Pope to Catholics Online: It's Not Just About Hits

[Catholic_Press]

Pope Benedict XVI has told Catholic bloggers and Facebook and YouTube users to be respectful of others when spreading the Gospel online and not see their ultimate goal as getting as many online hits as possible.

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[Elizabeth502]

Echoing concerns in the U.S. about the need to root out online vitriol, Benedict called for the faithful to adopt a “Christian style presence” online that is responsible, honest and discreet.“The proclamation of the Gospel requires a communication which is at once respectful and sensitive.”

Benedict didn’t name names, but the head of the Vatican’s social communications office, Archbishop Claudio Celli, said it was certainly correct to direct the pope’s exhortation to some conservative Catholic blogs, YouTube channels and sites which, with some vehemence, criticize bishops, public officials and policies they consider not Catholic enough.

“There exists a Christian way of communication which is honest and open, responsible and respectful of others,” he wrote. “To proclaim the Gospel through the new media means not only to insert expressly religious content into different media platforms, but also to witness consistently, in one’s own digital profile and in the way one communicates choices, preference and judgments that are fully consistent with the Gospel.”