Commission on Evangelization

Members of the Glenmary Commission on Evangelization discuss
how their parishes can respond more effectively
using the Internet for evangelization.

The Digital Reality: The Church Responds

Recognizing the opportunities as well as the challenges of the digital age, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications has published “The Church and the Internet” (2/28/2002) and “Ethics and the Internet.”

While discussing these documents, Sister Susan Pontz, SS.C.M., noted that the reality of Internet technology provides the Church with a means for communicating with groups who otherwise might be difficult to reach. The Church needs to understand and effectively use the special characteristics of the Internet: direct, immediate, interactive and participatory. The Council strongly recommends that Church groups who have a Web presence make available to other Catholic groups their experience, information and expertise.

Education regarding using the Internet should be part of the comprehensive programs available to members in their parishes. Eighty percent of Internet users expect to find information to enhance their work, finances, family life and health. Many “browsers” assume that if the information is available on the Web, it is true and accurate. The growing use of the Internet by all age groups heightens the pastoral need for workshops and seminars concerning pornography, commercial interests and basic media literacy. As much as possible, pastoral planning should make provision for media training in the formation of seminarians, priests, lay pastoral personnel as well as teachers, parents and students.

These documents suggest that diocesan and local pastoral plans discern ways to direct seekers to contacts with the true community of church. It is also strongly urged that the ways in which the Internet can continue to sustain and enrich the Christian faith life be a part of pastoral planning. As Sister Susan reminded the group, “there are no sacraments on the Internet!”

For more information or to download these Church documents go to: http://www.zenit.org
Source: The Pew and American Life Project: Counting on the Internet December 2002 www.pewinternet.org/reports

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