sing
the internet with creativity, at all levels to shoulder
responsibilities and carry out the mission proper to the Church.
This is the main call coming from the Pontifical Council for Social
Communications in a booklet issued on February 28 "The Church
and Internet". The criteria of "creativity" is
emphasized, in fact the word "creative" is used three
times (numbers 6,8 and 10).
Young people must learn how to function well in the world of cyberspace (…) and use the new technology for their integral development and the benefit of others
The Council says that "the Church has taken a fundamentally positive approach to the media", and this is true also for Internet, for which she encourages "the right use for the sake of human development, justice and peace, for the up-building of society at the local, national and community levels" (3). The Internet is relevant to many activities of the Church "evangelization, including both re-evangelization and new evangelization and the traditional missionary work ad gentes, catechesis and other kinds of education" (5).
Noting the positive aspects of the web, (immediate access and direct information, ability to overcome distance and isolation), the PCSC calls on parishes, dioceses, congregations to enter cyberspace, although warning that it "cannot substitute for real interpersonal community, the incarnational reality of the sacraments and the liturgy" but only complement them. (5)
The Church needs to understand the Internet in order to "communicate with particular groups – young people and young adults." The PCSC underlines the need for formation regarding the Internet, especially for young people "who must learn how to function well in the world of cyberspace (…) and use the new technology for their integral development and the benefit of others" (n. 7).
Among the dangers of the Internet, the PCSC warns about the "profusion of unofficial web sites labeled Catholic" (8 ), proposing as a solution "a system of voluntary certification at the local and national levels under the supervision of representatives of the Magisterium" not so much to censure as to "offer Internet users a reliable guide to what expresses the authentic position of the Church". (11)
(From Fides Service)