Imprimatur for Catholic Websites?!

[Crusader13]

Can the Vatican bring order to the Catholic internet? - Catholic Herald

Several stories over the past few weeks have made some hay with a few lines from the recent synod’s final document regarding the “certification” of websites as somehow authentically Catholic. Buried in paragraph 146 of the final document we read: “The synod hopes that, in the Church, appropriate...

catholicherald.co.uk

I’ve heard of this on a few other sites and I hope this isn’t something they feel should be on their list of priorities.

 

[Feanor2]

I think this is something that could make sense. The internet has gotten ugly with accusations against the Pope- even questioning his legitimacy.

The Church watches over the written word on spiritual matters- why not the internet?

 

[Genesis315]

The problem is, unlike a book, the content of websites are constantly changing and content is constantly being produced. For the same reason, imprimaturs have not been applied to things like newspapers.

While the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church does not currently provide for ecclesiastical permission except for printed works, the Code of Canon law for the Eastern Churches actually provides for ecclesiastical permission for “messages reproduced by any technical means and intended for public distribution.” Given the practical difficulty of it, I don’t think much has been done in this regard.

 

[commenter]

Well, you always enquire if a ministry that produces a website is in Union with their bishop. Catholic answers is. Some are not. I agree this is looser, more indirect than some would like.

The problem on the internet is there are far more personal blogs
Embedded in a larger site. I don’t usually agree with Church Militant but some columnists are quite credible.

The other issue is the comments, on all of them.

 

[Donkey]

Recall the day when censoring was as simple as forbidding a book. The index librorum prohibitorum
can now be found online along with links per title and author.
Today’s information age magnifies all that is good and bad in humans.
It regurgitates everything like flood water slurry.
The typical mind is not made to sanely absorb the onslaught of information and misinformation.
The rapid advance of disorganized knowledge and misinformation will ultimately cause devastation - like wildlife found dead with bellies full of garbage and plastics.

 

[Feanor2]

Well, I think that imprimaturs would only be given to certain more authoritative web content.

Low quality and controversial sites like Church Militant and the Lepanto Institute could just go on with their. . . . content unaffected.

 

[F_Marturana]

I always thought it helpful to have an imprimatur for religious books.

I’m not sure how it could work for the internet.

 

[tvknight415]

Because of the risk of hacking, I don’t think it’s a good idea.

 

[yankeesouth]

Of course it would have the opposite effect. The liberals in the Vatican would just promote websites that fall in line with their liberal ideology so for Catholics opposed to that they would not use those websites.

 

[Feanor2]

Is this the case with written materials?

 

[Donkey]

This is why I read mainly much older books with an Imprimatur.

 

[leonhardprintz]

So a website can gain an imprimitur, and then change tone and start pumping out garbage, with the full sanction and official stamp of approval? That seems like a problem worth considering. And I’m sure the Vatican is going to “objective” and “fair” about who gets to get the imprimitur, this is not at all about protecting the image of Pope Francis or taking control of the narrative of voices criticizing the lax and bad management of the Church.

One of the dumber ideas to come out of the Vatican in recent times.

 

[Feanor2]

I believe that an imprimatur could only be given to fixed text on the net- not to fluid websites where new commentary is added without review and certainly not where the site would feature ongoing posts.

I do see how the internet has been a godsend for those critical of the Holy Father- allowing the illusion of legitimacy to fringe opinions like those expressed on Lifesitenews and Lepanto- among others.