Ms Patricia McKeever, Editor of the religious newsletter Catholic Truth, complained that an article headlined “Catholic ‘witch-hunt’ to expose gay clergy” (18 June 2007) contained a number of inaccuracies. In particular, the complainant was concerned that the article focused on the publication’s stance in regard to homosexuality which, she said, represented a tiny percentage of its work which in reality covered a full range of Church issues. In addition, the complainant wished to make clear that – rather than actively seeking homosexual priests – the publication reacted only to information provided by concerned Catholic priests and laity. As such, the characterisation of the publication’s work as a “witch-hunt” or “homophobic” was misleading. The complainant also raised a number of other points – in relation to the manner in which the newsletter operated and her own personal circumstances – as part of the complaint.

The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – which acknowledged each of the points raised by the complainant and conceded that the sub-editing process had caused some errors but did not accede to her request for a published letter on the matter – appended a note to its internal database and library to reflect the disputed issues. The complainant wished for there to be a public record of the complaint on the Commission’s website and in its bi-annual report.