Priest urges Catholic newspapers to encourage new age of literacy

Published: 2007-05-16

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- Catholic newspapers can encourage a new age of literacy by printing more book reviews, said Jesuit Father Raymond A. Schroth, a professor of journalism, whose family once owned The Brooklyn Eagle, at one time the borough's daily newspaper and recently resurrected by a new publisher. In an address May 11, he said the "Judeo-Christian culture is a culture of literacy" and "of books," but today's society is caught up in a struggle between a culture of literacy and what he called a culture of distraction created by music, television, consumerism and all manner of electronic devices that vie for everybody's -- especially youths' -- attention. He challenged the Catholic press as well as priests, teachers, parents and opinion leaders in the church to penetrate this bubble of distraction and encourage young people especially to read books, including the writings of the doctors of the church. Father Schroth was the featured speaker at the Brooklyn Diocese's annual luncheon observing World Communications Day, called for by the Vatican. It was held at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, also the site of the national Catholic Media Convention May 23-25.

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