Editorial

The Catholic Church knows that even though the world of social communications may at times seem at odds with the Christian message it also offers unique opportunities for it to convey its message and teachings to the human family.

It is therefore of no surprise that media experts, such as Fr Richard Leonard SJ, visiting professor at the Gregorian University in Rome, are increasingly encouraging the Church not to fear the social media and technology but to see it as a “wonderful opportunity” to build up the Catholic community.

Such solicitations reflect the Church’s appreciation of the positive capacities of the internet to carry religious information and teaching beyond all barriers and frontiers. Indeed, as Pope John Paul II once said, “Catholics should not be afraid to throw open the doors of social communications to Christ so that his Good News may be heard from the housetops of the world”.

In understanding and seeking to make use of the internet as a communications tool, the Church naturally keeps clearly in view the internet’s special character as a direct, immediate, interactive and participatory medium. Indeed, the big question the Church has to face is how best to proceed in the use of such a marvellous technical invention as is the internet.

Speaking about embracing the “best side” of the internet through the setting up of a Facebook page and the experience of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in this regard, Fr Leonard said the problematic side to such a move cannot be ignored as, for instance, people could write back in disagreement.

Yet, that risk could also have its healthy aspect considering it is always possible to respond and witness a progression of ideas and the stimulation of debate. Moreover, as further argued by Fr Leonard, the Church must not run away from its critics but had to answer them in an intelligent, coherent and accessible way.

To its credit, the Archdiocese of Malta already has its own active Facebook page and Youtube channel. The Diocesan Youth Commission has its own internet facilities too. The Church in Malta should therefore view Fr Leonard’s comments as an encouragement to courageously further commit itself to the use of such facilities to enhance its active sharing and two-way dialogue with the people, especially the younger generations. Whether we like it or not, this is the only medium many are willing to use.

The Church knows very well that one of its major challenges is how best to reach young people. Its focus in this regard can also be seen, for instance, in the fact that, to face the problem that the majority of listeners of the Church-funded RTK radio station were aged 50 and over, meaning the station was not reaching well enough the younger generations, RTK decided on embarking on new initiatives aimed at attracting better the younger audience.

The Church’s interest in the internet and its powerful formative influence is also essential because although the internet is a door opening on an exciting world, not everything on the other side of the door is safe or good. The internet places in the grasp of people, especially the young, an immense capacity for doing good and doing harm, to themselves and others. Accordingly, the active presence of the Church with its values will surely help to also confront the risk that bad use of the internet plunges people into certain ailments instead of helping them to enrich their lives.