USCCB steps in it, again, on gun control

Posted: April 12, 2013 in General Posts, Public Relations/Brand Management
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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has precious little capital with regard to public policy and their ability to maintain credibility with the lay faithful. As I have posted previously, gun control is a prudential issue that should be addressed by the laity and will distract from the Bishops’ leadership in fighting an unprecedented violation of religious freedom: HHS Mandate. By saddling up with the very people who are forcing religious organizations and individuals to violate their own consciences, the USCCB is providing religious freedom opposers with talking points to show that they are unified with the Catholic Church—at least sometimes.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, whom I have credited as being very savvy with new medias, should have unplugged her keyboard and tossed it out the window rather than author her latest column in the Washington Post. She opens her column by making the following claim:

Some things seem naturally abhorrent – forceps to crush a cranium in an abortion, a needle to deliver a sentence intravenously on death row, and an assault weapon in the hands of the man on the street. Each instrument may have a purpose some time, somewhere, but as used above, each reflects brutality in our society.

Tom Crowe of CatholicVote.org addressed this and other claims by Sister Walsh in his latest post. Regarding Sister Walsh’s quote, he states:

This is moral equivalency. And it is irresponsible and scandalous. If we want to be taken seriously and have a true Catholic impact on society we need to start by taking our own beliefs seriously and presenting them accurately and fairly. Sister Walsh did not do that here.

He’s right on the money. Not only are abortion and the death penalty NOT morally equivalent, but adding a man holding an assault rifle into the mix, as though it belongs in the same sentence, is asinine and offensive to the Catholic social doctrine and the entire pro-life movement. Her claims are taken right out of the “seamless garment” playbook and should not be uttered by any spokesperson for the Catholic Church, especially the Bishops’ Conference.

Read Crowe’s post if you want substantive reasons as to why Sister Walsh’s column was poorly argued and theologically baseless.

Tactically, however, her arguments are open to a myriad of conflicts.

First, know your area of responsibility. The Church should advocate that whatever legislative or executive compromise comes from the federal government, if any, that it should promote human life and human dignity. Getting into the details of what bill best addresses the Bishops’ Conference position on a discretionary issue confuses the faithful into thinking that what they are saying is de fide, and cannot be objected to by Catholics.

Secondly, don’t contradict your principles.  When your principles are well-established, people can see right through inconsistencies. To say that assault weapons “stand out dramatically as a threat to innocent life” ignores the plain reality that assault weapons also stand out as a threat to those who seek to end innocent human life. Something tells me that if citizens of Stalingrad were holding assault weapons in the winter of 1942, hundreds of thousands of people would have been saved. A mother at home shouldn’t feel like an abortionist when an attacker breaks in and she defends herself with an AR-15.

Third, know your audience. If the issue at hand was abortion or religious freedom, the Church should speak up no matter what their audience or the public thinks. But since gun control is not an objective matter of faith and morals—and thus reasonable people can disagree—they should see that they will lose the focus and confidence of their audience by stepping out. Catholics who simultaneously herald the courage of the Bishops to fight the HHS Mandate and support the Second Amendment, are going go ballistic (pun intended) at the Bishops attempting to deny them their rights.

In this case, the Bishops, with Sister Walsh as their mouthpiece, is stepping out on a prudential issue that will destroy their credibility with millions of Catholic Americans, and could be a significant contributor as to why they lose other, more fundamental battles of rights and human dignity.

Words Matter: Dennis Rodman doesn’t personally agree with mass murder or prison camps

Posted: April 2, 2013 in General Posts
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In one of the strangest interviews you will ever watch, George Stephanopoulos sits down basketball superstar Dennis Rodman who recently returned from North Korea. During this trip, he he spent two days hanging out with and rubbing elbows with one of the world’s most notorious dictators, Kim Jong Un.

In the interview Dennis Rodman was asked whether or not he spoke with the 28-year-old tyrant about the estimated 200,000 people living in North Korean prison camps and subjected to some of the most inhumane and deplorable conditions imaginable. Dennis Rodman responded, in part, by saying that he “doesn’t condone that.” “I don’t condone what he does. But as far as person to person, he’s my friend.”

