Noteworthy: Obama meets with Catholic press today

Fascinating, noteworthy news from National Catholic Register's Tim Drake:

[Today] at 10:45 Eastern time, the president is hosting a round table at the White House for members of the Catholic press.

The National Catholic Register’s publisher, Father Owen Kearns, will be among eight religion reporters and editors in attendance at that gathering.

The purpose of the gathering, according to Chris Hensman, press secretary with the National Security Council, is a “preview of the president’s upcoming visit with Pope Benedict XVI.” The president is meeting with the Pope on July 10.

Father Kearns just received the invitation to the meeting yesterday via e-mail. At this point, there isn’t a complete list of the media who will be in attendance, but our understanding is that it’s strictly Catholic print media, not radio or television.

According to Father Kearns, the meeting is unprecedented. He has not previously met a sitting U.S. president, nor has he been previously invited by the president to a White House gathering for members of the Catholic press.

When Father Kearns asked the purpose of the round table, he was told, “It’s for the president to inform us, to listen to concerns, and to answer questions.”

The meeting is not a press conference.

“It sounds like what we would call a listening session,” said Father Kearns.

This move provokes many questions for me. What are the other eight organizations invited? Why did the Obama team think this would be a good move? How is the Obama team preparing for his meeting with the Pope in eight days? Does he see these organizations as a resource to prepare for that meeting and to ensure he says the right things?

And why just print organizations (and not widely-read Catholic blogs - *cough, cough*)? Could it be because some of Obama's most staunch defenders are liberal print publications such as National Catholic Reporter and America magazine? I'm surprised, if they were invited, that they have not trumpeted the fact yet. 

On the other hand, this was done under extremely short notice.

Well, time will tell, so check back here later in the day.

And PS - for future reference, I'm just right up the street from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and can pass CIA clearances. 

I'm just sayin'...

More proof that New Line Cinema is trying to advertise the Golden Compass in Catholic publications

Catholic institutions promoting a movie based on a book that attempts to bring down Catholic institutions.

This is the reality we will face if rumors come true that New Line Cinema is using the USCCB's favorable review of the Golden Compass to spearhead an advertising campaign among Catholic publications.

Today, I received another confirmation that such a project is in the works:

Last week, I couldn't help overhearing our ad salesman ask our business manager if we would want to accept a full-page ad promoting "The Golden Compass," to which the answer was (thankfully) no.

But the exchange piqued my interest, and so I asked the sales rep about it. Turns out, some agency was trying to arrange a group buy of Catholic papers around the country, and we were contacted to see whether we wanted to be in or it. I asked whether any Catholic papers were taking the ad, and he said, "Oh yes, quite a few."

Of course, from New Line Cinema's point of view, it's an excellent move: what better way to downplay criticism that the material is anti-Catholic than being able to produce a whole list of Catholic publications and institutions that have consented to advertising it?

Of course, as I reported about a year ago, some Catholic newspapers have no problem advertising for pro-abortion Governors. An anti-Catholic author, you say? No biggie.

I guess all of this leads up to the conclusion that I won't be surprised to find a new BlogAds submission from New Line Cinema asking me to advertise the Golden Compass on my sidebar (not going to happen).

So, what can you do about it? Well, as a start, if you find a Catholic publication that is running advertisements for the Golden Compass, let me know by emailing me or posting in the comment box so I can compile a list.

I'd be especially interested to find out if the New Line Cinema advertisement quotes the favorable USCCB review.

update: Curt Jester has heard from a reader that New Line Cinema is claiming that the Golden Compass is "entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching" - an incredible inflation and misapplication of the (already-flawed) particular endorsement given by the USCCB reviewer.

update 2: Catholic News Agency picks up on this story and confirms it:

The promoters of the controversial movie, The Golden Compass, are making an effort to diminish the boycott being threatened by Catholics and other Christian groups. The advertising agency for the movie has sent an email to the top 50 weekly Catholic newspapers asking that they consider running an ad promoting the movie.

Advertising Media Plus, the agency promoting The Golden Compass, is trying to use a review by Steve Forbes, the director of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference Office for Film & Broadcasting, as leverage against the boycott being called for by Catholics and Evangelicals.

National Account Manager for Advertising Media Plus, Bob Bugle sent an email to the top 50 Catholic newspapers saying that New Line Cinema is interested “in possibly advertising The Golden Compass in the Catholic press.”

His email goes on to mention that the movie has caused some controversy and then attempts to ease any concerns by citing a positive review from Harry Forbes, the Director of the USCCB’s Office of Film and Broadcasting.

Now to wait and see who takes New Line up on their golden offer....

Meanwhile, LSN reports that some are calling for the resignation of the USCCB reviewers.