Rocco Palmo’s Whispers in the Loggia at the crossroads
The Information Age has been overwhelming. The superfluity of the internet has necessitated a sharpening of the virtue of discernment. With limited free time each day, which websites will we visit?
For me — and I’m guessing I’m not alone on this blog — Rocco Palmo’s Whispers in the Loggia is a sine qua non for learning about the Catholic Church, especially in North America.
Mr. Palmo has been performing this labor of faith and love for almost eight years. He was one of the first dedicated bloggers about the Catholic Church. He has frequently been the journalist who “broke the news” on a story, usually a high-level appointment or announcement. For his tireless and crafty work, he has received accolades, invitations to the Vatican, and even an honorary degree.
He has not received, however, much money. Last week he posted a dire message:
…either this readership’s support allows these pages to continue on… or Whispers will be forced to close.
No joke, gang. Not that it’s ever been before, either — given the way things’ve been of late, though, without the needed resources to do the work, having little choice but to pull the plug is a considerably more “live” possibility than it’s ever been.
He also recently sent an email to donors, which explained that only 3 percent of readers have contributed (approximately the average giving rate at Mass?). To continue that analogy, Rocco needs a second collection.
What are the chances of an established, old-media employer taking Rocco on to the payroll? The guy seems to have proved his ability and value.
I kinda wonder if the current crisis might be precipitated by a tempting offer or two. Good luck to him all around.
Hey, I have an idea for making money. Start accepting advertising.
I’ve rarely looked at it. My impression is that it’s a vehicle for leaks and gossip. Am I wrong?
Rocco certainly has some strong sources concerning hierarchical appointments. He’s such a totally sweet young man it’s no wonder his sources trusted him to give a good spin to all appointments But his optimism about human nature, specifically the nature of RC bishops (if there is a single such thing), took a terrible hit when the revelations about Cardinals Bevilacqua and Rigali came out. He’s a native Philadelphian, and one of them, I forget which, had befriended him when he was a boy and he idolized him. I suspect his recent (partial) disillusionment has something to do with his current pessimism. Sad, sad. But he really was just too trusting.
Maybe a stint with some real=world reporters will give him a more realistic outlook.
Advertising is akin to what the theocons/neocons call “government interference.”
“Charity” is the answer … right?
And if charity doesn’t happen from the good folks who love to be takers but rarely givers, then what?
I have been a reader of Whispers since within 5 weeks of it hitting the screen. I have taken it upon myself to put my money where my interest is. (I learned the necessity of that with respect to churchy things after spending 20 years in a small non-denominational church where if you didn’t pay, you sure as hell wouldn’t be able to play because there would be nothing to play with.)
If Rock is relying on the generosity of 300-400 out of 15,000 actual readers to keep him afloat, he is relying on thin gruel at best.
I’m with you, Michael: Rocco is an amazingly gifted reporter and writer on the North American RC church scene. With Jim Pauwels, I hope “an established, old-media employer” might take “Rocco on to the payroll,” namely Commonweal: Rocco could provide a net-based “Signs of the Times/News Briefs” that we see in print in America magazine. Rocco is not a gossip, not naïve, and not disillusioned. With Jim McCrea, I am one of his benefactors.
His site has struck me as “All bishops, all the time.” Too episcopal for my taste. But then some months I think the same thing is true of this blog–all bishop-bashing, all the time.
JAK: I’m for “all bishop-bashing, all the time.”
Sometimes I go there when looking for the text of some speech or homily. But I never look at it without a specific reason. Or if I do, I won’t admit to it. I did donate $10, but purely out of the goodness of my heart. It doesn’t mean I read it. No, I certainly don’t read it. Absolutely not. I’m not that kind of person. Read my lips: I don’t read it.
“all bishop-bashing, all the time”
All the time? I’d say that is a bit of an exaggeration and quite a generalization.
Wish him well and can understand if a publication wanted to make a deal with him.
My personal feelings align with Mr. Steinfels and Fr. K….used to read Palmo religiously but that did not last for a number of reasons:
- his vision of the church is institutional and papal hierarchy….he rarely has a story that goes beyond episcopal/papal dealings…..this is part of the problem in the church today and it is not the church reflected via Vatican II
- some of his personal history has given him an almost *referential* bias towards certain bishops/cardinals – as if that is the whole point of our church and journey as a pilgrim people e.g. this has created significant personal angst for him this past 12 months given the Philadelphia abuse scandal and direct links to Bevilacqua (one of his guides/mentors), Rigali, etc. He does seem to have finally learned something about the sexual abuse scandals and no longer immediately defends any and all episcopal behaviors
- his writings about liturgy is focused too much again on papal liturgies or infatuation with pre-Vatican II liturgies (but, you do have to give him kudos for his knowledge and historical posts on saints, old church customs/rites, etc. Pretty encyclopedic)
- some of his posts about bishops lack objectivity (it is almost as if it is a bishop – then, all is well in the world/church) Examples – he fairly gushed over the appointment of Farrell in Dallas and yet his gushing projections have not stood the test of times (unless you have his bias and expectations). Farrell immediately purchased a >$1 million dollar home; clearly is interested in raising money almost to the exclusion of anything else, and spends lots of time out of the diocese and playing internal church politics (he had to have two auxiliaries in a diocese that has never had any)
- he rarely questions episcopal appointments but given Philadelphia – he has finally begun to post wonderment about things such as the appointment in San Francisco, Finn in Kansas City, etc.
