Bishop Lazo Hails Aklan Media For Launching Public Forum

by Johnny P. Dayang

Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo of the Diocese of Kalibo hailed the Aklan media for launching a press forum, saying the Catholic Church supports freedom to express ideas and attitudes to help develop society and attain progress.Public opinion is an essential expression of human nature, hence it is necessary that there be freedom to express it, he said before officers, members and guests of Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI), Aklan Press Club, Inc. (APCI) and the Aklan Media Forum (AMF).PAPI, headed by Juan P. Dayang as president, initiated the recent launching of the weekly (every Saturday) “Kapehan sa Aklan” here, in cooperation with APCI and AMF, to discuss, analyze and interpret social, political, economic and cultural issues of vital interests to the public.Among the guests were Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Pampanga, National Press Club president Roy Mabasa and Philippine Daily Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot. PAPI awarded a plaque of appreciation to Mayor Pelayo for his magnanimous gesture of support during PAPI 12th National Press Congress in December held at the state-run Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles city.In his keynote speech during a testimonial dinner of the Aklan mediamen, Bishop Lazo said that communicators have a most important role to play, noting that the news and views they gather and disseminate useful information to enable the people to understand and make a proper decision.Quoting the Vatican II, the prelate said that freedom of speech for individuals and groups must be permitted so long as the common good and public morality be not endangered.If public opinion is to be formed in a proper manner, it is necessary that the public be given free access both to the sources and channels of information and be allowed freely to express its own views, Bishop Lazo said. He also stressed the need for sincerity, honesty and truthfulness in public commu-nications, saying it must state the truth and accurately reflect a situation with all its implications.The moral worth and validity of any communication does not lie solely in its theme or intellectual content. The way it is presented, the way it is spoken and treated and even the audience for which it is presented all these factors must be taken into account, Bishop Lazo stressed.He noted that journalists face formidable obstacles and these include persons interested in concealing the truth. The Church condemns the use of violence against newsmen or against anyone in any way involved in passing on the news, the prelate said, adding that media is in the service of truth, the dignity of man and public interest. /MP