“Tablet” Answers Archbishop

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31782, 12 September 1968, Page 16

“Tablet” Answers Archbishop

(N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, Sept. 11. The action of Archbishop Liston in forbidding the sale of the Roman Catholic weekly, the “Tablet,” from churches in the Auckland Diocese has been criticised in an editorial in the latest issue of the journal.

“This action is completely out of keeping with the mind of the modem church, and with the mind of successive Popes,” the editorial says. “Time and again the. need for an independent, objective •Catholic press has been asserted, never more forcefully perhaps than by Pope John when he laid it down that every man has an inalienable right to objective information.

Stating that no reason had been given for the ban, the editorial said that one suggestion had been that the “Tablet” had cut too heavily into the sale of the controlled Auckland Diocesan organ, the “Zeaiandia.”

“We have Jt is true, cut heavily into ‘Zealandia’s’ circulation. "But why? Because people liked our open spirit, our williuigriess to hear all sides, our firmness on essential matters of faith. "If this is unfair competition, then we must plead guilty. No Promotion "But we cannot promise not ta offend again. And we will remind you that, anyway, the circulation of the Auckland Catholic paper in the Auckland diocese is such that only 7 per cent of Catholics there take it Without promotion or selling campaigns, parish after

parish in Auckland had invited sales of the "Tablet,” the editorial claimed. "The second reason—that his Grace regards the ‘Tablet’ as an undesirable development in church life—is, we feel, nearer the mark. “Earlier this year his Grace cancelled his personal subscription to the “Tablet.’ That was his right as it is the right of any of our readers who disagree with us. “But we question the way he has extended that right to prevent his people getting it.” The editorial said that the sale at the church door was the traditional and most effective way in which a Roman Catholic paper reached the people. "We are not going to quarrel with his viewpoint. That is bis personal affair, and it would ill become us to indulge

in a public row with a man who has been 48 years a Bishop and who has served the church as few men in New Zealand have served it. Paper’s Policy "But this does not absolve us from the duty of defending ourselves against the aspersions that have been cast our way.

“The policy of this paper can be spelt out very simply,” said the editorial.

“We stand by the truths of the Catholic faith. We do our best to expound those and defend them when necessary. “We encourage discussion of matters effecting the church because we believe that the church is big enough for this. She has nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of. If she, through her Bishops, priests and press, is not able to listen

to her children, then she is not the church we have been taught to know and love. “We are the only fully independent Catholic newspaper in Australia or New Zealand. We intend to stay that way. “We will go on doing our job to the best of our ability. We know we will make mistakes, but they will be honest mistakes,” said the editorial.