Throughout the rambling, babbling interview, Dennis Rodman goes out of his way to make the point that while he doesn’t support the decision to imprison hundreds of thousands of people—many of whom are reported to be murdered—he can still be friends with Kim Jong Un and choose not focus on the messier side of his life as North Korea’s sole source of power and terror.

This logic should sound extremely familiar. President Obama finds making a moral claim about abortion above of his “pay grade,” but Vice President Joe Biden and many other people who claim to be Catholic personally believe abortion to be wrong, but don’t want to force their opinions on others. Dennis Rodman might be chummy with one of the world’s most infamous human beings,  but how does that make him different than Biden or Pelosi? Well more than 200,000 abortions have happened under the negligent eye of pro-abortion Catholic politicians who find it politically expedient to support abortion “rights” because it isn’t their business to tell another person not to kill someone. If that logic follows, what right does Dennis Rodman have to tell Kim Jong Un that his actions and decisions are atrocious?

Word matter. They aren’t just jargon. The things that people say have a ripple effect on society. High profile individuals have a greater responsibility to speak the true so that others are not led astray. The idea that we do not have a moral imperative to encourage people not to hurt or kill others is nonsense and it leads others to spread that believe, that lie. Dennis Rodman is a victim and propagator of that lie. Although the liberal left is supposedly ashamed of Rodman’s statements, they should realize that it is because of their own statements that this concept took root.

You reap what you sow.

The USCCB tells personal stories from Rome

Posted: March 6, 2013 in General Posts, Public Relations/Brand Management
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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops media office has worked hard over the last several years to become more resourceful to not only the Bishops and Dioceses it serves, but also to a general audience of the Catholic faithful. This time of Sede Vacante is no exception.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, director of media relations for the USCCB, has published a series of blog posts journaling her time in Rome and updating the U.S. Church with the latest news. She also includes interesting “inside the ballpark” anecdotes about what the U.S. news media is doing there and provides a behind-the-scenes perspective of how the Vatican Press Office operates in such a chaotic time.

Usually, when media relations personnel for the Church publish blog posts, they often appear very stilted. The Church is still figuring out how to let people like Sister Walsh, and others who operate in an official capacity, write in their own style. Bishops and priests are doing this well, but religious and lay personnel are not always given the same latitude. Sister Walsh’s blog posts are clearly not written in the tone of an Archbishop or a Cardinal. She also doesn’t go off into space about whatever subject matter she wants; she delivers the message of the USCCB, but from a personal perspective.

One subject that she openly speaks about is how interested many reporters are in the sex abuse crisis. Many Cardinals are being questioned about what they think the next Pontiff will do about protecting children from abusers. Sister Walsh openly and transparently admits the news media’s interest in this subject, but she pairs these questions with the winsome answers given by the U.S. Cardinals. Here is a recent example from one of her posts:

The issue of sexual abuse was raised and Cardinal George spoke eloquently. He noted that while new cases are practically nil, there are still victims and the hurt is still in their hearts and minds. As long as it’s with them, it’s with us and that’s going to last for a long time, he said.

With rare exception, people don’t want to read posts from organizations—they want to read what a real person has to say. Corporate CEOs issue statements and letters to stock holders in their own style. It shows a personal sense of care and responsibility. When clothing manufacturers responded to concerns about use of child labor and sweat shops in third world nations, they often did so corporately, with no actual person claiming responsibility for the statement. They had a hard time selling themselves as compassionate when they don’t even personalize what they are saying.

Sister Walsh’s blog posts are a sign of renewal and refreshment in the way the Catholic Church in the United States is utilizing new medias. It’s not just about using these tools (blogs, social networks, etc.), it’s about using them well. Molto Bene Sister Walsh! Keep up the good work.

 

Ignorant Catholycs Tell Cardinals How to Vote

Posted: February 14, 2013 in General Posts, New Media News
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Contradiction

Susan M. Tellem, an ignorant faux-Catholic (a Catholyc) and public relations professional, recently blogged about what the Vatican can do to “move the compass further in the right direction,” speaking about recent crises. Specifically, her advice would begin to repair the Church’s damaged reputation caused by “protected child abusers, insulted nuns, claims that condoms cause AIDS, blaming scandals on the press, and so on.”

