Introduction
A REVOLUTION IN HUMAN COMMUNICATIONS
1. At the dawn of a new era, a vast expansion of human communications
is profoundly influencing culture everywhere. Revolutionary technological
changes are only part of what is happening. Nowhere today are people untouched
by the impact of media upon religious and moral attitudes, political and social
systems, and education.
It
is impossible to ignore, for instance, that geographical and political
boundaries were both of very little avail in view of the role played by
communications during the "radical transformations" of 1989 and 1990,
on whose historical significance the Pope reflects in Centesimus Annus.
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It
becomes equally evident that "the first Areopagus of the modern age is
the world of communications which is unifying humanity and turning it into what
is known as a “global villag”'. The means of social communications have become
so important as to be for many the chief means of information and education, of
guidance and inspiration in their behavior as individuals, families and within
society at large". 2
More
than a quarter century after the promulgation of the Second Vatican Council's
decree on social communications, Inter Mirifica, and two decades after the
pastoral instruction Communio et Progressio, the Pontifical Council for Social
Communications wishes to reflect on the pastoral implications of this
situation.
We
do so in the spirit expressed by the closing words of Communio et Progressio: "The
People of God walk in history. As they... advance with their times, they look
forward with confidence and even with enthusiasm to whatever the development of
communications in a space age may have to offer". 3
Taking
for granted the continued validity of the principles and insights of these
conciliar and postconciliar documents, we wish to apply them to new and
emerging realities. We do not pretend to say the final word on a complex,
fluid, rapidly changing situation, but simply wish to provide a working tool,
and a measure of encouragement, to those confronting the pastoral implications
of the new realities.
2. In the years since Inter Mirifica and Communio et
Progressio appeared, people have grown accustomed to expressions like
"information society", "mass media culture", and
"media generation". Terms like these underline a remarkable
fact: today, much that men and women know and think about life is conditioned
by the media; to a considerable extent, human experience itself is an
experience of media.
Recent
decades also have witnessed remarkable developments in the technology of
communicating. These include both the rapid evolution of previously existing
technologies and the emergence of new telecommunications and media
technologies: satellites, cable television, fiber optics, video cassettes,
compact discs, computerized image making and other computer and digital
technology, and much else. The use of new media gives rise to what some speak
of as "new languages" and has given birth to new possibilities
for the mission of the Church as well as to new pastoral problems.
3. Against this background we encourage the pastors and
people of the Church to deepen their understanding of issues relating to
communications and media, and to translate their understanding into practical
policies and workable programs.
"As
the Council Fathers looked to the future and tried to discern the context in which
the Church would be called upon to carry out her mission, they could clearly
see that the progress of technology was already "transforming the face of
the earth' and even reaching out to conquer space. They recognized that
developments in communications technology, in particular, were likely to set
off chain reactions with unforeseen consequences". 4
"Far
from suggesting that the Church should stand aloof or try to isolate herself
from the mainstream of these events, the Council Fathers saw the Church as
being in the very midst of human progress, sharing the experiences of the rest
of humanity, seeking to understand them and to interpret them in the light of
faith. It was for God's faithful people to make creative use of the new
discoveries and technologies for the benefit of humanity and the fulfilment of
God's plan for the world.... employing the full potential of the "computer
age" to serve the human and transcendent vocation of every person, and
thus to give glory to the Father from whom all good things come". 5
We
express our gratitude to those responsible for the creative communications work
underway in the Church everywhere. Despite difficulties -- arising from limited
resources, from the obstacles sometimes placed in the way of the Church's
access to media, and from a constant reshaping of culture, values, and
attitudes brought about by the pervasive presence of media -- much has been,
and continues to be, accomplished. The dedicated bishops, clergy, religious and
lay people engaged in this critically important apostolate deserve the thanks
of all.
Also
welcome are those positive ventures in media-related ecumenical cooperation
involving Catholics and their brothers and sisters of other Churches and
ecclesial communities, as well as interreligious cooperation with those of
other world religions. It is not only appropriate but "necessary for
Christians to work together more effectively in their communications efforts
and to act in more direct cooperation with other religions to ensure a united
religious presence in the very heart of mass communications".
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