Press Releases
<em>Gazette</em> editor speaks on resignation of editor of Jesuit publication, <em>America</em>
31/05/2005
Speaking last Sunday on BBC Radio Ulster?s Sunday Sequence programme, the editor of The Church of Ireland Gazette, Canon Ian Ellis, expressed concern at the recent resignation of Fr Thomas Reese SJ, the former editor of the US Jesuit magazine, America .
Presenter William Crawley said that Fr Reese resigned after he ?fell foul of the Vatican?s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith headed by the then Cardinal Ratzinger over a number of years?.
Taking part in a discussion with John Wilkins (former editor of The Tablet) and David Quinn (former editor of The Irish Catholic), Canon Ellis said it was a ?a very serious matter indeed? for an editor ?effectively to have to leave his or her post? over editorial policy. Canon Ellis also questioned whether Fr Reese really had been ?unorthodox? from a Roman Catholic point of view.
John Wilkins said he had been ?horrified? by what had happened at America and described Fr Reese as ?an outstanding editor? whom he had tried to emulate at The Tablet, but David Quinn said he supported the Vatican line because the editor of America ? a Jesuit publication - would be expected to be ?really quite loyal? to the teachings of the Pope.
Asked whether as editor of the Gazette he would feel free to criticize a decision of the General Synod, Canon Ellis said he would. He also said that the Gazette has a range of columnists who represent a variety of outlooks and pointed out that the Letters page is a forum for open debate.
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