Google and Facebook teach Vatican the mysteries of the internet

Telegraph ^ | November 11, 2009 | Nick Squires

[NYer]

Media experts will join bishops from across Europe to tell them how best to communicate the Catholic Church's message in the 21st century.

Steeped in history, the Church often struggles to explain its outlook and Pope Benedict XVI has in recent months been mired in controversy over remarks about the role condoms can play in halting the spread of Aids and his decision to rehabilitate a Holocaust-denying British bishop.

During a four-day conference which starts on Thursday, representatives from the social network Facebook, the search engine Google, the YouTube video sharing website and the online encyclopedia Wikipedia will explain the importance of "new media" in the lives of young people.

The bishops will also learn how to combat the threat of hacking, with advice from a young hacker from Switzerland and an Interpol expert on cybercrime.

"The world of hackers is a separate, parallel culture that is mostly ignored by the Church but not by fans of information technology," said the Vatican's 'communications ministry', the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, which is organising the gathering.

The conference is the latest in a series of moves by the Pope, who uses an iPod and a laptop computer, to engage with modern technology.

[NYer]

The conference is the latest in a series of moves by the Pope, who uses an iPod and a laptop computer, to engage with modern technology.

: - )

[netmilsmom]

I have Pope2you on my Facebook!

[Claud]

Pope Benedict XVI has in recent months been mired in controversy over remarks about the role condoms can play in halting the spread of Aids and his decision to rehabilitate a Holocaust-denying British bishop.

Oh yeah, that's the most important thing that's been going on lately--and I'm sure both at the tippy top of the Pope's mind. /sarc.

Idiot journalists.

[Melian]

Oh, how I’d like to see BXVI’s music playlists.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Instead of fussing or fretting with what amounts to ephemera, the church would likely find much more appreciation in providing sanctuary from the cacophony of the world.

While a lifetime of monasticism is too much for most people, how many would jump at a chance for a week or a month of spiritual renewal in a place of both beauty and solemnity?

People pay resorts huge amounts of money to try and get away, but often bring their turmoil with them. For such places are built for physical pleasures, not spiritual renewal.

And yet it is not just the monastic life that needs to be experienced. It needs the richness and color and gentle music of 2000 years of history. Plants and small animals within, as well.

[verga]

Oh, how I’d like to see BXVI’s music playlists.

Pretty much standard stuff, Ave Maria, Handel's Messiah, Gregorian chants, and of course Lynyrd Skynyrd's new album God and Guns

[Juana la Loca]

I’m guessing he probably also has a little Kraftwerk and David Hasselhoff thrown in there. ;-)

[NYer]

While a lifetime of monasticism is too much for most people, how many would jump at a chance for a week or a month of spiritual renewal in a place of both beauty and solemnity?

There are many monasteries that open their doors to visitors who wish to spend a quiet week in retreat. A few years ago, one of the NYT's travel writers, a Jew, spent a week here, in Petersham, MA, and enjoyed the experience.

Father Abbot and the community are happy to welcome you to Most Holy Trinity Monastery’s guesthouse for men. As cloistered contemplative monks, we are not retreat masters in the usual sense of the word; but in keeping with the ancient tradition of monastic hospitality, we offer our facilities for retreats. By spending some time with us in our monastic observances, men are given a chance to listen and speak to our Lord without the distractions of the world, to refresh and reinvigorate their souls and to deepen their spiritual lives in an environment of authentic Catholic fervor with men totally dedicated to the Church. Your are cordially invited to make a monastic spiritual retreat and to share with us the following observances: Read more

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I was aware of the tradition, and it is a good one. However, what about improving on the idea? That is, the traditional idea is to trade the excitement and clutter of the world for peace, serenity and contemplation.

But I like to point out to parents of young children that while children can have grand imaginations, they need knowledge of things to imagine first.

Most American Catholics have grown up with only a very spare appreciation of the music, art, traditions, history, and philosophies of the church. Why not take the time to learn of these things, so that they may be contemplated in the context of faith?

And this may not be just an intellectual exercise. Imagine the spiritual impact on Americans of praying within an ossuary chapel? American culture is deeply afraid of, ignores and avoids death, trying to pretend it away. Praying in an ossuary would break through many layers of pretension.

But each retreat could specialize in how it reconnects the faithful with the faith. Presenting them with a facet of the faith with which to begin.

[Brookhaven]

Instead of fussing or fretting with what amounts to ephemera, the church would likely find much more appreciation in providing sanctuary from the cacophony of the world.

---

How do you expect the chruch to reach out to people (especially the unchruched) if it doesn’t learn the use the most modern (and effective) communication methods?

The protests against Iran’s rigged elections were, for the most part, communicated to the world via facebook. These new technologies are important methods to get your message out. The church would be derilict in its mission not to use them to spread the message of Christ.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

These are two different issues. One can proselytize with ephemera. But for a Catholic to stay at that level of knowledge and faith does them no favor. It leads to relativism. Adopt the faith with the snazziest website.

What I propose is for existing Catholics, who seek to delve deeper into their faith. While many are comfortable with being “Christmas and Easter Catholics”, or even “social Catholics”, a much greater number seek spiritual depth in their faith.

I remember when the Latin mass returned to Phoenix. The faithful filled the first church to offer it. The front row had several people of extreme old age, who had not left their homes in a decade or more, but had to attend.

All the gimmicks and gizmos of the modern world meant little or nothing to the faith of most people there. But to hear and be part of a live Latin mass meant a return of the church they knew and loved.

So this is what I am driving at, not new Catholics, but Catholics who wish to enlarge and restore their connection with the church in all its glory.

[Melian]

Thank you!