Canadian bishops welcoming comment

Canada’s Catholic bishops have launched a new, interactive website that includes video, a bishops blog area, and a feature to allow visitors to leave comments. The site was launched in response to Pope Benedict XVI's invitation to priests for 44th World Communications Day to “make astute use of the unique possibilities offered by modern communications.” In an interview with Deborah Gyapong of Canadian Catholic News, CCCB vice-president Archbishop Richard Smith acknowledged the bishops could leave themselves open to critical comments about the clergy abuse scandal. “We do not and cannot run from that issue,” the Edmonton archbishop said. “People need to talk about it. In the past a culture of silence has allowed this scourge to fester. We need to talk.” Bishops' blogs from across the country will be featured on the site's blog area.