Sad Nuns

It’s important to start with the low-hanging fruit: insulted nuns. Ask any nun that actually stands with the Catholic Church if the Vatican’s investigation is burdensome or insulting, and the answer will be plainly “no.” The Vatican’s investigation stemmed from a number of problems, not the least of which is a dwindling number of new vocations and heretical teaching within various religious orders. When was the last time you saw a woman wearing a pant-suit with a name tag that read “postulate” or “novice”? Exactly.

Sex Abuse

Pope Benedict has been particularly active in his efforts to bring about accountability to the sex abuse crisis, which, for the most part, started in the mid ‘60s and ended in the mid ‘80s. He has apologized time and time again for the abuse that happened and reminded us that the Church should never forget what happened, but instead should learn and take action to protect all vulnerable people. When he visited the U.S. in 2008, his first meeting was with victims of sexual abuse. Most Bishops hold annual Masses for the intention of those abused by priests. An overwhelming majority of dioceses have permanent programs in place to prevent child abuse. The programs investigate claims, require background checks and finger prints of new employees and volunteers, report credible claims to the authorities, have independent review boards, and work to ensure that these kinds of crimes do not happen again. Do you know of a private organization with such a thorough system to prevent child abuse? Me neither.

She’s Ignorant and Uncharitable

Her first recommendation was to “elect a pope with pizzazz” because “this one was stilted and lacked people skills.” This proves she is a secularist. She’s supposedly a PR pro, and she recommends that the next pope focus on his dance moves and spray-tan, not on saving souls and spreading the Gospel. The pope isn’t supposed to be Justin Timberlake. He’s supposed to be shepherd of the the One, True, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, which is guided by the Holy Spirit and built upon the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Her second recommendation was to “stop blaming media and embrace it.” She wants the pope to be “open, truthful, and accessible.” She has absolutely NO PROOF that the pope was ever untruthful.

Open? He sat down with a Peter Seewald for a week to discuss anything and everything. And what did the media focus on? One short paragraph about condom use among sub-Saharan African prostitutes. If the Vatican has an apprehension to the media, let’s take a look at how the treated him and I think we will understand why.

How is the pope supposed to be accessible to the world’s media? Sometimes it is useful to speak with secular reporters. Sometimes it distorts your message and dilutes your impact. He’s the pope for crying out loud. In the age of new and social medias, he doesn’t need traditional media like he used to. The Catholic press understand the Church (most secular media reporters know nothing about Catholicism), and there are new tools that get your message directly to your audience. @Pontifex has 1.5+ million followers on Twitter—I think he’s getting his message out just fine.

If Tellem gave the same advice to her clients that she gave the pope, she would be collecting soda cans for money.

Her third recommendation isn’t half bad, actually. “Fire the ringleaders and send them to jail,” she says. She goes on to say, “As long as Retired Cardinal Roger Mahoney, who reportedly shielded child abusers, and his ilk are allowed to elect the next pope and perform priestly duties, the stain will remain.”

Fire the ringleaders? Cardinal Mahoney has been restricted from public duties by the current Archbishop of Los Angeles, so the Canonical investigation should be given a chance to play out, but if he shielded abusers from accountability, then, well, he needs some civil and canonical accountability. Send them to jail? That’s the role of the civil authorities in the U.S., but her point is taken. People who commit crimes against children, and those who knew about it and did nothing, should go to jail.

Cardinal Mahoney is going to cause a lot of distraction during the Conclave.

Her last recommendation, “Rethink the priorities and elect a pope who gets it. This is 2013, not 200 AD. Women actually have something to say and can lend a hand to the diminishing priesthood.”

This is where her total ignorance of Catholic theology and teaching shines brightest. In the end, people who are offended by the Church, and suggest so-called winning strategies, are usually just snakes in the grass looking to advance an agenda. It was New Age, Post-Modernist theology that damaged the priesthood, not a lack of women. Christ will always provide for His Church–but we need courageous young men willing to stand up and accept the vocation to which God is calling them.

Tellem’s tagline says that she’s a “crade to grave” Catholic. More like Catholyc. She might be baptized, but her Catholic identity ends there. A public relations professional should understand that if it doesn’t pass “the straight face test,” then you shouldn’t say it. Claiming a Catholic identity when you dismiss the inherent pastoral nature of the papacy, are ignorant about the priesthood, balk at sexual morality, and overlook the good efforts of the Church to protect children, makes you one of three things: a Catholyc, an ignoramus, or malicious. I guess it’s possible to be all three.

