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III. A Change of
Mentality and Pastoral Renewal
7. In the
communications media the Church finds a precious aid for spreading the Gospel
and religious values, for promoting dialogue, ecumenical and inter-religious
cooperation, and also for defending those solid principles which are
indispensable for building a society which respects the dignity of the human
person and is attentive to the common good. The Church willingly employs these
media to furnish information about itself and to expand the boundaries of
evangelization, of catechesis and of formation, considering their use as a
response to the command of the Lord: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the
gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15).
This is certainly not an
easy mission in an age such as ours, in which there exists the conviction that
the time of certainties is irretrievably past. Many people, in fact, believe
that humanity must learn to live in a climate governed by an absence of
meaning, by the provisional and by the fleeting.4 In this context, the
communications media can be used “to proclaim the Gospel or to reduce it to
silence within men’s hearts.”5 This poses a serious challenge for
believers, especially for parents, families and all those responsible for the
formation of children and young people. Those individuals in the Church
community particularly gifted with talent to work in the media should be
encouraged with pastoral prudence and wisdom, so that they may become
professionals capable of dialoguing with the vast world of the mass media.
8. The appreciation
of the media is not reserved only to those already adept in the field, but to
the entire Church Community. If, as has already been noted, the communications
media take into account different aspects of the expression of faith,
Christians must take into account the media culture in which they live: from
the Liturgy, the fullest and fundamental expression of communication with God
and with one another, to Catechesis, which cannot prescind from the fact of
being directed to people immersed in the language and the culture of the day.
The current phenomenon of
communications impels the Church towards a sort of pastoral and cultural
revision, so as to deal adequately with the times in which we live. Pastors,
above all, must assume this responsibility. Everything possible must be done so
that the Gospel might permeate society, stimulating people to listen to and
embrace its message.6 Consecrated persons belonging to institutions
having the charism of using the mass media have a particular responsibility in
this regard. Spiritually and professionally formed towards this end, these
institutions, “should willingly lend their help, wherever pastorally
appropriate […] in order to offset the inappropriate use of the media and to
promote higher quality programmes, the contents of which will be respectful of
the moral law and rich in human and Christian values.”7
9. Such
is the importance of the mass media that fifteen years ago I considered it
inopportune to leave their use completely up to the initiatives of individuals
or small groups, and suggested that they be decisively inserted into pastoral
programs.8 New technologies, in particular, create further
opportunities for communication understood as a service to the pastoral
government and organization of the different tasks of the Christian community.
One clear example today is how the Internet not only provides resources for
more information, but habituates persons to interactive communication.9
Many Christians are already creatively using this instrument, exploring its
potential to assist in the tasks of evangelization and education, as well as of
internal communication, administration and governance. However, alongside the
Internet, other new means of communication, as well as traditional ones, should
be used. Daily and weekly newspapers, publications of all types, and Catholic
television and radio still remain highly useful means within a complete
panorama of Church communications.
While the content being communicated
must obviously be adapted to the needs of different groups, the goal must
always be to make people aware of the ethical and moral dimension of the
information.10 In the same way, it is important to assure that media
professionals receive the necessary formation and pastoral attention to
confront the particular tensions and ethical dilemmas that arise in their daily
work. Often these men and women “sincerely desire to know and practice what is
ethically and morally just,” and look to the Church for guidance and support.11
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