POSITIONING SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS IN THE PASTORAL
LIFE IN A DIOCESE OF CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE YEAR OF FAITH
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Rev. Fr. XYZ is
facing a crisis moment because he just lost his handset. This is a device the
wake him up in the morning with the alarm. If there is no electricity, he
lights his way with its light. Often before he goes for morning Mass, he
scrolls through the Bible application in his phone to confirm some references
for his sermon. Many times when he finishes his purchases he uses his handset
as calculator. He no longer worries about his wrist watch because the cell
phone has a clock. Fr. XYZ does not carry a diary anymore because his handset
has diary and its alert and at lonely moments he selects a soft gospel tone
from the handset music list to nourish his soul. This modern day Catholic
priest does not frequent commercial banks anymore because he operates his
internet banking using same handset. Fr. XYZ cannot remember when last he went
to a post office because most of his interactions are done with the SMS, email
or calls with his cell phone.
Again, as the day wears on he puts
on the cable television if luckily there is power supply and follows the latest
news round the globe as he takes his launch and prepares for the next item for
the day. If there is no cable news he listens to the news briefs his handset is
capable of intercepting. During the day there are ample moments to really get
social with the new media. The Facebook and Twitter applications come handy
here. Our digital clergyman scrolls through his Facebook timeline and sees how
the discussions for the latest premiership match turned out. Facebook reminds
him that somebody’s birthday is that day and he heaves a sigh of relief
wondering if he would have remembered but for this now famous aide memoire. He
switches application to Twitter and sees the trending issues. He wants to
procure some building materials for his parish projects, he sends a text
message and the reply that the supply is on its coming–such is the mode of
business interaction in the new age.
It’s not all, as intermittently a
text message arrives from the secretariat informing him of a crucial
Pontifical/Diocesan collection or reminding him of the next burial of a parent
of a priest or religious. In the evening of a Sunday there is a
never-to-be-missed el classico match,
Manchester derby, San Siro derby or more seriously still the Champions league
final math at Wembly. He sends text messages around inviting some likeminded
priests and friends to come over and share the moment even if it entails
celebrating the benediction earlier or worse still skipping it ……. Can you see
yourself in this portrait? Whoever has not seen a spark of this anonymous
priest or personality in him or herself does not exist in the present planet!!!
The prophecy of Isaiah 43, 18 – 19
is talking place in our time “Do not remember the former things or consider the
things of old; I am about to do new thing; now it springs forth, do you nor
perceive it? Dear listeners, the physical world of man has given birth to the
digital world or world online. We are talking about the social media, social
network, news media, etc. This new horizon is accessed through the internet and
the means of connection are the computer, Ipad, Iphone, Smartphones, Tablets,
Facebook, Tweeter, YouTube, 2go, Pinging, Websites, Blogs, Email, etc.
According to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI “Social Networks are portals of truth
and create a new “agora”, an open public square in which people share ideas,
information and opinions, and in which new relationships and forms of community
can come into being. In social networks, believers show their authenticity by
sharing the profound source of their hope and joy: faith in the merciful and
loving God revealed in Christ Jesus. This sharing consists not only in
communicate “choices, preferences and judgments that are fully consistent with
Gospel, even when it is not spoken of specifically” (World Communication Day
Message 2013). In the face of the emerging realities where do we stand as a people
as a local Church? How ready are we to key in and be on the same page with the
rest of the world? How do we appraise the urgency of equipping ourselves to
remain relevant in the call to evangelism in this Year of Faiths?
Pope Benedict XVI launched the Year
of Faith aimed at renewing and strengthening the faith of Christians. The Year
of Faith started on October 11th, 2012 which actually coincided with
the 50th anniversary of the start of the Second Vatican Council and
will run until November 24th, 2013. The Year of Faith within the
call for New Evangelization became imperative because of the fast level of
secularization sweeping through Europe which is the ancient home of Christian
missions round the world. Pope Benedict XVI fought this malaise headlong in his
writing, speeches and visits. As it were, Africa was not left behind because in
his post synodal exhortation to the Church in Africa, ‘African Church and in so
doing make Africa a new source of evangelization missions at the global level.