Get ready for more of these happy helpers to come out of the woodwork over the next two weeks—and expect their criticism to continue so long as the Church stands upon Her teaching.

The U.S. Bishops have a gun-control problem

Posted: January 4, 2013 in General Posts, Public Relations/Brand Management
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In the aftermath of the tragic Newtown, Conn. shooting, the media has been buzzing about what can be done to fix the damage done and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. Democrats in particular have been beating the gun-control drum for weeks, vowing to introduce legislation that would create greater restrictions of the Second Amendment. In fact, President Obama has asked VP Joe Biden to lead these efforts.

In an unfortunate, but sadly not unexpected, move by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, a statement was released in which the U.S. Bishops advocate increased gun control measures, specifically upon handguns and assault rifles. (Notes: the Newtown shooter did not use a handgun. The Bishops make 5 specific requests, 4 of which are measures specific to gun control that already exist in this country—only the fifth relates to mental health). This heavy emphasis on gun control leaves the lay faithful and the general public to assume that they are taking sides on an issue of discretion and prudence, rather than one of principle.

And the Research Says…
Consequently, the Bishops might have actually supported a position that could lead to more violence and death. Undoubtedly, their position contrasts available data and evidence regarding what keeps people safe and what curbs violence. Dr. John Lott, an economist, researcher, and author of the books “More Guns, Less Crime” and “The Bias Against Guns,” has shown time and again that guns are not the real cause of violence. In fact, his research shows that the most violent areas of our country are the ones with the greatest gun regulations.

The shootings at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University, the Aurora movie theater, Columbine, Fort Hood, and numerous other locations are all “gun-free zones.” In fact, with one exception, all of the multiple-victim public shootings since 1950 in which 3 or more people died happened in an area in which guns are banned. The Aurora move theater killer had 7 movie theaters close to his home, and picked the only one that banned guns for his spree. Germany has incredibly prohibitive gun control, and yet globally the 3 worst public school shootings (in terms of fatalities) have happened there. The extreme side of what the U.S. Bishops are asking for was present in these locations, and yet mass murderers still succeeded in their massacres.

Gun Control Is Prudential
Please do not mistake this assessment as a repudiation of the U.S. Bishops or the good work they do for the unborn, the vulnerable, immigrants, human trafficking victims, and more. They have a difficult job and are forced to walk a fine line between standing for the fundamental teachings of the Church and addressing the grey areas. In my opinion, the issue of gun control is a very grey area that will only weaken the influence of the bishops amongst their own followers, and will most definitely distract from the issues that are fundamental to the Church’s functioning in this republic. If the issue of gun control was essential to their message, it should have been introduced prior to the election when major decisions were being weighed out by the faithful.

The Bishops’ statement says that “…simply put, guns are too easily accessible.” By what standard are they making that assessment? By what theological or philosophical principle are guns too easily accessible in this country? The Church has no objective measuring rod to make such an assertion. The Church holds no principle that articulates how easy or difficult it should be to acquire a gun, or what such a process should look like.

The Church teaches that people have the right, and sometimes the obligation, to take up arms in defense of oneself, their family, or their property. To what extent those arms should be regulated is not for the Church to decide, but instead for the culture. The culture should be influenced by the lay faithful who are taught and inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church. That’s why political participation is a moral responsibility. The bishops obviously have a significant and irreplaceable role to play in the transmission of those teachings, because, after all, they are direct descendants of the apostles.

Role of the lay faithful
The U.S. Bishops have stepped in on an issue of prudence to be carried out by the lay faithful, who are tasked with “engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will” (CCC 898). Likewise, “The initiative of lay Christians is necessary especially when the matter involves discovering or inventing the means for permeating social, political, and economic realities with the demands of Christian doctrine and life” (CCC 899).

Theological issues aside, which are very well articulated by Catholic Online’s Dr. Frederick Liewhr, who explains the Scriptural support for weapons and self-defense, the U.S. Bishops’ statement dilutes their other current efforts.

