Pull Together for The Southern Cross!

by Letters Editor · August 22, 2016

Mervyn Pollitt, Waterfall, KZN – I write in response to the article entitled “Imagine a Church without The Southern Cross” (July 20). The article clearly sets out the serious plight of the only Catholic weekly newspaper in South Africa.

I believe that the time has come to speak about how we as Catholics must face some hard facts. Firstly we, both laity and clergy, must shoulder much of the blame for the diminishing circulation figures of The Southern Cross.

The laity for not purchasing this excellent newspaper either weekly after Mass at a cost of R8 or by making an annual subscription of R450 to receive this publication by post. Other options are to subscribe to receive it digitally.

The clergy must also accept their share of the blame for not promoting The Southern Cross from the pulpit. Certain parishes in the Durban archdiocese, with more than 500 families registered on their books, have a standing order of only between 20 and 30 copies of The Southern Cross per week.

I well remember as a youngster growing up in Pretoria in the 1950s how the Redemptorist priests in my parish would actively encourage parishioners to purchase The Southern Cross. Sales after Sunday Masses were such that the weekly order had to be increased more than once.

Further, one has to question the role of the bishops of South Africa in supporting The Southern Cross. From personal experience in discussions with certain bishops, it is clear that some of them feel that The Southern Cross does not “promote certain views”, that the letters page contains “too many complaints”.

My response is that The Southern Cross contains both local and international news relevant to today’s Catholic Church. It also publishes some very thought-provoking articles of importance to all Catholics. As for the letters page, this sets out the thoughts and opinions of mostly lay Catholics, and as such should be carefully considered by our bishops.

Surely the time has come for a new approach to ensure the future of our only Catholic weekly. From our bishops, very clear directives to parish priests to promote The Southern Cross from the pulpit or in weekly parish bulletins. Such promotion could highlight particular news or articles.

From the laity, the duty to keep up to date with Church news and views. The cost of a weekly edition is roughly the cost of a can of soft drink and the annual subscription the cost of one meal at a middleclass restaurant.

What must be maintained is the independent status of The Southern Cross, so important to our free press in the new South Africa.

Let’s all pull together to keep The Southern Cross.