Vatican II and Social Communication
The second document from the Second Vatican Council is one of the shorter documents produced by the bishops who were gathered, but for those of us who work in in the realm of new media, and even older forms of the mass media, is critically important. In rereading this document it is clear to me that the council fathers were truly prophetic in their words to the universal Church as they apply just as well to today’s culture of rapid news cycles and the information superhighway. Pope Benedict XVI has encouraged priests to embrace new technologies in their work to preach the Gospel and this document from the council is certainly supportive of his call to evangelization.
Perhaps it is best to begin simply by quoting the beginning of the Decree on the Means of Social Communication, entitled Inter Mirifica:
Man’s genius has with God’s help produced marvelous technical inventions from creation, especially in our times. The Church, our mother, is particularly interested in those which directly touch man’s spirit and which have opened up new avenues of easy communication of all kinds of news, of ideas and orientations. Chief among them are those means of communication which of their nature can reach and influence not merely single individuals but the very masses and even the whole of human society. These are the press, the cinema, radio, television and others of a like nature. These can rightly be called “the means of social communication.”
The Church, our mother, knows that if these media are properly used they can be of considerable benefit to mankind. They contribute greatly to the enlargement and enrichment of men’s minds and to the propagation and consolidation of the kingdom of God. But the Church also knows that man can use them in ways that are contrary to the Creator’s design and damaging to himself. Indeed, she grieves with a mother’s sorrow at the harm all too often inflicted on society by their misuse.
These opening paragraphs give us an idea of the Church’s embrace of the many forms of media in that they have the great potential of drawing large numbers of people to Christ. They also highlight the great damage that can be done with the misuse of the media.
I am looking forward to a conversation with the readers of this blog on this subject as it is intimately connected to what we do in the arena of new media and social networking.
There will also be a prize for the first person to correctly make the connection between today’s post and photo. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on social communication and the Church.
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