What’s the message?
Faithful Catholics have been scratching their heads as to why the Bishops would take this opportunity to do anything but extend condolence and spiritual guidance to the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary. We just got out of a hot political season, and the faithful and exhausted of political issue endorsements by the Bishops. The decision to support the Democrats seems to many like a poor strategic move, given that the HHS Mandate is still in effect. Access to guns by law-abiding citizens is not an intrinsic moral evil—many claim that it’s evidence of a free, virtuous people—but contraceptives and abortion ARE intrinsic moral evils.

Your friends can hurt you
Right now it is widely known that the enemy of the religious freedom in this nation is the Democrat Party. The HHS Mandate is, by the words of the Bishops themselves, an unprecedented intrusion into the fundamental right of religious freedom and an attempt to coerce religious institutions and individuals into violating the basic tenets of the Faith. Is this the group you want to saddle up with right now? If the Democrats were supporting the defunding of Planned Parenthood, well then THAT is a reason to step out. But is gun control really worth loosing the HHS Mandate over? It’s an unnecessary distraction during a tumultuous time.

It may seem dramatic to say that the HHS Mandate could be lost over the Bishops’ decision to weigh in on a prudential issue in which reasonable people could disagree. But from a PR perspective, statements like this give the early morning talk show hosts and pundits exactly what they need to show the Democrats as buddies with the Catholic Bishops. It gives spectators less reason to feel outrage at the HHS Mandate, because, after all, “they don’t disagree on everything.”

The Bishops were widely criticized when they were for the Affordable Care Act before they were against it. (Actually, they aren’t for or against it, according to their last statement.) Depending on what Senator Feinstein introduces, we could be in for the same rough ride all over again.

USCCB to launch a traditional postcard campaign. Will it work?

Posted: January 4, 2013 in General Posts, Ministry Web Tools, Public Relations/Brand Management
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In the past, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched postcard campaigns to restate the Church’s position on abortion and other life issues, to reinvigorate the faithful, and to show our numbers.

Perhaps the single biggest challenge in a postcard campaign is the cost. These campaigns are expensive. Period. Many dioceses and parishes are going to struggle finding the resources to pay for the printing and postage associated with these mailers. What some do instead, is ask the individual faithful to put their own stamp on the postcard and send it out when they get home. Many of these postcards fall victim to the mail pile of doom sitting on the kitchen table.

Not to be dismissed, the postcards have, in fact, been successful in past campaigns. In a memo to diocesan pro-life directors and state Catholic conference directors, Associate Director to the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities Richard Doerflinger emphasized specific instances in which the postcard campaign seemed to have had influence, and also reiterates the current crisis related to pro-life and religious liberty issues.

For us bloggers and new media knuckleheads, an important question to ask is how effective a postcard campaign can be during the age of Twitter, Facebook and online campaigns. Do postcards sitting on the desk of our member of Congress have an impact on the way the vote? And for the hopeless members of Congress, will it properly demonstrate to them that these issues are still vitally important to their constituents?

Just as face-to-face meetings have not been totally replaced by Skype or Facetime, postcards probably still have an important role in campaigning and activism. But that doesn’t mean these should be the only tools we use. Just as Skype and Facetime do play a role in our communication, these kinds of campaigns should be accompanied by the benefits of social media. After all, it’s a fact that social media is the number 1 activity on the web.

If you happen to get one of these postcards, mail it in! Take the time and minimal expense, and go ahead and use the power of traditional media to show your elected representatives how you feel. But don’t stop there. After you send in your postcard, post it on your social media accounts. Encourage your friends to do the same. Perhaps the USCCB could encourage the faithful to take a picture of themselves putting the postcard in the mailbox and post that to their social networks as well.

In the end, we need to be sure that we do not act as though traditional media is without merit or value just because social media is easier, faster, and cheaper. There is absolute impact on a legislator when they walk into their office and see a tall stack of postcards sitting on an intern’s desk. They feel compelled to pick one up and see what it’s about. At the same time, every traditional media campaign should be paired with a robust social media effort. Postcards, after all, don’t go viral.

Twitter and Facebook War Over Photo Filters and Produce Powerful New App

Posted: December 12, 2012 in Advanced Social Media, General Posts, Ministry Web Tools, New Media News
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Facebook-owned Instagram recently admitted to obscuring photos sent to Twitter, which left many Twitter users (which now includes Pope Benedict) looking for a solution. Well, Twitter either works faster than any other company on the planet, OR they had something in the works expecting the need for a proprietary photo-editing app. Either way, Twitter announced a new feature powered by Aviary and works for iPhone and Android devices alike. (Below is a video by Twitter on how it works).