According to Archbishop Rino Fiscichella (President of the Pontifical Council
for Promoting the New Evangelisation) “There’s a lot of enthusiasm surrounding
the Year of Faith. Above all it’s an enthusiasm we can actually see in
Christian communities, so in diocese, parishes, lay movements and associations.
It’s an opportunity to reflect on the role faith plays and why it’s important
in people’s lives,” (February 6, 2013. Romereports.com). Part of the Year of
Faith is emphasizing how culture, are and music can inspire and become tools
for New Evangelization.
Ndi Okigwe diocese, he who fails to
plan, plan to fail. Obu noy nwere anya n’
ahu ihe edere n’ mgba aja; Onye iberibe amaghi mgbe umunna yak ere nka ukw;
Onye emeghi osisi ugbo aghara ya; mbiha utara wu n’ mbu. Humanity has woken
up to a new reality, a new way of living, relating, interacting, doing
business, a new way of governance, a new way of thinking and most importantly a
new way of evangelizing–in a word a new global culture has arrived! Developed
countries like the United State of America (USA), European nations are already
there and many developing countries have either keyed in or are fast doing so.
Where are we and what are we doing about it?
THE VATICAN MODEL
We look closely
to see how the Holy See purses the goal of the new evangelization in the year
of faith using the social media. Already, on 4 December 1963, fathers of
Vatican II promulgated Inter Mirifica,
a decree on the means of social communications. On 29 Jan. 1971, it was
followed up with Cummunio et Progressio. Fundamentally, the church believes that in
carrying out the work of evangelization handed it over to her by Jesus Christ
she has to use all the means of social communication and, in fact, teach the
world on how best to use them. (Vat. II, 26, p. 284-285). The Holy See has strongly supported the
establishment of the faculty of social communications in all Pontifical
Universities and funds various types of international seminars, workshop and
conferences on how to position the Catholic Church in the emerging digital
world. For practical purposes the Vatican City State operates a private
television (Cenro Television Vaticano – Vatican Radio (Radio Vatcana) is a
famous global brand that operates in so many languages, hundreds of websites,
and even an astrological station located at Castel Gandolfo. Radio Maria, Radio
Padro Pio and hundreds of Catholic radios and television stations round the
world and the renowned EWTN collaborate with the Holy See in the task of
evangelization.
As a matter of fact, there have been
fellow ups to the implementation of the recommendations of Inter Mirifica, but most recently, on December 12, 2012 on the
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the former leader of the Catholic’s 1.2 billion
faithful, Pope Benedict XVI, became the first Pope to join Twitter. Using the
handle, @ Pontifex, his first tweet read, “Dear friends, I am pleased to get in
touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless
all of you from my heart.” From the Vatican on January 25, 2013 Pope Benedict
XVI gave his voice of support to the hundreds of thousands of pro – lifers
demonstrating in Washington, D.C. The Pontiff tweeted this message: “I join all
those marching for life from afar and pray the political leaders will protect
the unborn and promote a culture of life.” On February 28, the day Pope
Benedict stepped aside the Papacy, he tweeted, “Thank you for your love and
support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at
the centre of your lives.” After his resignation, the Vatican suspended the
account. However, shortly after Pope Francis delivered his first address on
March 13, the Vatican tweeted a message for the first time since Pope
Benedict’s resignation: “HABRMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM” (We have Pope Francis).
Paving the way for Pope Francis to make use of the account, the Vatican deleted
all the tweets sent from @Pontifex account and Pope Francis took control of it.
On March 17, Pope Francis posted his first tweet. He stated, “Dear friend, I
thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. The post was
retweeted 36,940 times. His third tweet, sent on the day of his installation,
read “True power is service. The Pope must serve all people, especially the
poor, the weak, the vulnerable.” It was retweeted 24,124 times. Pope Francis
first 5 tweets gained 4, 449, 349 followers worldwide in 9 Twitter accounts.
