Pope John Paul II Page  + Internet: a Challenge for the Church  +  Patron Saint of the Internet

PONTIFICIUM CONSILIUM DE COMMUNICATIONIBUS SOCIALIBUS 

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER 
FOR THE 36th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY  

THEME: "Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel"    

Sunday, May 12, 2002 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

1. The Church in every age continues the work begun on the day of Pentecost, when the Apostles, in the power of the Holy Spirit, went forth into the streets of Jerusalem to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in many tongues (cf. Acts 2:5-11). Through the succeeding centuries, this evangelizing mission spread to the far corners of the earth, as Christianity took root in many places and learned to speak the diverse languages of the world, always in obedience to Christ's command to preach the Gospel to every nation (cf. Mt 28:19-20). 

But the history of evangelization is not just a matter of geographic expansion, for the Church has also had to cross many cultural thresholds, each of which called for fresh energy and imagination in proclaiming the one Gospel of Jesus Christ. The age of the great discoveries, the Renaissance and the invention of printing, the Industrial Revolution and the birth of the modern world: these too were threshold moments which demanded new forms of evangelization. Now, with the communications and information revolution in full swing, the Church stands unmistakably at another decisive gateway. It is fitting therefore that on this World Communications Day 2002 we should reflect on the subject: “Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel".

2. The Internet is certainly a new “forum” understood in the ancient Roman sense of that public space where politics and business were transacted, where religious duties were fulfilled where much of the social life of the city took place, and where the best and the worst of human nature was on display. It was a crowded and bustling urban space, which both reflected the surrounding culture and created a culture of its own. This is no less true of cyberspace, which is as it were a new frontier opening up at the beginning of this new millennium. Like the new frontiers of other times, this one too is full of the interplay of danger and promise, and not without the sense of adventure which marked other great periods of change. For the Church the new world of cyberspace is a summons to the great adventure of using its potential to proclaim the Gospel message. This challenge is at the heart of what it means at the beginning of the millennium to follow the Lord's command to "put out into the deep”: Duc in altum! (Lk 5:4). 

3. The Church approaches this new medium with realism and confidence. Like other communications media, it is a means, not an end in itself. The Internet can offer magnificent opportunities for evangelization if used with competence and a clear awareness of its strengths and weaknesses. Above all, by providing information and stirring interest it makes possible an initial encounter with the Christian message, especially among the young who increasingly turn to the world of cyberspace as a window on the world. It is important, therefore, that the Christian community think of very practical ways of helping those who first make contact through the Internet to move from the virtual world of cyberspace to the real world of Christian community. 

At a subsequent stage, the Internet can also provide the kind of follow-up which evangelization requires. Especially in an unsupportive culture, Christian living calls for continuing instruction and catechesis, and this is perhaps the area in which the Internet can provide excellent help. There already exist on the Net countless sources of information, documentation and education about the Church, her history and tradition, her doctrine and her engagement in every field in all parts of the world. It is clear, then, that while the Internet can never replace that profound experience of God which only the living, liturgical and sacramental life of the Church can offer, it can certainly provide a unique supplement and support in both preparing for the encounter with Christ in community, and sustaining the new believer in the journey of faith which then begins. 

4. There are nevertheless certain necessary, even obvious, questions which arise in using the Internet in the cause of evangelization. The essence of the Internet in fact is that it provides an almost unending flood of information, much of which passes in a moment. In a culture which feeds on the ephemeral there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values. The Internet offers extensive knowledge, but it does not teach values; and when values are disregarded, our very humanity is demeaned and man easily loses sight of his transcendent dignity. Despite its enormous potential for good, some of the degrading and damaging ways in which the Internet can be used are already obvious to all, and public authorities surely have a responsibility to guarantee that this marvellous instrument serves the common good and does not become a source of harm. 

Furthermore, the Internet radically redefines a person's psychological relationship to time and space. Attention is rivetted on what is tangible, useful, instantly available; the stimulus for deeper thought and reflection may be lacking. Yet human beings have a vital need for time and inner quiet to ponder and examine life and its mysteries, and to grow gradually into a mature dominion of themselves and of the world around them. Understanding and wisdom are the fruit of a contemplative eye upon the world, and do not come from a mere accumulation of facts, no matter how interesting. They are the result of an insight which penetrates the deeper meaning of things in relation to one another and to the whole of reality. Moreover, as a forum in which practically everything is acceptable and almost nothing is lasting, the Internet favours a relativistic way of thinking and sometimes feeds the flight from personal responsibility and commitment. 

In such a context, how are we to cultivate that wisdom which comes not just from information but from insight, the wisdom which understands the difference between right and wrong, and sustains the scale of values which flows from that difference? 

5. The fact that through the Internet people multiply their contacts in ways hitherto unthinkable opens up wonderful possibilities for spreading the Gospel. But it is also true that electronically mediated relationships can never take the place of the direct human contact required for genuine evangelization. For evangelization always depends upon the personal witness of the one sent to evangelize (cf. Rom 10:14-15). How does the Church lead from the kind of contact made possible by the Internet to the deeper communication demanded by Christian proclamation? How do we build upon the first contact and exchange of information which the Internet makes possible? 

There is no doubt that the electronic revolution holds out the promise of great positive breakthroughs for the developing world; but there is also the possibility that it will in fact aggravate existing inequalities as the information and communications gap widens. How can we ensure that the information and communications revolution which has the Internet as its prime engine will work in favour of the globalization of human development and solidarity, objectives closely linked to the Church's evangelizing mission? 

Finally, in these troubled times, let me ask: how can we ensure that this wondrous instrument first conceived in the context of military operations can now serve the cause of peace? Can it favour that culture of dialogue, participation, solidarity and reconciliation without which peace cannot flourish? The Church believes it can; and to ensure that this is what will happen she is determined to enter this new forum, armed with the Gospel of Christ, the Prince of Peace. 