The new app looks super-easy to use and is likely going to be a powerful tool for attendees of major events, such as the March For Life in Washington, D.C. These types of major events are a groundwell of opportunity for participating parishes, dioceses, bishops, clergy and laity to capture what they see and post it live.

Instagram (and thus Facebook) couldn’t be left looking silly for long, so they launched improvements to their own application. Here’s what Pocket-Lint.com reports:

Now, Instagram has responded further by improving its own iPhone, iPod touch and iPad application, adding a new filter – the black and white Willow – and a number of other new features, including improved tilt-shift functionality.

The Instagram app has been slightly redesigned, with a new box next to the shutter button on the camera section. This shows you a preview of the most recent photo in your Camera Roll – a tap takes you there. Those with an iPhone 5 will also see an improved Camera Roll selector.

In an age of multiple medias, and with the ability to broadcast live, the Church has incredibly opportunities to breakdown stereotypes of us being stodgy or rigid, and show fallen-away Catholics and non-Catholics a more personal view of who we are, what we believe, and why we believe it.

How to use emails to drive more hits—plus the best time to send an email!

Posted: December 11, 2012 in Advanced Social Media, General Posts, How-to guides for New Media
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Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and other social medias (anyone remember Google+?) receive a disproportionate amount of focus for the ability they have to drive hits and spread the news. Email still reigns supreme as the most universal digital component of people’s lives. I’ve yet to meet a person with a Facebook or Twitter account that didn’t have an email account; but there are plenty of people with email accounts and little-to-no social media presence. (Many social networks require email verification in order to use their service.)

Despite the fundamental need of effective email communications, most bloggers and Catholic organizations spend lots of time on social media but very little time cultivating email lists and crafting effective emails. If you’re a blogger that just likes jotting down interesting ideas or have no time for an effective email marketing strategy, then don’t worry about it. (New Media Catholic has no email messaging—but I also recognize the loss.) For every employer I’ve ever had—Catholic or otherwise—I have always recommended email as a key component of our external messaging.

If you want your blog to grow significantly over time, if you have the hours to devote to email messaging, and/or if you would like your blog or website to generate some revenue, then the infograph below is going to be hugely important for you.

Here are a few highlights:

  • 23.63% of all emails are opened in the first hour…following hours see far less opens.
  • Most emails are sent from 6 a.m. to noon, which opens opportunity for evening opens.
  • Most opens happen at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., and 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Twitter advice the Pope should listen to, and advice to ignore

Posted: December 10, 2012 in General Posts, New Media News
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Pope on iPad - pontifexWhenever someone embarks on a new journey, or tries something for the first time, there are usually people willing to lend some advice. Looking to get in shape? Friends will likely have some opinions on the best gym. Looking for a good farmer’s market? Someone will be there to tell you which have the best tomatoes. It appears that the same goes when you are the most prominent religious figure in the world and you setup your personal Twitter account.

As many are aware, on Monday, December 3, 2012, the Holy Father launched the first personal, papal Twitter account under the handle of @Pontifex. Although the Holy Father has a full staff of press and communication officials to advise him—including American Greg Burke, senior media advisor to the Vatican and former Fox News Rome Journalist—some have thrown their advice in the ring. Some of this advice has been sound, and the rest, not so much.

Blogger and author Brandon Vogt wrote a blog post titled, “5 Suggestions for a Tweeting Pope” which any person entering Twitter should use. One that would be particularly helpful to the Holy Father is to “Engage in dialogue.” The Vatican already entered the world of Twitter with standard posts that are nothing more than quotes from the Holy Father and pieces of articles. These are worthwhile and helpful tweets, especially for a Catholic Twitter audience that is often left creating their own content to inspire one another. In order to change the perception of the Catholic Church, however, and to truly engage in the New Evangelization in an unprecedented manner, the Holy Father will need to engage in occasional dialogue with Twitter users.

Joshua Keating of the Foreign Policy blog started his list of advice for the Poniff with the recommendation to “Learn from your peers.” Given that the Pope is the spiritual shepherd of more than 2 billion Catholics, who exactly would qualify as his “peer”? According to Keating, the DalaiLama, Salman al-Odah and televangelist Joyce Meyer qualify as peers of the Successor of St. Peter.