(As at Tuesday, March 26, 2013). While @Pontifex is the Pope’s primary account
in English, which currently has 2, 176, 970 followership, he also communes with
the Catholic world with 8 other Twitter accounts in 8 major languages that
offer translations of his tweets. The 8 other accounts are @Pontifex_in (Latin)
with 53, 238 followers; @Pontifex_de (German) with 81, 640 followers;
@Pontifex_es (Spanish) with 1, 292, 028 followers; @Pontifex_pt (Portuguese)
148, 072 followers. Others are @Pontifex_pl (Polish) with 61, 412 followers;
@Pontifex_it (Italian) with 493,412 followers; @Pontifex_fr (French) with
100,593 followers and @Pontifex_ar (Arabic) with 41, 984 followers. With the
way the 9 multilingual accounts of Pope Francis is actively pulling in
thousands of new followers every day, Twitter could be the veritable platform
the Catholic Church will use to reach more of the world’s population about its
beliefs. Already, Pope Francis election is the second biggest Twitter event of
all time behind President Barrack Obama’s 2012 re–election. According to
Twitter, some seven million tweets related to the new pontiff emerged on March
13, the day Pope Francis was elected. At its peak, the papal tweeting reached a
crescendo of 132, 000 tweets per minute.
On March 19, 2013 Pope Francis gave
his fellow Argentineans a happy surprise, thousand of the faithful who gathered
in the Plaza de Mayo in the early hours of the morning to watch the
inauguration of the Petrine Ministry Mass were given a big surprise, namely, a
personal message from Pope Francis. The Holy Father’s telephone call was
broadcast to the crowd gathered in the Square. “Dear children, I know you are
in the square. I know you are praying and saying prayers, I need them very
much. It is so beautiful to pray. Thank you for that,” Concluding his address
to the faithful of his homeland, Pope Francis invited them to nor fear God, but
to be close to him, saying that God is a Father to all. “May the Virgin bless
you, do not forget this bishop who is far but loves you very much. Pray for
me,” the Pope said. From the Vatican City on Saturday, 30 March from 5:15pm
until 6:40pm there was an extraordinary exposition of the Holy Shroud in the
Cathredral of Turin, Italy. The initiative was part of the Year of Faith that
was proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. The event was broadcasted live by the
Italian television channel, RAII. For the occasion, Pope Francis recorded this
video message: “Dear Brothers and Sisters, I join all of you gathered before
the Holy Shroud, and I thank the Lord who, through modern technology, offers us
this possibility.” The Church has fully embraced the new media. Meanwhile, according
to Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for
social Communication, and Monsignor Paul Tighe, secretary of the same
dicastery, Pope Benedict’s assessment of social media is positive and not
naïve. The call for new era of evangelization acquires a new import in the Year
of Faith. The Catholic Church inspired by the Holy Spirit in reading the hand
writing on the wall and is interpreting will the signs of the time. In the
Communication Day Message for 2013, Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI enjoined the
Catholics to be present at the social media sites because they are the portals
of faith and truth in out today’s world and they are the latest areas for
evangelization. Christians have to be present in them and not run or shy away
from them. Invade them, sanctify and evangelize them with your presence and
activities. Do not be victims of them but victors and conquerors of them.
CHURCH PROTAGONISTS TO FOLLOW
Apart from the
pontiff, there are many cardinals and bishops on tweeter. Protagonists amongst
the cardinals include Cardinal Lopez (Dominican Republic), Cardinal W.J. Eijk
(Holland), Cardd. Dom Odilo Scherer (Brazil), Card. Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy),
Cardinal Dolan (USA), Cardinal Sean (USA), Cardinal Wuerl (USA), Cardinal
Martinez Sistach (Spain), Cardinal Wilfred Napier (South Africa), Card. Angelo
Scola (Italy), Cardinal Bagnasco (Italy), Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez
(Colombia) and Cardinal Mahony (USA). Down the line, Fr. Antonio Spadaro is the
first Italian priest to open a tweeter account in 2007. He is the director of a
magazine titled Civilta Cattolica and has authored different successful books
and blogs on Theology, the internet and Twitter. As a social media expert, he
claims that the secret to success in Twitter is to make brief messages that
allow the reader to unlock greater knowledge, in his case, using theology and
the Christian message to cross boundaries.
