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Should Catholics use open-source software?

By Sean | August 24, 2007

I don’t know if it is because I’m cheap or frugal, but I’ve always sought out free software for my computers. Maybe it springs from my first TI994 that I programmed myself (or typed in programs from magazines). I discovered shareware when I bought my first PC, then various forms of freeware. Along the way I developed quite a habit of downloading lots of new programs to try on my computer. I became aware of GNU, linux, and open-source software about 10 years ago, and it just made sense to me with my Catholic background that people might wish to write software for other reasons than just making money, like for the common good, or out of a spirit of altruism. I think that this sense of contributing to the world community is what attracted me to Librivox.org and to recording public-domain audio books. Gradually over the last 10 years I’ve adopted an attitude of using free and open-source software first, and proprietary software only when I cannot find an open-source solution to the problem. I am now running Ubuntu linux as my primary operating system, and although I have Windows installed on my computer, I only boot into it when there is not linux program available (usually online applications for work etc).

I guess I’ve been thinking about this Catholic blogging for a long time. I went digging today to find an article I read on Newsforge.org about the parallels between Catholic beliefs and the philosophies of open-source software. It was initially found on Newsforge on November 11, 2005. It is now on linux.com.


Linux.com :: Free Software’s surprising sympathy with Catholic doctrine”

The technological configuration underlying the Internet has a considerable bearing on its ethical aspects. Use of the new information technology and the Internet needs to be informed and guided by a resolute commitment to the practice of solidarity in the service of the common good. The Internet requires international cooperation in setting standards and establishing mechanisms to promote and protect [that common good]. Individuals, groups, and nations must have access to these new technologies. Cyberspace ought to be a resource of comprehensive information and services available without charge to all, and in a wide range of languages. The winner in this process will be humanity as a whole and not just a wealthy elite that controls science, technology, and the planet’s resources. Determined action in the private and public sectors is needed to close and eventually eliminate the digital divide.”

I also found another blog that mentions this article at Linux for Christians, which is a subsite of http://www.whatwouldjesusdownload.com. These sites look like an excellent resource for Catholics, and Christians of all kinds looking for ethical sources of legitimate, free software.

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