Church communication in the face of vulnerability: a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minors

This article is mainly aimed toward those responsible for communications in ecclesial organizations that are experiencing vulnerability. It integrates the perspective of organizational communication with ecclesiological contributions. The first part notes that vulnerability is a common trait of civi...

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Main Author: Marco Carroggio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-01-01
Series:Church, Communication and Culture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23753234.2021.1880950
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author Marco Carroggio
author_facet Marco Carroggio
author_sort Marco Carroggio
collection DOAJ
description This article is mainly aimed toward those responsible for communications in ecclesial organizations that are experiencing vulnerability. It integrates the perspective of organizational communication with ecclesiological contributions. The first part notes that vulnerability is a common trait of civil and ecclesial organizations, both in the passive sense (potential to be hurt) and in the active sense (capacity to do harm). In the second part, a circular conceptual framework of the process of communication, devised by several academics from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, is developed and applied to the Church. In pursuing adherence to reality, this is a valid theoretical framework for inspiring the communication management that is required for dealing with errors and failures. In the description of the process, references are added to the issue of fragility in each of its phases: identity, culture, discourse, image, and reputation. A key word in this sequence is ‘consistency’ (between what an institution is, and how it considers itself; what it does, and what it says). In the third part, this ‘realistic’ conceptual universe is applied to the issue of the abuse of minors committed by ministers of the Catholic Church, guidelines for the communications team are suggested (investigate, listen, accompany, repair), and seven criteria for proper reporting are proposed.
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spelling doaj.art-1177b0070f784f5487fdb2ee479807482024-03-02T01:33:10ZengTaylor & Francis GroupChurch, Communication and Culture2375-32342375-32422021-01-0161587910.1080/23753234.2021.18809501880950Church communication in the face of vulnerability: a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minorsMarco Carroggio0School of Church Communications, Pontifical University of the Holy CrossThis article is mainly aimed toward those responsible for communications in ecclesial organizations that are experiencing vulnerability. It integrates the perspective of organizational communication with ecclesiological contributions. The first part notes that vulnerability is a common trait of civil and ecclesial organizations, both in the passive sense (potential to be hurt) and in the active sense (capacity to do harm). In the second part, a circular conceptual framework of the process of communication, devised by several academics from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, is developed and applied to the Church. In pursuing adherence to reality, this is a valid theoretical framework for inspiring the communication management that is required for dealing with errors and failures. In the description of the process, references are added to the issue of fragility in each of its phases: identity, culture, discourse, image, and reputation. A key word in this sequence is ‘consistency’ (between what an institution is, and how it considers itself; what it does, and what it says). In the third part, this ‘realistic’ conceptual universe is applied to the issue of the abuse of minors committed by ministers of the Catholic Church, guidelines for the communications team are suggested (investigate, listen, accompany, repair), and seven criteria for proper reporting are proposed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23753234.2021.1880950churchorganizational communicationvulnerabilityfragilityabuse of minors
spellingShingle Marco Carroggio
Church communication in the face of vulnerability: a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minors
Church, Communication and Culture
church
organizational communication
vulnerability
fragility
abuse of minors
title Church communication in the face of vulnerability: a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minors
title_full Church communication in the face of vulnerability: a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minors
title_fullStr Church communication in the face of vulnerability: a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minors
title_full_unstemmed Church communication in the face of vulnerability: a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minors
title_short Church communication in the face of vulnerability: a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minors
title_sort church communication in the face of vulnerability a theoretical framework and practical application for information management in cases of the abuse of minors
topic church
organizational communication
vulnerability
fragility
abuse of minors
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23753234.2021.1880950
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