In USA, Rev. Fr. Robert Barron
(Founder, Word on Fire Ministries) a web guru targets new generation of
faithful – What started off as sermons, that were recorded and posted on
YouTube, has now morphed into a growing media brand. Now that media has become
a great tool for the New Evangelization. What makes him stand out from other
Catholic websites is his approach. According to the priest blogger “I started
with sermons that I have on the radio. We put those on our website and it grew
from there so I’ve been doing video commentaries on books and movies,
blockbuster movies like Batman or James Bond. For the most part, Father
Barron’s target audience is young people. Over the past ten years, he
successfully done what the Church hopes to accomplish through the New Evangelization,
reach out to younger people using their preferred methods of communication. His
YouTube videos have generated over five million views, and also tens of
thousands of comments. He states that even when he visits places far away from
his native Chicago, young people will often recognize him his videos. In fact,
it’s not just practicing Catholics he’s engaging online which is what makes his
work with Word on Fire Ministries that more interesting. His love for his faith
and his willingness to engage others using newer methods has received
tremendous response. (Romereports.com. January 12, 2013.)
Throwing light on the dynamics of
the social networks, Benedict XVI stated that these spaces, when engaged in a
wise and balanced way, help to foster forms of dialogue and debate which, if
conducted respectfully and with concern for privacy, responsibility and
truthfulness can reinforce the bonds of unity between individuals and
effectively promote the harmony of the human family. The exchange of
information can become true communication, links ripen into friendships, and
connections facilitate communion. If the networks are called to realize this
great potential, the people involved in them must make an effort to be
authentic since, in these spaces, it is not only ideas and information that are
shared, but ultimately our very selves. The development of social networks
calls for commitment: people are engaged in building relationships and making
friends, in looking for answers to their questions and being entertained, but
also in finding intellectual stimulation and sharing knowledge and know–how.
The networks are increasingly becoming part of the very fabric of society,
inasmuch as they bring people together on the basis of these fundamental needs.
Social networks are thus nourished by aspirations rooted in the human heart.
Social networks should serve as veritable means of dialogue and cultural
exchange that enrich individuals and the society. Social networks are
inevitable in the interaction and relationship with the youth of today –
Believers are increasingly aware that, unless the Good News is made known also
in the digital world, it may be absent in the experience of many people for
whom this existential space is important. The digital environment is not a
parallel or purely virtual world, but is part of the daily experience of many
people, especially the young.
Just few days
age, Provincial members of the National Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS)
berthed in Okigwe diocese for their convention. The whole gamut of these young
adults who came to discuss how to fortify their Catholic beliefs were equipped
with their Ipads, Smartphones, Tablets, etc and were ever busy with the social
media because the youth of today is inseparable from these devices. Inevitably,
therefore, to meet them the Church has to meet them where they are, namely in
the social networks. It hinges on us therefore, to arm ourselves with these
news devices of interaction and be able therein to educate them that facebook
is not just for meeting people and talking about friendship and sex; that
tweeting is not all about spreading rumors and reacting to gossips; that 2going
and pinging is worth more than wasting valuable time on socializing and pouring
hot emotions online. We could engage them and teach them that these God – given
devices of our time could be used to talk about God, about the Blessed Virgin
Mary, about saints of the day, about Catholic beliefs and practices. They could
be used to talk about Jesus Christ and what he means for us. These youths could
be conventions, novenas, adorations and Church activities at various joints. We
could let the girls know that facebook does not need to become a hidden forum
for nudity and semi – nudity. We could help expose to them inherent danger in
trusting facebook friendships and risking all including life on facebook
dating.
