Synod's briefing officers told to cut back on information to media

Published: 2005-10-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The long-standing issue of secrecy surfaced quickly at the Synod of Bishops in October, as briefing officers in various languages were told to cut back on the amount of information given journalists. The move came Oct. 5, a day after the synod briefings divulged remarks by bishops on the sensitive topics of priestly celibacy and politics and Communion. The comments, made in an open discussion period of the synod, were widely reported by media in Italy and elsewhere. The daily one-hour open discussion period was a new feature created by Pope Benedict XVI at the Oct. 2-23 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. An Italian synod spokesman said it was decided that briefings would no longer provide details to journalists about the open discussions so as not to inhibit speakers from speaking freely and so reporters would not "get (the information) wrong."

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