6. The Internet causes billions of images to appear on millions of computer monitors around the planet. From this galaxy of sight and sound will the face of Christ emerge and the voice of Christ be heard? For it is only when his face is seen and his voice heard that the world will know the glad tidings of our redemption. This is the purpose of evangelization. And this is what will make the Internet a genuinely human space, for if there is no room for Christ, there is no room for man. Therefore, on this World Communications Day, I dare to summon the whole Church bravely to cross this new threshold, to put out into the deep of the Net, so that now as in the past the great engagement of the Gospel and culture may show to the world "the glory of God on the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). May the Lord bless all those who work for this aim. 

From the Vatican, 24 January 2002, the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales

JOHN PAUL II

INTERNET: A CHALLENGE FOR THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2002 (VIS) - Today the Pontifical Council for Social Communications presented in the Holy See Press Office two documents devoted to the Internet: "Ethics in Internet" and "The Church and Internet". Archbishop John Patrick Foley and Bishop Pierfranco Pastore, respectively president and secretary of the council, presented the documents.

The documents have been published in German, Spanish, French, English, Italian, Polish and Portuguese. Archbishop Foley presented the first of the two documents, "Ethics and Internet," which opens by affirming that "internet is the latest and, in many aspects, the most powerful in a line of (communication) media ... that for many people have progressively eliminated time and space as obstacles to communication during the last century and a half."

The text continues: "In this document, we wish to set out a Catholic view of the internet, as a starting point for the Church's participation in dialogue with other sectors of society."

Archbishop Foley commented, "the basic principles for the internet are the same as those for other forms of communication: 'the human person and the human community are the end and measure of the use of the media of social communication; communication should be by persons to persons for the integral development of persons'." And he emphasized that the "internet is an opportunity and a challenge and not a threat."

He added that this document "cites a most interesting passage from our pastoral instruction 'Communio et Progressio,' published more than thirty years ago: 'Media have the ability to make every person everywhere a partner in the business of the human race' and internet can certainly do that."

The text, in referring to problems raised by the new communications media, speaks about the "digital divide - a form of discrimination dividing the rich from the poor ... on the basis of access, or lack of access, to the new information technology." It further affirms that "ways need to be found to make the internet accessible to less advantaged groups." The president of the pontifical council also cited the ethical questions of "privacy, the security and confidentiality of data, copyright and intellectual property law, pornography, hate sites, the dissemination of rumor and character assassination under the guise of news, and much else."

Archbishop Foley noted however, "We do not view the internet only as a source of problems; we see it as a source of benefits to the human race. But the benefits can be fully realized only if the problems are solved."

With reference to this, the document emphasizes that "internet can ... broaden education and cultural horizons, break down divisions, promote human development in a multitude of ways."

"Ethics in Internet" concludes with some recommendations for the use of internet, recognizing in the first place that "the virtue of solidarity is the measure of the internet's service of the common good." The document goes on to suggest that in internet "prior censorship by government should be avoided" and new laws are necessary in order to deal with the crimes unique to this medium (spread of viruses, theft of data). "Regulation of the internet is desirable, and in principle industry self-regulation is best ... Industry codes of ethics can play a useful role."

Bishop Pastore then presented the document "the Church and Internet." He began by affirming that the Church "is called courageously to remind all men and women of good will that internet is a 'gift of God' and, as such, can and must be used for good, it can be an instrument of good."

Commenting on the opportunities and challenges presented by this means of communication, the document states: "the internet is relevant to many activities and programmes of the Church - evangelization, including both re-evangelization and new evangelization and the traditional missionary work 'ad gentes,' catechesis and other kinds of education, news and information, apologetics, governance and administration, and some forms of pastoral counseling and spiritual direction."

The secretary of the dicastery also quoted section six of the document where it is indicated that "the Church also needs to understand and use the internet as a tool of internal communications. This requires keeping clearly in view its special character as a direct, immediate, interactive and participatory medium."

"Internet," the document continues, "also presents some special problems for the Church," such as "the presence of hate sites devoted to defaming and attacking religious and ethnic groups. Some of these target the Catholic Church." Moreover, the "proliferation of web sites calling themselves Catholic creates a problem of a different sort. Church-related groups should be creatively present on the internet, and well-motivated, well-informed individuals and unofficial groups acting on their own initiative are entitled to be there as well. But it is confusing, to say the least, not to distinguish eccentric doctrinal interpretations, idiosyncratic devotional practices and ideological advocacy bearing a 'Catholic' label from the authentic positions of the Church."

The third and last chapter of the document contains a series of suggestions to different groups; Church leaders are told of the "need to understand the media, (and to) apply this understanding in formulating pastoral plans for social communications." Pastoral workers are encouraged to learn to use the internet and to undergo appropriate doctrinal and spiritual formation "in order to witness to Christ." Educators and catechists are urged to offer, in schools and universities, courses and "more advanced training" to individuals preparing for professional media work.

Parents are requested to guide and supervise their children in the use of internet. This includes "making sure that filtering technology is used ... in order to protect them as much as possible from pornography, sexual predators and other threats." Finally, people of good will are cautioned to prudence in order to be able to see internet's capacity for good and evil, they are encouraged to be strong and brave in "standing up for truth in the face of religious and moral relativism," and to "temperance and self-discipline" in order to use this technology "wisely and only for good."

CON-CS/ETHICS:INTERNET/FOLEY:PASTORE VIS 20020228 (1010)

This appears on the Web Site, Father Pat's Place at: http://frpat.com

You are visitor  since 22 February 2002