Geneva, Switzerland, Mar 26, 2012 / 23:04 pm
A global Catholic media group has created an award named after the great evangelist and communicator Cardinal John P. Foley to honor all those who have promoted healthy relations between the Church and the world “for the betterment of humanity.”
“Cardinal Foley together with our members always found that our organization is a bridge between the Church and the world through ongoing reflection … get-togethers and seminars,” the International Organization of Catholics in the Media said. “Such bridging and encounters are necessary today in our modern world where both young and older generations value freedom, dignity and respect rather than blind submission.”
Cardinal Foley served as editor of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s newspaper The Catholic Standard & Times. He edited Rome’s archdiocesan newspaper from 1970 to 1984. After his ordination as bishop, he served as president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication from 1984 to 2007.
In December 2011 Cardinal Foley passed away in Philadelpia, after suffering from leukemia and other health issues.
Several members and friends of the International Organization of Catholics in the Media asked the group to create an international award in his honor. The cardinal first attended the organization’s world congress in Vienna, Austria in 1977 and regularly attended its congresses and other activities until his death.
“He encouraged the independence of journalists,” the group said, also noting that he had defended the group’s autonomy against proposed mergers.
The Cardinal Foley Award entries can be journalistic works made for publishing or for broadcast since 2009.
Entries can include articles, interviews, profiles, opinion, analysis, news stories, photographs or any other journalistic work.
Written entries should not exceed 1,200 words.
The award will be bestowed at the World Congress of the International Organization of Catholics in the Media in Panama next year.
The organization’s website is http://www.icomworld.info.