As it were, in
the digital environment, too, where it is easy for heated and divisive voices
to be raised and where sensationalism can at times prevail, we are called to
attentive discernment. Let us recall in this regard that Elijah recognized the
voice of God not in the great and strong wind, not in the earthquake or the
fire, but in “a still, small voice (1kg 19:11 – 12). Social networks, as well
as being a means of evangelization, can also be a factor in human development.
As an example, in some geographical and cultural contexts where Christians feel
isolated, social networks can reinforce their sense of real unity with the
worldwide community of believers. The greater sense of closeness to those who
share the same faith, an authentic and interactive engagement with the
questions and the doubts of those who are distant from the faith should make us
feel the need to nourish, by prayer and reflection, our faith in the presence
of God as well as our practical charity. In the digital world there are social
networks which offer our contemporaries opportunities for prayer, meditation
and sharing the word of God. But these networks can also open the door to other
dimensions of faith. Many people are actually discovering, precisely thanks to
a contact initially made online, the importance of direction encounters,
experiences of community and even pilgrimage, elements which are always
important in the journey of faith. In our effort to make the Gospel present in
the digital world, we can invite people to come together for prayer or
liturgical celebrations in specific places such as Churches and Chapels. There
should be no lack of coherence or unity in the expression of our faith and
witness to the Gospel in whatever reality we are called to live, whether
physical or digital. When we are present to others, in any way at all, we are
called to make known the love of God to the furthest ends of the earth.
PROPOSALS FOR OKIGWE DIOCESE
Okigwe diocese
is almost 32 years behind others in the digital world. We are still stuck with
analogue reasoning and operations while our colleagues are going digital. Our
secretariat operations and management are still burdened with outdated and
dusty files with torn pages of credentials or even missing documents. The
diocese is yet to acquire a permanent secretariat not to talk of equipping the
administrative centre with state of the art gadgets that is the in-thing in our
today’s world. Let us therefore, cast light on few issues that border on properly
positioning social communications in the diocese in this Year of Faith.
Diocesan Level – there is the urgency for the
administrative secretariat to be completed and commissioned within this Year of
Faith. Secretariat operations should go digital. There should be trained staff
to effect computerization of all diocesan documents involving Priests, Religious,
Parishes, Parastatals, commissions, property, organizations, associations, etc.
Using seminarians, interns or non permanent staff in no longer enough. There
should be equipped offices for key diocesan functionaries like the
secretary/chancellor, vicar general, education director, judicial vicar,
financial administrator, media director, etc. In all intents and purposes; the
Sage Newspaper is our sole diocesan passport to the Provincial and National
Church. At least, we can now be named amongst dioceses that operate newspapers.
There is then the obligation for priests, religious and laity of the diocese to
embrace and patronize the Sage Newspaper as a sensitive diocesan project. This
newspaper should be protected and promoted. This newspaper has to be loved and
cherished. This newspaper should be seen as ours in every personal sense. It is
heartening to know that efforts are being made to establish a diocesan press.
This undertaking, however, would gulp some N20
million or more. The diocesan drive of 2012 yielded N5, 663, 415. When added to the profits the newspaper has made
through its operations then we have already half of the money required. The
remaining N10 million has to come from
our common diocesan efforts. Unfortunately, politicians and god fathers would
not be invited to fund our diocesan newspaper establishment so as to preserve
Catholic Church integrity in the future. It is therefore, hoped that space
would be found in our tight annual financial schedules to raise money for this
all important objective. Without doubt, there is the obligation to be updating
the diocesan website to act as a virile portal and bridge between the diocese
and the world.
Deanery level – Deaneries are new administrative
pastoral devices in our diocesan life, but they have come to stay. Be that as
it were, policies have to be put in place to strengthen them, empower them
render them more effective. Deaneries should have their offices equipped with
computers for proper documentation of operations, issues and property. It would
not be out place for leading deaneries to engage part time computer literate
staff to serve their offices. Similarly, statutory diocesan bodies like the
CWO, CMO, CYON with all the money at their disposal and the great population
they control should have a common or even separate offices equipped with
computer and staff for effective coordination of their vital pastoral and
social activities.
