Are Catholics called to blog?

[gracepoole]

I know that the Church of LDS has directed its membership to use blogging as a means of evangelizing. Has the Vatican ever said anything similar? Has it encouraged the faithful to blog?

 

[Morwenna]

Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Communications, said the CARA report “suggests many opportunities for the church to engage with those who live on the ‘digital continent,’” described by Pope Benedict XVI and urged bishops and Catholic laity to approach this online world as missionaries.

The bishop read a letter to the session’s participants from Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, which similarly described the online mission field.

“In this context, the role of the laity becomes ever more central,” he said, noting that the “voices of the many Catholics who are present in blogs, social networks and other digital forums are reaching people who might not otherwise encounter the message of Jesus.”

Article here: catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1204754.htm

Programs that utilize a team-based approach should ensure that team members have been carefully selected and formed and that they embody a sense of welcome. Team members need not be master catechists, but they should have a deep love of the Church and a mature prayer life. If possible, the team should include Catholics who have had a lifetime commitment to the faith and others who have returned to the active practice of the faith. Some additional skills and practices for team formation include the following:

* Participation in training programs for one-on-one evangelization, including online resources that make use of social media

From the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, USCCB: catholicapostolatecenter.org/uploads/9/2/4/6/9246931/disciples-called-to-witness-5-30-12.pdf

 

[Nimzovik]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm … considering all the ‘Catholics’ that voted for abortionist Politicians like Oama, I an beginning to see a Internet Ministry need right here on Catholic Answers Forum!

 

[gracepoole]

Article here: catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1204754.htm

From the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, USCCB: catholicapostolatecenter.org/uploads/9/2/4/6/9246931/disciples-called-to-witness-5-30-12.pdf

Thanks! I thought I had read something like that. I’d be interested in seeing what the Vatican has had to say about the “digital content,” as well.

 

[bcuster]

To blog or not to blog, that is the question. I know some people who have a talent for writing. They may be called to blog. I’m more of a drive-by commentator. I’m not sure I have the talent to say what I have to say in an interesting enough way for people to want to read.

 

[Dwyer]

I know that the Church of LDS has directed its membership to use blogging as a means of evangelizing. Has the Vatican ever said anything similar? Has it encouraged the faithful to blog?

Message Of His Holiness Benedict XVI For The Twenty-eighth World Youth Day 2013

**I would like to emphasize two areas where your missionary commitment is all the more necessary. Dear young people, the first is the field of social communications, particularly the world of the internet. **

As I mentioned to you on another occasion: “I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communications and information technology the values on which you have built your lives. …]

It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this ‘digital continent’” (Message for the 43rd World Communications Day, 24 May 2009). Learn how to use these media wisely. Be aware of the hidden dangers they contain, especially the risk of addiction, of confusing the real world with the virtual, and of replacing direct and personal encounters and dialogue with internet
contacts.

From the Vatican, 18 October 2012

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

rio2013.com/en/world-youth-day/message-from-the-holy-father

Pope Francis tweets on Twitter.

 

[MikeMurphy47]

In my opinion no, however Pope Francis is calling all Catholics to visit his new website Pray With The Pope. The website allows you to join Catholics worldwide in an unbroken prayer chain, and see others around the world praying in real time.

This movement is to create awareness and build up the name of the church to the younger generation and so far I believe its working! I hope this helps, and God bless!