How to Cover the Catholic Church

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24 | How to Cover the Catholic Church
comments from the bishop of Kaoshiung, Taiwan. Looking at Christians in
the Middle East? Search for interviews with the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.
La Civiltà Cattolica (Catholic Civilization) is an influential, biweekly
Jesuit journal. While strictly speaking it’s not a Vatican publication, articles
are reviewed by the Vatican Secretariat of State before they go to press. English
summaries of individual issues can be found at
receive a newsletter via e-mail, send a request to
The magazine often runs pieces on topical matters, such as church leaders
intervening in public debate, the risks of virtual reality, and freedom of reli-
gion for Christians living in predominantly Muslim countries.
Catholic News Service, the Washington-based news agency of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops, maintains a well-staffed bureau in Rome. For
news from the Vatican, go to the home page d
click on the Vatican section. Most of the key stories are available on the Web
site for free. It’s a good idea to monitor the site daily, as CNS keeps abreast
of all Vatican news, breaks down complex topics into easily understandable
terms and provides good background on a host of church-related issues.
If you’re in Rome, pontifical universities are great repositories of infor-
mation. Run by the Jesuits, the Gregorian—or “the Greg,” as it’s affectionately
known locally—and its associatedPontifical Biblical Institute canbeparticularly
helpful e Lateran lesian
St. Thomas Aquinas (also called the Angelicum, d Holy
Cross Universities e also good places to drum up sources.
For an excellent specialized source on Islam, try the Pontifical Insitute for
Arabic and Islamic Studies ore specifics are contained in the
Annuario.
English-speaking seminaries, the North American College (NAC) first
among them, can be effective resources as well. Keep them in mind for stories
on vocations and clergy, and see if anyone from back home might be study-
ing at the NAC.
For the Pontifical North American College hone
06-684-931.
For the Venerable English College one
06-686-5808 or 8546.
For the Pontifical Irish College one 06-772-631.
For the Pontifical Scots College one 06-336-6801.
Almost all religious orders maintain a house in Rome, and for many
that house is their main international headquarters. The bigger ones like the
Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines and Paulists have press liai-
sons. They can be helpful, especially if back home a certain order is particu-