By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged
OKLAHOMA CITY — From a young age, I’ve loved Jesus and journalism.
I never intended, though, to become a religion reporter.
My career trajectory changed 25 years ago when — to my surprise — editors of The Oklahoman assigned me to cover Pope John Paul II’s Jan. 26-27, 1999, visit to St. Louis.
At the time, I was a 31-year-old education writer for Oklahoma’s largest newspaper, which had a weekday circulation of 213,000 and a Sunday circulation of 300,000. I dreamed of covering important news like national politics.
The Godbeat? It fell nowhere on my bucket list.
After a decade as a reporter, I knew how to chase fire trucks and police cars and burn the midnight oil with city councils and school boards. And I played a key role in The Oklahoman’s award-winning coverage of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
But I had scant knowledge of the Roman Catholic Church. I had no clue about the difference between a bishop and a cardinal. I had heard of the pope.
A Church of Christ preacher’s son with a journalism degree from a Christian university, I worried initially about reporting on a faith different from my own. In retrospect, I realize how naive my concern was.
Despite a mild case of fear and trembling, I researched the basics of Catholic theology and prepared to handle the assignment. I was pleased to discover I could maintain the traditional standards of journalism and strive to treat the faith of others with respect while not compromising my own beliefs.
On Jan. 24, 1999, readers of The Sunday Oklahoman awakened to two front-page stories with my byline. My in-depth piece on the school voucher debate — the first of a three-part series — appeared below the fold. But my preview of the pope’s trip to St. Louis ran at the top of Page 1.
Perhaps religion was bigger news than I realized?
This essay appears in the online magazine Religion Unplugged.
Associated Press photo by Amy Sancetta
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 