LFADING VATICAN expert and journalist John Allen gave the inaugural lecture for the Catholic Communications Network of England and Wales last week at the University of Notre Dame, central London.
The event was organised to mark the Church's 40th World Communications Day.
Mr Allen is renowned across the world for his weekly "Word from Rome" column as well as being the author of a number of highprofile books about the modern Church. Ile spoke to the audience, the majority of whom were journalists or Press officers, about "the rather mixed record of the Church in communications".
He said: "Both the Church and the Press must shoulder their share of the blame. Both need to grow in their understanding of the other." Those attending the lecture included: Bishop Kieran
Conry of Arundel and Brighton; Mgr Andrew Summersgill, general secretary to the Bishops' Conference; Abbot Christopher Jamison of Worth Abbey and Chris Bain, director of Cafod.
In his 40th World Communications Day message, Pope Benedict XVI urged the media to help people "become more aware of the dignity of the human person".