Argentinean archbishop wary of state controlling media

Santiago, Chile, Sep 14, 2009 / 17:10 pm

The president of the Argentinean bishops’ Committee on Social Communications, Archbishop Agustin Radrizzani, said last week that just as it is important that the economy does not dictate the policies of the media, so also is it important that “politics does not seek its own ideological or economic interests in its use of the media.”
 
The archbishop made his statements during a congressional hearing in which he also underscored the importance of debate on the Law on Audiovisual Communications Services. The proposed law would grant the Argentinean government greater control over the media.

Archbishop Radrizzani stressed that the debate about the bill should be carried out in such a way that “involves widespread participation by citizens and avoids any manipulation of information for the benefit of the few.”
 
Archbishop Radrizzani went on to call it “essential that there be respect at all times for the values of our nation and of our Christians roots, such as freedom of expression, especially for those who are poorest, of freedom of access to information for all citizens.”
 
For this reason, he said, “It is essential that respect for the spirit in which the law was drafted by safeguarded.  Widespread and democratic participation must be a part” of the legislative process of passing and applying the new law.
 
He noted that the Church hopes that any law “intended to regulate communication between Argentineans be the result of broad and generous agreement.”