Aside from the obvious fact that not one of those individuals has a comparable audience or the universal esteem of the Holy Father, it ignores the fact that not everyone uses Twitter for the same purposes. Newspapers and magazines use Twitter for a different reason than that of corporations. Individuals use Twitter for different reasons than that of groups. Likewise, the Catholic understanding of evangelization and catechesis differ from that of other religions, and their use of Twitter will be varying.

While the Holy Father will certainly want to provide valuable, timely, occasionally humorous tweets, it’s important that the content and delivery of his Tweets reflect who he is as an individual as well as his inseparable role as the Pope. As much as everyone wants to tell him how he should conduct his tweets, what he will do on December 12 is unprecedented and unmatched. Nobody on earth is in the position to tell the Holy Father what he should say or how he should conduct himself on Twitter any more than we have a right to dictate the message of his Christmas Vigil Homily. His position as the shepherd of the Church, and his particular vocation, are unique his own.

Although there are many individuals who are very skilled at cultivating digital audiences, measuring interaction data, writing tweets that generate sales, and so on, we should all pause in our self-assuredness and observe how the Pope uses Twitter. It’s very likely that he has more to teach us about social media than we could ever teach him.

(graphic from News.VA)

What the Pope’s Twitter account should signal to American Bishops

Posted: December 5, 2012 in General Posts, New Media News
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Pope on Twitter

The world awaits the first papal tweet. On Monday, December 3, 2012, it was announced that the Holy Father established the first personal account of any Pope in history using the Twitter handle @Pontifex. Though he has yet to post his first tweet (it’s scheduled for Dec. 12, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe), he already has more than half a million followers, and still gaining tens of thousands of new followers each day.

While the “brand” of the Holy See is certainly going to be transformed by this news, the Holy Father is taking it one step further by asking Twitter users to send him questions using the hashtag #askpontifex. He will periodically answer some of the questions personally. Every tweet from this account will be personally crafted by the Pope, but his staff will manage the actual “send.”

“The Pope’s presence on Twitter is a concrete expression of his conviction that the Church must be present in the digital arena,” said the official statement from the Vatican.

Within Catholic dioceses’ throughout the United States, there are regular discussions about how appropriate it is to have a Cardinal, Archbishop or Bishop personally involved in social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook, given the fact that the modern-day apostles would become open to harsh and persistent criticism from people who have no interest in civility or decency.

Within a day of the launch of @Pontifex, the hate-inspired tweets of anti-Catholic Twitter users became apparent. American celebrity Rosanne Barr tweeted, “the pope is just another man in a dress telling women what to do.” Other lesser-known Twitter users cursed at the Holy Father and even called on their followers to ramp up the “hate.”

The reality is this: Communications officials within the Vatican—and the Holy Father himself—knew what was coming. They knew that other social networking sites offer more control from anti-Catholic bigotry and incessant hatred. Despite the foreseen problems, the Holy Father launched the account anyway.

American Bishops and other clergy should view this decision by the Holy Father as inspiration to engage a hostile world with a message of peace and joy. In his 2010 World Communication Day Message, Pope Benedict XVI said, “Who better than a priest, as a man of God, can develop and put into practice, by his competence in current digital technology, a pastoral outreach capable of making God concretely present in today’s world and presenting the religious wisdom of the past as a treasure which can inspire our efforts to live in the present with dignity while building a better future?”

The Gospel is not a thing to be ashamed of, and it should not be stifled simply because some people will hate you. The American Bishops are inspirational in their use of other mediums such as speaking at public events, editorials and letters to the faithful, to stand against injustices, and social networking should be an extension of their episcopal ministry. Bishops are publicly approached with hostility on a regular basis, and yet they persist with courage and determination in seeking God’s Will for His people. After all, there is a rich harvest to be had amongst the faithful and the dissenters alike. Social media can be used as a bridge between the truth of the Gospel and the relativism of the modern age.

While there is most certainly an angry mob waiting to pounce upon Catholics in the public square, there is also an audience of lay Catholics thirsty for truth and eagerly awaiting what the Holy Father has to say. This new Twitter account offers an opportunity for the truth of the Gospel and of God’s Church to shine through in transparent and unprecedented ways.

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