Parish level – Many parishes in Okigwe diocese can
comfortably run computer – equipped offices with full or part time
staff/secretary. This development would help strengthen pastoral
administrations and create job for young computer literate Catholic. Well
equipped and documented parish operations would systematize records and make
parishes operate like corporate bodies that they are. Parishes would become
separated from individual parish priests so that with or without given priests
at any time, document, facts and issues can be sorted out. It is sad that many
mother parishes cannot today trace vital historical documents relating to
sensitive ecclesiastical issues. This Year of Faith should be used as occasion
to position these parishes to embrace modern methods of digital operation.
Parishes like, St. Mary Okigwe, St. Joseph in – building Ikpaeke, Immaculate
Heart Alike, Obowo, St. Charles Umunumo, St. Ignatius Umunumo, St. Columba’s
Nsu, Our Lady of Fatima Umuakagu Nsu, St. Theresa Obollo, Our Lady of Fatima
Isuikwuato, St. Benedict Amaraku, St. Jude Mbano, St. Peter Umulogho, Mater
Dolorosa Ihitte, St. Charles Okwelle, Sacred Heart Ngodo Isuochi, St. Peter
Umunohu Ihitte, St. Anthony Uboma, etc can be used as experimental cases
towards this direction starting from this
Year of Faith. On a similar note, parish priests in Okigwe diocese
should use this Year of Faith to equip or update the public address systems in
their churches. Never should a priest be seen celebrating public Masses without
the public address system. A sound public address system enlivens the
celebration, enhances inspiration and strengthens faith because faith comes
from hearing. Let every priest invest in private mobile public address system –
it is affordable and signifies commitment to mission because priests are called
to be public speakers. Similarly, portable public address system could even be
provided for the bishop for his pastoral visits and related liturgical
ceremonies around the diocese. This would help lessen the embarrassment of
parishes that fail to provide good public address system during Episcopal
Masses at their places. Governors and public leaders do so in the political
world and it really works.
Diocesan schools – Education has always been
effective means of evangelization. Education is one investment that perennially
repays. Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (Dep. Senate President, No 4 man in Nigeria) was at
St. Dominic’s Secondary school Ugiri last year for her 50 years anniversary
because he is an alumnus of this now greatly dilapidated school. We can invest
in the next generation of leaders by equipping our mission schools. Premier
diocesan schools should not only be already running computer programs for their
wards, but have computer equipped offices. Schools like: Okigwe diocesan
seminaries, St. Theresa’s secondary school Alike, Fatima International Model School
Umuakagu Nsu, Queen of Apostles Boys Secondary School Ogii, Queen of Apostle
Girls Secondary School Okigwe, Aquinas Secondary School Osu, etc should be
running referential computer programs with internet services by for their
students by now. Mission schools could also show quality and standard by
procuring public address systems to facilitate their morning assemblies, school
Holy Masses and other similar gatherings.
Personal level – Every Catholic priest of all
ages should own and learn to operate the computer. If you are still using your
first computer as a priest then you are not fast enough, but if you don’t yet
own one then please Father Wake up because it is day – Chi ehola! Priests should
take time to learn basic operations in the computer. Register in a nearby
computer school or arrange for home tutorials. If you can, then procure a modem
of the network that covers your area and go online – it is highly advisable!
These little acts would definitely equip you to evangelize better in this Year
of Faith.
ISSUES ARISING/CHALLENGES
There are
challenges facing the Church since the arrival of the social media. These
relate to abuses by Church men and women of the social network. In fact, many
clerics and religious have been caught often on the wrong side of this virtual
space. Some have become addicts of frequenting pornographic websites and even
registering online with embarrassing groups. It is vital to note that even choice
of photos and vocabularies reflect the type of priest or religious one is. How
many priests and religious amongst us use the facebook to preach Christ. For
instance, Don we use it only for social acquaintance to add one more name to
our long lists of friend online?
