by numerous telephone calls to this office.
It is incorrect, as suggested, that "repeated queries to the Catholic Communications Office have failed to elicit answers" on this issue.
Mr McGarry was advised, in the week before the bishops' March meeting, that the Stewardship Trust would be discussed at the meeting. And so it was and a detailed statement was published on the matter on March 16th. A communications office cannot anticipate and convey information it simply does not have - and if this is interpreted as failing "to elicit answers" then there is an unrealistically high level of expectation of the services on offer.
It is also incorrect to state that "the Episcopal Conference has not held a press conference in almost three years". While a comprehensive press statement is issued after most general meetings of the Episcopal Conference, the Catholic Communications Office, on behalf of the bishops, has also organised media briefings in the past year covering such topics as: bringing healing to victims of child abuse; 25th anniversary of the visit of the Holy Father to Ireland; marriage and family celebrating the 10th anniversary of the UN Year of the Family; Accord's 35th annual conference (not attended by an Irish Times representative). The CCO also responds annually to thousands of press and public information requests on spiritual and human interest issues.
Your readers ought to know that, as with every good story, there are two sides to it. - Yours, etc.,
MARTIN LONG, Director, Catholic Communications Office, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co Kildare.