Many are turning to the Web for information on the clergy sexual-abuse crisis. How widespread is sexual abuse among clergy? What does all of this mean for me in my parish? Unfortunately, many news outlets simply don't report well on the Church. Some may have an axe to grind, but more often reporters are simply writing in unfamiliar territory. The Web provides an opportunity for you to be more selective in your news source and to hear reports from a variety of perspectives.

Catholic Media Outlets

Among Church-sponsored outlets, I would be remiss if I didn't start with the clergy sexual abuse news page maintained by the staff at AmericanCatholic.org. That page is being updated frequently with news summaries and links to current, useful information. There also is an online discussion area for posting comments.

You'll have to pay for online access to one highly respected collection of recent articles on clergy sexual abuse, in the archives of America magazine. Available at no cost is the award-winning coverage from National Catholic Reporter. Though often controversial, NCR has been covering various clergy sexual abuse stories rigorously since 1983.

If you want to follow stories day by day, Catholic News Service, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, publishes a small sample of its daily wire service to Catholic publications. CNS writers know the ins and outs of Catholicism better than almost any other journalists.

Trust and Skepticism

The U.S. bishops' Web site has an extensive collection of articles, news releases, speeches and policy statements at its site. Most helpful could be the interview with Dr. Frederick S. Berlin on the basics of sexual disorder. Three articles from America magazine are reprinted on this site with free access.

Turn to the mainstream media and you'll find a wide range of reporting quality. MSNBC has extensive reporting from many sources on the current crisis. Coverage there sometimes has an unfortunately sensational character. An article in the April 22 edition discusses the popularity of discussion boards on the topic, especially at Catholic Online.

Time magazine's site features a fine backgrounder on pedophilia, including interviews with Catholic experts, from its most recent print edition.

You can gain a journalist's insider perspective and find lots of news links by visiting the weblog for journalists sponsored by the Poynter Institute, a Florida journalism think tank and training center. A weblog is a site that allows constant posting of up-to-date commentaries, known as "blogs."

Finally, one can't help but mention the extensive coverage by the Boston Globe. Admittedly, the Globe editors are openly promoting a resignation by their old nemesis Cardinal Law. But they are probably reporting more on the story than any media. Their collection of PDF scans of documents from the now-public records of the archdiocese, including hand-written notes and signature, points to how the Internet is changing the way we relate to each other around the world.

John Bookser Feister is editor of AmericanCatholic.org and sister sites. He has masters degrees in humanities and theology from Xavier University, Cincinnati.

Web Pick

Advocate Web
This site is devoted to preventing sexual abuse of anyone by a professional--counselor, medical practitioner, clergy member, coach, attorney or anyone else. Here is a broad look at the problem of sexual abuse without an anti-Catholic bias.

Check Out

PARISH
www.stannparish.org
St. Ann's in the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth has a simple but abundant Web site. Noteworthy is the St. Ann's employment network, an online listing of parishioners seeking employment, including resume and cover letter, and employment opportunities.

MEDIA
reporterinteractive.org
The award-winning weekly United Methodist Reporter is well represented on this Web site, which is chock-full of stories from recent editions. Ecumenically minded Catholics will enjoy a visit.

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