Fellow
diocesans, the few times Okigwe diocese has been discoursed on the internet
have not been on delightful notes. In the late 1990s before the visitation from
Rome someone posted unprintable documents against our late emeritus Bishop,
Most Rev. A.E. Ilonu. Cast your memories on the online bashing of the image of
Okigwe diocesan priests on the alleged bribery by Ex Gov. Ohakim before the
last gubernatorial election. What of the anonymous text messages from the
amorphous Thomas Moore group during same period? Most recently, an Okigwe
diocesan priest posted online dirty volumes on another priest who threatens now
to retaliate also online! Is this Okigwe diocesan model of evangelization by
means of the social media? As the 2015 general elections are fast approaching,
it is imagined that many Okigwe priests are grouping, aligning and positioning
themselves along political lines. On this note, it is strongly recommended that
our diocesan hierarchy should come up with clear terms and conditions for
priest–politicians’ collaboration. Should priests follow politicians to
campaign rallies? Should priests and religious gather for Masses at the homes
of politicians and then shares booties afterward? Should politicians come to
address priests with bags of money? There is no need being reactive to this
phenomenon instead of being proactive. Onye
choro igbochi ogu, ya puru uzo gbachire itu aka! If steps are not taken
these things would inevitably happen again and people would wonder what has
happened to the renowned authority and discipline in the Holy Roman Catholic
Church. Egbugbere onu ogara ebe mmiri
mara eze? Could a diocesan chaplain be appointed for Okigwe – born
politicians? This chaplain could now rally politicians and properly educate
them on how best to approach our presbyter and show their financial solidarity
if they must. This measure is needed otherwise the all – comers game that
nearly threw the diocese into political crisis last few years would reoccur and
this time the body and head could be tagged together! It is equally recommended
that a diocesan ban should be placed on posting damaging and accusing documents
online against fellow diocesan priests. Any such acts should be punishable if
this ugly tide is to be checkmated. Similarly, punitive action should be taken
against priests sending anonymous political messages to the presbytery thereby
polluting the spirit of conviviality in the diocese. The leadership of the
diocese is prayer to assert firmness on this issue if we avoid future internet
embarrassments and avoid losing moral and spiritual authority before our people
in this Year of Faith!
Other related
issues to be addressed include the pastoral use of social media like praying on
phone for the sick: Should praying on phone replace visits to the sick? Could
priest hear confessions over the phone? How could addiction to the social media
be controlled? There are priests who use their real time day and night only to
watch Nollywood films, cable news, computer chatting, etc. Still more economic
implication are at times crazy. It is amazing how much an average priest spends
on the new social media. Many exaggerate the expenditure they make on monthly
call bills, for instance. When feeding is difficult in the parishes and payment
of allowances for assistants and dependants are irregular many priests and
religious spend thousands of Naira on airtime of diverse networks.
Again, some
allow the social media to negatively affect interpersonal relationships in the
presbyteries, communities or families. When text messages replace one – on –
one discussions and sharing of opinions on common programs and issues, it
becomes abusive. It is common nowadays that many people are in the same place
but each is engrossed in own world, equipped with his earphone listening to
music, pining, 2going, facebooking text messaging, surfing online, etc. there
is the malaise of the laity who make and answer calls even during consecration
at Masses. Finally, it is time to formally delineate on the use of social media
in formation houses. What should be the just way to introduce the social
networks especially cell phones in the senior and junior seminaries? What is
the healthiest mode of preparing seminarians to face digital challenges ahead?
CONCLUSION
The social media
is here to stay and it is future of humanity so the Catholic Church at the
global and diocesan levels must meet humanity where she is. Clergy and laity of
Okigwe diocese must brace up for this new way of life and method of
evangelization. This is a wakeup call for all and sundry. Let the diocesan
curia lead the way and let parishes and institutions key in for the holistic
relevance of the Catholic Church to the modern society in our land.