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.

Miranda Prorsus A.A.S., XXIV (1957), p. 765.

Gaudium et Spes, A.A.S., LVIII (1966), pp. 1025-1120.

Unitatis Redintegratio, A.A.S., LVII (1965), pp. 90-112.

Dignitatis Humanae, A.A.S., LVIII (1966), pp. 929-946.

Ad Gentes, A.A.S., LVIII (1966), pp. 947-990.

Christus Dominus, A.A.S., LVIII (1966), pp. 673-696.

Inter Mirifica, A.A.S., LVI (1964), pp. 145-157.

Cf.ibid., 23.