Feedback.

Q: The best thing I've read in my diocesan newspaper was ...

Explanations of current Sunday readings.

Domenica Morrman

Smithtown, N.Y.

In-depth reporting on the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI.

Barbara Matthews

Pittsburgh, Pa.

The bishop's apology over the scandals.

Ellen Wright

Costa Mesa, Calif.

McBrien's and Rolheiser's columns.

Irene Piekarski

Seattle, Wash.

Positive actions we might be able to implement in our parish.

Name withheld

Colorado Springs, Colo.

An excellent interview with a priest ethicist about the Terri Schiavo case, who talked about proportionality, benefits/burdens, etc.

Lucy Abu-Absi

Toledo, Ohio

Clergy assignments.

Dennis Winkelsas

Norfolk, Va.

Q: The worst thing I've read in my diocesan newspaper was ...

A blatant political agenda to get George W. Bush and fellow "prolife" Republicans elected in 2004.

Greg Hanifl

La Crosse, Wis.

Letters from both sides of the abortion issue. It's alarming to see such hateful and hurting comments (and not very thoughtful ones, either).

Name withheld

Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.

Obituaries of clergy and religious.

George Nicklas III

Arlington, Texas

The extremely defensive position of the diocese during the sexual-abuse scandal.

Name withheld

Julian, Calif.

An article about a local icon said to be crying tears of oil and attracting pilgrims.

Sister Michele Denton

Warren, Mich.

No worst. Just blandness to the point of nausea.

Jacqueline C. Powers

Nanuet, N.Y.

Fortunately my diocesan newspaper has won many awards. There isn't any "worst."

Billie Hauber

Overland Park, Kan.

Q: One topic I've always wanted to see covered in the Catholic press is ...

Theological "point-counterpoint" on contemporary issues.

Mary Theresa Freund

Alma, Mich.

Ministry to gay Catholics.

Name withheld

Dunellen, N.J.

The history of the church's stand on married or female priests.

Richard Silvernagel

Bismarck, N.D.

The abortion question flora the point of view of a desperate, pregnant woman.

Name withheld

Kansas City, Mo.

More on people who exemplify Catholic values while pursuing careers in sports, business, politics, medicine, or the arts.

Walter J. Kanicki

Bay City, Mich.

What about all the other prolife issues?

Kim Uding

Grayslake, Ill.

Q: If I had been a bishop when the sex-abuse scandal was breaking, I would have told my diocesan paper editor ...

Print the news. They might as well get it from our church. I think our paper did a decent job of it.

Richard J. Meier

Rhinelander, Wis.

We won't print every report immediately until the facts are known. A person is innocent until proven guilty.

Denis J. Ryan

San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

Newspaper? Phooey! I'd buy time and get on the local TV stations.

Name withheld

New Kensington, Pa.

General Comments

I don't read my diocesan paper because it's dull, repetitive, and lacking free debate. The Catholic Light is anything but enlightening.

Jean Merriman

Chinchilla, Pa.

Not only are they "house organs," but it is my experience that parishioners are coerced into buying subscriptions by pastors who are apparently instructed to coerce.

Name withheld

Natchez, Miss.

It's instructive to compare the puff pieces in the diocesan paper with independent news sources.

Elizabeth Warren

Nashville, Tenn.

My experience with the secular press is that their representation of religious news is often inaccurate. Father Schroth's assertion that "we found out what was really going on not from the diocesan papers but from Newsweek" was laughable, it was so wrong!

Ted Rosean

Wilmette, Ill.

For the most part diocesan newspapers are pablum with milquetoast, not much substance. I almost feel dumbed down and patronized by my paper. Go ahead, let's talk hardball. I can handle it!

Mimi English -Koch

Fresno, Calif.

Our paper has been forthcoming and open about all news, good and bad.

Name withheld

Palmyra, N.Y.

I had to get info about the sex scandal from Time and Newsweek. An honest account in my diocesan paper would have been appreciated.

Name withheld

Hanover Township, Pa.

The diocesan paper is not expected to be a forum for any voice of dissent. Still, it must address issues and controversies that influence the faithful from other media sources.

Dennia Courtney

Monroeville, N.J.

Our diocesan newspaper is a quality publication, so good, in fact, that I send it to my parents in Atlanta.

Maureen Otremba

Sauk Rapids, Minn.

Tally up the millions of dollars spent on the sex-abuse scandal and explain why it rated only a few benign and self-serving stories in the diocesan paper.

Name withheld

Chicago, Ill.

I sometimes read the Philadelphia and Camden, N.J. diocesan newspapers. I find little of interest in either. They seem to assume that Catholics are morons who are hanging on every word the bishop utters.

William H. Green

Mullica Hill, N.J.

It seems years ago there were conservative and more liberal newspapers and magazines. Today it's all conservative, archconservative, or downright rightwing literature. I am conservative in some things myself, but I like a balance in my choice of reading material.

Joe Keller

Chesterfield, Mo.

I'm disturbed by the tone of your survey. I think the Catholic publications that have contributed much more to a loss of crediblity in the church have been those who dissent from solid moral teaching.

Greg Adas

Apex, N.C.

My diocesan newspaper did not feed or speak to my spirituality. Boring content advancing traditional orthodox Catholicism and publishing church rules and laws do nothing to promote the renewal and reform we so desperately need.

Michael Bromley

Peoria, Ill.

This author is excessively critical. First, they are weeklies, not dailies. They don't have the reporting resources of a Boston Globe or New York Times. Second, they exist, in large measure, to provide adult continuing faith education, and many do that well. I agree with Father Schroth that the diocesan newspaper should not be used primarily as bishop propaganda. That always hurts credibility.

Jim Morrill

Glenmont, N.Y.

Be careful, or you may be on the chopping block, too, just as Thomas Reese, editor of America magazine, was.

Betty Niedoborski

Pensacola, Fla.

AND THE SURVEY SAYS ...

1. I currently receive and read my diocesan newspaper.

   agree  67%
disagree  14%
   other  19%

Representative of "other":

"Page through is more like it. I skip all the 'bishop sightings' and St. Whatchamacallit school pictures."

2. I read my diocesan newspaper for (more than one answer allowed):

58%  News.
38%  To feel like part of
     the larger Catholic
     community.
38%  Commentary.
37%  Catechesis and faith
     formation.
 9%  Because always
     have.
 8%  Other.

3. It's understandable that bishops want to use their diocesan papers primarily as a way to communicate their own priorities to the people of the diocese.

   agree  56%
disagree  30%
   other  14%

4. I found out most of my information about the sex-abuse scandal from reading:

69%  Secular newspapers
     and other media.
17%  Catholic magazines.
 5%  Catholic newspapers.
 9%  Other.

5. Catholic newspapers that steer clear of controversial issues have contributed to the loss of credibility the church has suffered in recent years.

   agree  80%
disagree  16%
   other   4%

6. The best Catholic publication out there is:

1. U.S. Catholic (57 votes) (These were our readers who were polled, after all!)

2. National Catholic Reporter (31 votes)

3. America (25 votes)

Also mentioned were Our Sunday Visitor (6 votes), St. Anthony Messenger (6), Liguorian (4), Commonweal (3), and Catholic Digest (2).

These results are based on survey responses from 140 U.S. CATHOLIC readers and website visitors.