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IV. The Mass Media,
the Crossroads of the Great Social Questions
10. The
Church, which in light of the message of salvation entrusted to it by the Lord
is also a teacher of humanity, recognizes the duty to offer its own
contribution for a better understanding of outlooks and responsibilities
connected with current developments in communications. Especially because these
influence the consciences of individuals, form their mentality and determine
their view of things, it is important to stress in a forceful and clear way
that the mass media constitute a patrimony to safeguard and promote. The
communications media must enter into the framework of organically structured
rights and duties, be it from the point of view of formation and ethical
responsibility, or from reference to laws and institutional codes.
The positive development of
the media at the service of the common good is a responsibility of each and
every one.12 Because of the close connections the media have with
economics, politics and culture, there is required a management system capable
of safeguarding the centrality and dignity of the person, the primacy of the
family as the basic unit of society and the proper relationship among them.
11. We
are faced with three fundamental options: formation, participation and
dialogue.
In the first place, a vast
work of formation is needed to assure that the mass media be known and used
intelligently and appropriately. The new vocabulary they introduce into society
modifies both learning processes and the quality of human relations, so that,
without proper formation, these media run the risk of manipulating and heavily
conditioning, rather than serving people. This is especially true for young
people, who show a natural propensity towards technological innovations, and as
such are in even greater need of education in the responsible and critical use
of the media.
In the second place, I
would like to recall our attention to the subject of media access, and of co-responsible
participation in their administration. If the communications media are a
good destined for all humanity, then ever-new means must be found – including
recourse to opportune legislative measures – to make possible a true
participation in their management by all. The culture of co-responsibility must
be nurtured.
Finally, there cannot be
forgotten the great possibilities of mass media in promoting dialogue, becoming
vehicles for reciprocal knowledge, of solidarity and of peace. They become a
powerful resource for good if used to foster understanding between peoples; a
destructive “weapon” if used to foster injustice and conflicts. My venerable
predecessor, Blessed John XXIII, already prophetically warned humanity of such
potential risks in the Encyclical, Pacem in Terris.13
12. The
reflection upon the role “of public opinion in the Church,” and “of the Church
in public opinion” aroused great interest. In a meeting with the editors of
Catholic publications, my venerable predecessor, Pius XII, stated that
something would be missing from the life of the Church were it not for public
opinion. This same idea has since been repeated on other occasions14,
and in the Code of Canon Law there is recognized, under certain conditions, the
right to the expression of one’s own opinion.15 While it is true that
the truths of the faith are not open to arbitrary interpretations, and that
respect for the rights of others places intrinsic limits upon the expression of
one’s judgments, it is no less true that there is still room among Catholics
for an exchange of opinions in a dialogue which is respectful of justice and
prudence.
Communication both within
the Church community, and between the Church and the world at large, requires
openness and a new approach towards facing questions regarding the world of
media. This communication must tend towards a constructive dialogue, so as to
promote a correctly-informed and discerning public opinion within the Christian
community. The Church, like other institutions and groups, has the need and the
right to make its activities known. However, when circumstances require, it
must be able to guarantee an adequate confidentiality, without thereby
prejudicing a timely and sufficient communication about Church events. This is
one of the areas in which collaboration between the lay faithful and Pastors is
most needed, as the Council appropriately emphasized, “A great many wonderful
things are to be hoped for from this familiar dialogue between the laity and
their spiritual leaders: in the laity a strengthened sense of personal
responsibility; a renewed enthusiasm; a more ready application of their talents
to the projects of their spiritual leaders. The latter, on the other hand,
aided by the experience of the laity, can more clearly and more incisively come
to decisions regarding both spiritual and temporal matters. In this way, the
whole Church, strengthened by each one of its members, may more effectively
fulfill its mission for the life of the world”.16
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