Continuing with my study of Catholic Church teaching on social communications led me to the last apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II, The Rapid Development, which was released on January 24, 2005. In this letter, Pope John Paul II outlines some of the strengths of the Internet to enable people to reach out to other people all over the world. He writes, “…the first Areopagus of modern times is the world of communications, which is capable of unifying humanity and transforming it into – as it is commonly referred to – “a global village”.”
He also outlines that the Church’s role in using the new communications media is multifold:
- for religious information
- for evangelization and catechesis
- for the formation of pastoral workers in this area
- for the education to a mature responsibility of the users and the recipients of the various communications media.
In the letter, he addresses communication professionals such as journalists, and organizations committed to using these new tools but also to everyone in the church as a whole.
The appreciation of the media is not reserved only to those already adept in the field, but to the entire Church Community. If, as has already been noted, the communications media take into account different aspects of the expression of faith, Christians must take into account the media culture in which they live: from the Liturgy, the fullest and fundamental expression of communication with God and with one another, to Catechesis, which cannot prescind from the fact of being directed to people immersed in the language and the culture of the day.
He also calls for media professionals to hold to particular moral standards.
In the same way, it is important to assure that media professionals receive the necessary formation and pastoral attention to confront the particular tensions and ethical dilemmas that arise in their daily work. Often these men and women “sincerely desire to know and practice what is ethically and morally just,” and look to the Church for guidance and support.
Finally he outlines 3 courses of action for Catholics using the new media: “formation, participation and dialogue”. This sounds quite similar to the discussions we have been having about online Catholic Community this past month. First people need formation: both catechesis and technical to use these new tools. Then we are called to participate in the online community and to participate in a dialogue.
The other day I read an article on Viral Catholic, a blog by Brian Killian which approaches online evangelization from a marketing perspective. In the article Catholic Content Marketing, Brian makes the case that the strongest ‘marketing tool’ any church, ministry, or apostolate has is our stories. Each person of faith, each parish, each ministry has a unique story of God’s love to share with others. If we share these very personal, individual stories, others will come because they relate.
Your Turn:
What are Your Key insights upon reading, “The Rapid Development”?
What are key ways that we as Catholics can use the new media for formation? , for participation? and for dialogue?
Once again, here are my marked up and highlighted reading notes of “The Rapid Development”
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