© TIME
Last month, a simple invite went out to the nation’s major media to cover the Sept. 14 event at Fordham University. It was billed as “a conversation about humor, faith, joy and the spiritual life,” to be moderated by James Martin, a Jesuit priest, “official chaplain” to the Comedy Central’s Colbert Report and author of Between Heaven and Mirth.
On Thursday, however, Fordham sent out an Oooops note, slamming door on the media coverage, saying:
“The evening has evolved from a public event to a more intimate conversation in front of members of the Fordham community. We will not be videotaping the event for distribution, nor streaming it on the Web or elsewhere.”
On Friday, everyone clammed up about the clampdown.
Carrie Byalick, spokeswoman for Stephen Colbert, said Friday, “Stephen Colbert looks forward to participating in an intimate event with Cardinal Dolan and Fordham students.”
Dolan, never media-shy, will be there to meet Colbert, his spokesman, Joseph Zwilling, confirms with no elaboration.
Fordham gets the punch line. University spokesman Bob Howe sticks to his story that:
“There’s nothing nefarious about the decision. … Events like this are usually planned further in advance, and we have more time to work out the kinks before we go public. This time we got a little ahead of ourselves.”
Source: USA Today.
(Thanks to Justine for the Tip!)
'The Cardinal and Colbert' will be Closed to the Media.
(Thanks to Justine for the Tip!)