JAK –
If you think we bash the bishops all the time, it’s odd that you think so only *some* months.
I am way off topic. But where else to go?
Yes, the election is in two weeks. But isn’t anything else of note going on in the world? These threads, often to do with Paul Ryan, who after all is not at the top of the ticket, become, it seems to me, rather wearying. The election season is just TOO long. A major reform in the US system, as many have said, is surely needed. Primaries, two months. Enough! Presidential campaigns, also two months, including advertising and contributions. I get at least six e-mails daily asking for contributions and three or four phone calls. Someone, other than the parties, is making a lot of money off all of this.
And in February or March 2013, the Congressional campaigns for November 2014 will be launched. Most other democracies have come up with a far more reasonable system while the US’s constant campaign season drags embarrassingly on.
What of notable books, film, theater, the Synod on Evangelization, the liturgical calendar so rich with feasts in October — the two Thereses (Teresa), Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Antioch, Luke? As well as Joe Komonchak’s extraordinary and engrossing commemorations of the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II, which got few comments? (Yes, I am among the guilty.)
And so far no celebration of Father Komonchak’s being awarded the 2012 Marianist Award from Dayton University, a major recognition that began in 1986 with John Tracy Ellis, another CUA great, and has continued with names such as Ong, S. Callahan, Noonan, Hellwig, Hehir, Gutierrez, D. Tracy, Steinfels (both), Dulles, E. Johnson, Ron Hansen.
Professor Komonchak, all strength to your arm!
John Page, the voice of reason.
Let me add to this wish list: I’m ready for another short story by unagidon. I miss the posts on art by Fr Imbelli. It would have been nice to hear a little more on the Synod on Evangelization, which fell off the radar after the first couple of days. I had not thought of Fr K’s Marianist award, but it’s an obvious post to have. Congratulations, Professor Komonchak! Perhaps Fr. K’s participation in this blog is sometimes taken for granted. It is very much appreciated by this reader at least. To complete the wish list, I also enjoy posts on random whimsical stuff (and also on anything having anything to do with theology, but that’s not the role of this blog, so I just count myself lucky when it comes up.)
As to bishop-bashing, it’s almost irresistible. When one of them says something outrageous, it’s fun to get indignant. We the little people have no power in the court of the greats of the church, but we can jeer and mock every time an opportunity opens up. The less open discussion is allowed on official channels, the more bishop-bashing will occur. It’s not very constructive, but it’s a release from the oppression. In my case, that oppression was brought home in a very concrete way by the new missal. If there is an increase in bishop-bashing, is it conceivable that it is a consequence of the new missal?
release = relief
Rocco could provide a net-based “Signs of the Times/News Briefs” “”
Paul – I had the same thought.
“Father Komonchak’s being awarded the 2012 Marianist Award from Dayton University”
I hadn’t heard about that. Many congratulations, Fr. K!
Congratulations, Fr. Komanchak. I appreciate the links and commentary on Vatican II that you have provided here in Commonweal and also the excellent online course, Vatican II: the Experience and the Event, that you developed for Notre Dame’s STEP.
It does seem that dotCommonweal has become a place for bloggers to whine about what other bloggers on other blogs are saying about them.
…and for bloggers to give each other props. Palmo just noted that the Cardinal-Designate from the Philippines studied under Fr. K.
Yay, Yay, Yay, JAK!!!
P. S. I just read over at LaStampa that one of JAK’s pupils, Archbishop Tagle of Manila, will be made cardinal in the upcoming November consistory. Congratulations on that, too, JAK.
I second Ann’s Yay Yay Yay ;-)
I just listened to a couple of Abp Tagle’s talks and my impression is mixed.
His presentation to the 2008 Eucharistic congress is wonderful. He comes across as very humble and lovingly close to the poor. He links obedience and compassion in a novel (to me) and thought-provoking way.
But his 2012 talk about the sexual abuse crisis, linked by Rocco Palmo, shows that, in my opinion, he does not “get” it: his first reaction is “how can a priest do that?” and most of the talk focuses on the abuser. Instead his first reaction should have been to be close to the abused and see things from their perspective. As a result of his flawed approach, the talk is skewed the wrong way. Maybe it’s just his inexperience on the subject that is showing.
But on the Jesuit show “The Word exposed” I listened to his reflection on last Sunday’s gospel. As I heard it, Abp Tagle claimed that the “cup” from which Jesus was going to drink was the cup of God’s wrath and of God’s anger, a wrath and anger that, via the crucifixion and death, would be deflected so that it would target Jesus instead of the rest of humanity, hence the redemption of humanity. I do not agree with that interpretation (I go with Herb McCabe instead), and it is a big deal to me. So I hope that I misunderstood him.
Ann: There’s no contradiction: at certain times it seems that it’s all the time.
Thanks to all for the kind remarks.
Claire: I just watched that commentary on last Sunday’s Gospel, and I didn’t see such great emphasis on God’s inflicting his anger on Christ; if it’s there, it certainly isn’t the main point of his reflection.
Fr K: I think it’s there, spelled out in minutes 6:00-6:59 (and alluded to again briefly in 7:00-7:59 and in 9:00-9:59). I agree that it’s certainly not the main point, but, you know, what stands out is always the stuff that rubs us the wrong way, isn’t it? Even if it’s less than one minute out of fifteen. But maybe he just took a shortcut to avoid getting bogged down in secondary questions and to reach his main point more quickly. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up.