Vision 2010 Committee

Exploring collaboration between the CPA and the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals

POSITION PAPER

Presented to the

USCCB Committee on Communications, January 2007

    In the mid to late 1990s the boards of the Catholic Press Association and Unda (as the Catholic Academy was then known), had discussions about coordination and even merger. The concept was not popular at the time and the two associations soon discontinued conversation. In 2005, Bishop Gerald Kicanas, then chair of the USCCB Committee on Communications strongly recommended that the two associations look at ways of collaborating more closely.

   Since then, the executive committees, boards, and a joint Vision 2010 Committee have been exploring ways to collaborate. Since 2005, the two associations have held a joint annual convention.

   This collaboration is not driven only by Bishop Kicanas’ request, but also by the mission of Catholic communications, rapid advances in electronic technology, changing demographics, and fluctuating economic factors in media communications.

   John Paul II in his last message for World Communications Day in January of 2005, addressed communicators in this way: “Modern technology places at our disposal unprecedented possibilities for good, for spreading the truth of our salvation in Jesus Christ and for fostering harmony and reconciliation.” He continued by saying that the word of God should be the model for the variety of communications and the purpose of all communication:

The model and pattern of all communication is found in the Word of God himself. "In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son" (Heb 1:1). The Incarnate Word has established a new covenant between God and his people - a covenant which also joins us in community with one another. "For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility" (Eph 2:14).

   Our two associations have taken these words to the heart of our discussions. Our seeking out models of collaboration, even in the variety of expressions of our tasks and roles, is based on our belief that we are in a time of convergence of technology that should promote a convergence of mission. Whether we are a Catholic editor or journalist, a media producer, a director of communications, or a media educator, our mission to tell the stories of faith with effectiveness and energy.

   New models of electronic communication are emerging every day. The corporate world is making use of these to share messages of consumption and morality. We believe that our two associations must work together to engage in a Catholic response to these models in order to be influential in this rising culture.

   The theme of our 2007 Catholic Media Convention, “Together We Spread the Word,” (May 23-25, 2007) articulates our desire to ground any response in the basis for our ministries: the Word of God and our Catholic faith.

 Helen Osman

President, Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Jeanean Merkel

President, Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals