Pressing on

As Catholic Press Month ends, it's a good time to talk a little about your diocesan newspaper -- The Compass -- although the Catholic press also includes books, magazines, newsletters and the internet (www.thecompassnews.org).

The Compass is in its 26th year of publication. But our diocese has had a newspaper since the mid-1950s when Bp. Stanislaus Bona started The Register under the editorship of Fr. Orville Janssen. In the 1960s, the name was changed to The Spirit, which for a short time in the 1970s became a monthly magazine, until resuming publication as a newspaper as The Compass.

Throughout the decades, under four bishops, several editors and other staff, the goal of the newspaper has remained constant: to bring Catholic news and a Catholic perspective of the news into Catholic homes.

We do that by running stories on what the diocese, its parishes, schools and people are doing and by running columns to help you with the various concerns of daily life.

We constantly evaluate the paper to make sure it meets our readers' needs. Recently, we added a column by Christina King -- a resident of Wrightstown and a nationally known speaker on chastity. Her column will encourage questions from readers on problems they face in living chaste lives.

In a country where much of popular music, movies and television promotes hedonism and sexual promiscuity, The Compass is one of those rare forms of media that respects and encourages chastity, particularly through columns by King and Mary Beth Bonacci. Their columns and the music column by Charlie Martin are a valuable resource for young people, their parents and teachers in Catholic schools and religious education programs.

The Compass also provides a forum for our readers to comment on their concerns through letters to the editor. Letters must be less than 500 words (this editorial is approximately 450 words) and shorter letters are preferred. Letters must be signed and include a home and business phone number. Letters may be sent to us by mail, fax, e-mail or dropped off at our offices. Letters may be edited for style and space. Personal attacks are not allowed.

Funding for The Compass comes from advertising, subscriptions and the Bishop's Appeal. Our budget -- along with those of every other department -- is scrutinized by the diocesan budget committee.

We encourage Catholics to subscribe to The Compass individually or as a parish (for a substantial discount). We know no other way to stay up-to-date on the Church of the Diocese of Green Bay.

We thank you for being part of The Compass family and encourage you to keep reading, subscribing and sharing your thoughts and suggestions with us. We need you to help us serve you.