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FOREWORD
1. THE UNITY AND ADVANCEMENT of men living in society: these are
the chief aims of social communication and of all the means it uses. These
means include the press, the cinema, radio and television. The constant
improvement in the media puts them at the disposal of more and more people who
in their daily lives make increasing use of them. More than ever before, the
way men live and think is profoundly affected by the means of communication.
2. The Church sees these
media as "gifts of God" 1 which, in accordance with His
providential design, unite men in brotherhood and so help them to cooperate
with His plan for their salvation. A deeper and more penetrating understanding
of social communication and of the contribution which the media it uses can
make to modern society, can be derived from a number of documents issued by the
Second Vatican Council. These are, notably the Constitution on "The
Church in the World Today", 2
the Decree on "Ecumenism", 3 the Declaration on "Religious
Freedom", 4 the Decree on "The Missionary Activity
of the Church", 5 and the Decree on "The Pastoral
Duties of Bishops". 6 And, of course, there is a Decree that
is wholly devoted to a discussion of "The Media of Social
Communication". 7
The deeper understanding based on the
teaching and spirit of this Council will now guide Christians in their
attitudes to the media and will make them the more eager to commit themselves
in this field.
3. This Pastoral Instruction
which is being published at the direction of the Second Vatican Council
8 sets out basic doctrinal principles and general pastoral guidelines.
It carefully refrains from going into minute details on a subject which is
continually changing and developing and which varies so much according to time
and place.
4. It will therefore be the
task of Bishops and their conferences and, equally, of the Synods of the
Eastern Churches, to consult experts and their diocesan, national and
international councils. This should be done not only to implement this
Instruction efficiently and in a spirit of collegiality, but also to discover
the best way of explaining it and suiting it, as precisely as possible, to the
needs of the people in their care. And while they do this, they will keep in
mind the unity of the Church.
In this task Episcopal Conferences will lean
upon the professional assistance which priests, religious and laity can offer.
For a proper use of the media of social communication is the responsibility of
the entire People of God.
5. This Instruction, it is
hoped, will be well received by all those who are professionally involved in
the field of communications and, indeed, by all who, from good will, seek the
progress of mankind. So, as a result of exchanges of views and cooperation with
such men, the vast potential that lies in the means of social communication
will be made good and this for the advancement of all.
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