Social+Networking+-+What+Does+the+Church+Have+to+Say

** Assignment #2 **
Expected time to complete reading and the written assignment: 15 - 45 minutes

Your assignment for this segment is to post a SHORT reflection paragraph about what you learned from reading ONE of the church publications listed below. Your reflection can be about anything you found interesting or relevant to your ministry in your reading. For example, you could reflect on your role as a catechist in maintaining a safe online environment in compliance with the diocesan guidelines. Or you could reflect on the themes related to moral responsibility that you read about in Inter Mirifica. Choose something that is interesting and relevant to you.
 * [|World Communications Day Message 2011]
 * [|USCCB Guidelines for Use of Social Media]
 * [|Diocese of St. Petersburg, Guidelines for Social Networking, 2011]
 * [|Inter Mirifica]

// Remember to select the "Edit" button, and add your name, the document you read, and your reflection below. When you are done, be sure to click on "Save." //

// Post your reflection paragraph below using the following format: // Document Reflection Name

World Communications Day Message 2011 Reflection: His Holiness Benedictus XVI stresses that believers who bear witness to their most profound convictions greatly help prevent the web from becoming an instrument which depersonalizes people, attempts to manipulate them emotionally or allows those who are powerful to monopolize the opinions of others. This message is extremely important to keep in mind while using social media. As people we all possess a strong sense of protecting our own opinions and values and we may go beyond limits to protect them ignoring the truth. People who adhere to their personal beliefs often cause irrational thoughts, attack information or facts, cause prejudice, and biases. By maintaining intellectual virtues such as humility, empathy, and confidence in reasoning when utilizing social media, we all can benefit from different ideas and open new horizons of knowledge. It is everyone's responsibility to maintain proper behavior and respect for people's points of view. Jorge Lindo-

Document: USCCB Guidelines Reflection: The USCCB’s comments on the potential for social networking to strengthen community caught my attention. I appreciate the statement “social media interaction should not be viewed as a substitute for face-to-face gatherings” because I have seen the reality of this in my own use of social media. There is a different level of meaningful sharing when people have opportunities to connect with each other face to face in addition to sharing online via social media. I think this helps people to keep stay real and allow themselves to share from their authentic selves. This connected with some of Benedict XVI’s words in his 2011 World Day of Communications address: “…the truth of Christ is the full and authentic response to that human desire for relationship, communion and meaning which is reflected in the immense popularity of social networks.” Sr. Kristin

Document:Decree on the Media of Social Communications: Inter Mirifica

What I found to be the greatest truth in this document is the idea that there is a great responsibility on the part of those who use the various forms of media to distribute news and other information in a manner that benefits the audience in every aspect of their being. That means that there should never be agendas and that the spiritual and moral well being of a person should also be given careful consideration whenever information is passed on to them. The truth then, in its entirety should always be the goal as long as that truth is not presented in a way that does not fully benefit the audience. This I think is very useful in the life of the church because it says to us that while we must always be honest especially when dealing with our young people we must also realise what is suitable and what is the best way to present information to them. We must never be like some secular or mainstream media houses and give biased information or present certain information to those members of society who are not emotionally ready to look at it with a discerning eye. There is also the idea that in any form of communication, even the arts, careful consideration must be made so as not to negatively affect the masses, provoking the wrong feelings and desires in them which attack their morality. Daren Goodridge