New Evangelisation: communications

(Vatican Radio) As the 13^th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the New Evangelisation is currently taking place, Veronica Scarisbrick asks the Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation Monsignor Graham Bell how challenging the area of media and communications is in this day and age, given the speed and the the effectiveness of the technology we have available:

" Social communications in general are very important for the Church today and they present a great challenge, not least because they are evolving so quickly. Young people especially are very much attracted to the new forms of social media (for example Twitter, Facebook and so on), so it is important that the Church have a presence in these media.

If the Church is to be faithful to her mission to announce Jesus Christ universally, she has to acquire an expertise in the new forms of social media and in the special forms of language which characterise them.

But we have to be prudent. We would be foolish to think that computers and communications systems are capable of converting people. It is God's grace and the preaching of His Word which convert people to Christ or strengthen them in their faith.

Technology is no substitute for living Christian communities giving vibrant witness to Christ in the living out our of faith, hope and charity".

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