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ANALYSIS

Social networking for Catholics

Texting, Twitter, Facebook and blogs are everywhere, shouting out thoughts and opinions. We can report even our most mundane activities. How, then, does social networking impact our faith?

Rev. James Ebert, associate pastor at St. Mary's in Ballston Spa, likes using Facebook. Three people he knew 10 years ago connected with him via Facebook - and then all came to Mass while visiting from out of town recently. This continued connection may have never happened via phone or even email. 

In his recent encyclical, "Charity in Truth," Pope Benedict XVI does address modern communication and its potential for both good and ill. Media, the pope says, should be "geared toward a vision of the person and the common good that reflects truly universal values." 

This is easier said than done. 

Tahlia Armentano, youth minister at St. Madeleine Sophie parish in Guilderland, said she "absolutely plans on using the internet for youth ministry." While she has some concerns, Ms. Armentano sees many positive aspects of social media for faith sharing and formation: "It builds community in a different way."

Pitfalls
She does worry about the potential for isolation and misunderstanding, however. 

"You can't always know where the person is coming from," said Ms. Armentano. 
"Even emails can be dangerous when people have no sense of the power of their words."

In his book, "Googling God," and in talks at Catholic conferences around the country, Mike Hayes, one of the founders of the popular Busted Halo website, advocates using technology to evangelize, especially youth. 

Mr. Hayes believes that, while there might be liabilities to social networking, "to not be out there is worse. We must become the trusted sources in a world that has too many choices."

Mary DeTurris Poust, a parishioner at St. Thomas in Delmar, is the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Catholic Catechism," a columnist for the Catholic New York archdiocesan newspaper and a blogger for the website of the national newspaper Our Sunday Visitor.

Mrs. Poust's initial efforts at personal blogging were to promote her book, but grew into something else when community began to form there. Her blog, "Not Strictly Spiritual," morphed into a roundtable on spirituality and life. 

She moved recently onto Facebook, reluctantly but beneficially. Now, she has started a local spiritual reading group from contacts made at the site. 

"I would have never seen that coming," she said.

Reconnecting
Rev. James Martin, SJ, an author and both cultural editor of and blogger at America magazine, recently had his own powerful experience via Facebook. 

He got a Facebook message from an old friend which included a photo of a mutual friend, now deceased. This experience, he said, "opened a door of wonderful memories of this friendship. It was a powerful spiritual experience."

Father Martin does worry about how technology "can discourage people from face-to-face connections," noting that there are issues regarding "anonymity online which might encourage people to say mean things" and participate in "drive-by character assassination."

So far, said Deacon Greg Kandra of "The Deacon's Bench" blog, the Church has not been successful in using social media.

"It is a way to speak to the world, in modern language" as a way of evangelizing, teaching and building community," Deacon Kandra said. "No computer screen or comment box can replace the sense of community found in a gathering of like-minded souls."

Paul Snatchko blogs at "Between the 'Burgh and the City." He sees the use of technology and social media as essential, remarking: "If St. Paul were here, he would love and be using Facebook, Twitter and more to spread the Word of Jesus."

More to come
Noting that formation for the priesthood includes budgeting and cost control, he proposed that social media skills also be included in seminary education. 

"Every parish has a phone," added Mr. Snatchko, but there was a time that was not the case. The use of technology will move along those same lines over time. In the meantime, he said, "We need to get the Word out, evangelize, gather and build community" in online forums.

Father Ebert said these platforms can also "be used in hurtful ways." He concluded that he "still prefers to talk to people on the phone or in person. There is no substitute for 'real presence.'"

(Fran Rossi Szpylczyn lives in Clifton Park and attends St. Edward the Confessor parish.) 

(09/17/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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