Editor's Desk: Shed the Light of Christ

By Michael F. Flach
Herald Editor
(From the issue of 2/8/07)

For more than 31 years, the Arlington Catholic HERALD has attempted to enlighten Catholics in Northern Virginia about their faith in Jesus Christ. Nearly every week since January 1976 the HERALD has chronicled the life of the Church in this part of God’s kingdom. Our mission since the beginning has been to support the Magisterium of the Church. We’ve been blessed over the years to have three bishops who have actively encouraged our efforts.
The HERALD is one of nearly 300 Catholic newspapers, magazines and newsletters that are members of the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. We also proudly display our membership in the Virginia Press Association and the National Newspaper Association. February is traditionally a time to celebrate Catholic Press Month and to promote readership in a variety of Catholic publications.
“During the most recent election campaigns in the United States, many people lamented the negative tone of much political advertising and said that there had been generated more heat than light,” wrote Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and a former Catholic newspaper editor in Philadelphia.
“Exactly the opposite tendency should be evident in the Catholic press which should always seek to enlighten – to shed the light of faith, the light of Christ, on important questions in human life.
“For publications which deliberately seek not to create heat, but to shed light, read the Catholic press,” Archbishop Foley said.
“Catholic newspapers, magazines, newsletters and books shine the light of faith in Christ on the lives of those who read them,” said San Francisco Archbishop George Neiderauer, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Communications. “These invaluable resources help Catholics see the world around them from a faith perspective.
“All the junk food isn’t sold in fast-food restaurants,” the archbishop said. “There is plenty of junk food for the eyes and the ears, for the mind, the imagination and the memory. The Catholic press offers a steady diet of spiritually healthful and nutritious information, knowledge, understanding and wisdom.”
Most of you reading this message already subscribe to the Arlington Catholic HERALD. Maybe you know a family member or friend who needs to hear Christ’s message. Be a witness at home and in your place of work Share the good news with them. Help us shed some light amidst the darkness. – M.F.F.

(c) Copyright 2007 by Arlington Catholic Herald