SU to host editor of national Catholic newspaper for discussion on American Catholics, election and media

SU to host editor of national Catholic newspaper for discussion on American Catholics, election and mediaSeptember 20, 2004Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

The Religion and Society Program in The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University will kick off its Religion and Politics Series on Sept. 27 with a public conversation by Tom Roberts, editor of the National Catholic Reporter.

Roberts will speak on “American Catholics, the Election and the News Media” beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Bartlett Room, Room 252 of the Newhouse II building.

Roberts will discuss the criticisms made by some bishops of pro-choice candidates, the effect that John Kerry’s Catholic identity may have on the election and the efforts by Republicans and Democrats to woo Catholic voters.

“Roman Catholics make up fully one-quarter of the American population. How a majority of them will vote is a vital question that concerns both major parties, which are working hard to win their allegiance,” says Gustav Niebuhr, associate professor of religion and the media at SU and director of the Religion and Society Program. “What makes this year’s election particularly interesting, too, is it marks the first time since 1960 that a Catholic is running as a presidential candidate.”

“We are very fortunate to have a seasoned observer of the stature of Tom Roberts coming to discuss these issues,” Niebuhr says.

National Catholic Reporter (NCR), an independent newsweekly, has earned numerous national and international awards for “Best Investigative Reporting” and “General Excellence” from the Catholic Press Association.

Last month, the NCR wrote an investigative story on Deal Hudson, the Bush campaign’s Catholic advisor, prompting Hudson to resign from that position.