The Archdiocese of Anchorage Responds - The Anchor Situation: Part IV

The Archdiocese has finally responded to our request for comment. We broke this story 5 days ago, and at that time inquired with the Archdiocese for comment. After receiving nothing for days, I finally have received the official statement from the Archdiocese of Anchorage. The statement is troubling, for a multitude of reasons. The Archdiocese is in serious need of public relations help, as Mark Shea points out, but something tells me that I am not in line for that job.

As for the Archdiocese's official statement on the matter, Kim Bakic, the Executive Secretary to the Archbishop responded to my series of questions:

Thank you for your concern however, Joel Davidson continues to be the editor for the Catholic Anchor.

When asked a clarifying question of whether this means that Joel is currently the editor but has been told that his position will end at a date in the future, the response, quickly given this time, was:

Joel continues to be the Editor of the Catholic Anchor.

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Now, this reply is perplexing. Either, Mark Shea, The Devout Life, GLACC, ChesterBellocAK, SupportJoel.org, and I are all incorrect and rumor mongers, or there is more to this statement. It also shows that the AOA really doesn't understand PR and the way that the news cycle works.

This is most likely the AOA trying to be savvy with their statement. As I have said, there are reports that Joel will be let go in the spring. Essentially, he has been told that he is going to be let go, but that it will take effect a few months from now. I think this is an honorable, and appropriate thing to do for an employee. That being said, it doesn't change the fact that he will be let go. As a matter of fact, I even alluded to that in my questions that were emailed to the Chancery. So why this type of response then?

I think that they are trying to make us think that Joel isn't going to be let go. But if that is the case, why not issue a full statement about how I am completely incorrect, that Joel's situation with the Anchor is unchanged, and that I am simply on the wrong end of some vicious rumor? Why then wouldn't Joel Davidson email me and correct me? In fact, a Mass was held at the CATHEDRAL yesterday regarding this situation, why wouldn't the "rumor" be put to rest there? Why doesn't the Chancery take this blog, or the faithful that ask questions seriously?

I leave it to you the readers, and you the parishioners within the Archdiocese. Does this answer satisfy you? Does this answer your questions? Did you know that every time you give at Church in Alaska, part of your gift goes to the publication costs of the Anchor? Without clear answers, can you morally continue to give at Church? We are called to give financially to support the Church, but we are not called to give at our parish. In fact, we are taught that if we don't know or believe that our financial gifts are going to things that promote the True teachings of the Church, we are called to give elsewhere?

What if we all stopped giving until we got answers? What if instead we gave to Rome directly, or the Dominican Sisters, Mary Mother of the Eucharist? Or what if we gave to Tara - if we want to give locally? Maybe then this Chancery, and Chanceries around the country would take the faithful seriously. Especially at Christmas... what if our Christmas Gifts [the checks] were instead replaced with coupons that explained where we were giving instead? Would they then take us seriously?

For Past Information on this subject please see:
Part I
Part II
Part III

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