Caveat Episcopus: A Cautionary Tale

Reading William Oddie's article in the Catholic Herald on the problems of Cardinal Schonborn, and his advice to be wary of the press, reminds me of my experience with the educational correpondent of a nameless national daily when I was teaching in London in the days of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).

The school and its headmaster were well known, the school for its success and popularity, and the Head for his traditional values. This sat uncomfortably with the marxist ILEA.

The journailst came to interview me and another teacher of more leftist leanings. We were to talk about what was good or bad about the ILEA.

I started by getting him to agree that everything I said would be unattributable - anonymous. I then did my best to tell the truth about the Authority and its preference for ideology over education. Hot stuff. I named names.

My colleague was not so smart. He gave the journalist a loyal defence of ILEA.

My more negative story was printed. His was not.

However the newspaper in question ambiguously attributed my comments to him, or seemed to do so.

He was not happy.

I was.