Pentecost

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

(Luke 2:1,4)

The Spirit's gift of tongues extended communication abilities for the first disciples. Today faith-related communication skills need to include the language of technology. This involves the ability to communicate effectively and creatively using a variety of media. In light of this, the Vatican issued two documents in 2002 relating to Internet usage, The Church and Internet and Ethics in Internet.

The Church and Internet encourages use of the Internet to present relevant Christian principles to help train teachers and those whom they teach. "Teaching about the Internet and the new technology thus involves much more than teaching techniques; young people need to learn how to function well in the world of cyberspace, make discerning judgments according to sound moral criteria about what they find there, and use the new technology for their integral development and the benefit of others."

Ethics in Internet states that all users of the Internet are to use it in an informed, disciplined way, and for morally good purposes. The document calls on parents to guide and supervise children's use. "Schools and other educational institutions and programs for children and adults should provide training in discerning use of the Internet as part of a comprehensive media education including not just training in technical skills—'computer literacy' and the like—but a capacity for informed, discerning evaluation of content."

A specific challenge for teachers in a Catholic school setting is to find the intersection of faith and media culture. Basic computer skills raise one's comfort level in this area of media culture. Helpful Internet skills include:

			Becoming familiar with Internet connections specific to religious education, such as online Bibles and Catholic links.
			Working with computer networks to communicate with others for professional growth and student learning.
			Discerning legitimate "Catholic" sites from sites with a personal agenda and those "anti-Catholic."

Parents are encouraged to learn for themselves as well as in their role as parents.. There is a need to guide and supervise children's use of the Internet. Installing filtering technology to protect children from dangerous sites is advised.

Children are invited to make use of the possibilities offered by the Internet. They should be open to formation regarding media. They need skills to resist the easy path of uncritical passivity, peer pressure, and commercial exploitation. Children and young people have easy access to both good and harmful materials, and need guidance and protection as they learn to make good judgment regarding sites available to them

In all, the Internet is a tool that can be used wisely to advance the mission of the Church. This responsibility lies with those responsible for young people – parents, teachers, catechists, and all Church leaders.
Links


The Church and Internet,
www.vatican.va
The Pontifical Council for Social Communications, February 22, 2002

Ethics in the Internet,
www.vatican.va
The Pontifical Council for Social Communications, February 22, 2002

Get Net Wise
www.kids.getnetwise.org/tools/searchsafe/
A public service site for families and educators to help children be safe online