Statement on the communications media and catechesis / presented by the delegates of the National Co QdiMic tiAM/cK Ucdim4 ] (n<. - 4^ CH$ HijoJuA^ dM.d - ' /^^3657 Statement on the COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA AND CATECHESIS Presented by the Delegates of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States at the 1977 Synod of Bishops Vatican City V t'i ' y' . ' Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/statementoncommucath statement on the COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA AND CATECHESIS Presented by the Delegates of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States at the 1977 Synod of Bishops Vatican City From the very beginning, the Church has used the arts to communicate Christ’s mes- sage and fix it in people’s minds and hearts. Biblical stories, saints’ lives, and religious themes of all sorts have been depicted in stained glass, mosaics, painting, and sculp- ture. Music, poetry, dance, drama, architec- ture, and other art forms have also served catechetical purposes. Contemporary media such as television, films, photography, film- strips, slides, and tapes do so today. They are means with which the Church, like the farmer in the parable, broadcasts the seed in all directions (cf. Mk 4, 3 ff). Thus is the gospel “proclaimed from the housetops’’ (cf. Mt. 10, 27). The collaboration of catechesis and the arts and media, therefore, deserves close attention and encouragement. Impact of communications media in catechesis The communications revolution has had a profound impact on our world, with implica- tions as great for religion as for any other area of life. Contemporary media offer mar- velous new opportunities for catechesis, but also present serious challenges and prob- lems. They can unite people, foster the shar- ing of ideas, promote mutual help, justice, and peace, and carry the gospel to those who otherwise might never hear it. There are at least three different ways of thinking of the communications media in relation to catechesis: as shaper of the en- vironment in which it takes place; as useful catechetical tools; and as appropriate subject matter. Not all catechists can or need to be media specialists, but all should have some understanding of the implications of media for their work. Communications media are relevant to every level of catechesis; they are pertinent to human development, to growth in theological understanding, and to faith experience itself. Although media are instruments for trans- mitting messages, they also possess inherent capabilities and potentialities. i Every med- ium has its own integrity and special genius requiring specific skills of interpretation on the part of both communicators and audi- ences. There is an intrinsic connection be- tween medium and message, between the “how" and “what" of communication. In us- ing and evaluating media, catechists should be aware that a concept concretized in a medium is no longer simply an abstract idea, but an event. Communication is not just the delivering of messages, but an experience of sharing among human beings. Radio and Television Communications The impact of the communications revo- lution, especially television, is very powerful in many countries. The influx of information 1 Cf. Pastoral Instruction on the Means of Social Communications. Pontifical Commission for Social Communications, January 29, 1971, 14; On Evan- gelization (Paul VI, 1975), 45. from all forms of media is overwhelming. A person living in the Uuited States today is said to be exposed to more information in a week than his or her counterpart of two cen- turies ago was in a year. Many persons find that they are given more information than they can assimilate or evaluate. People need to acquire “literacy" in relation to the new media, that is, to grow in their ability to evaluate television and other contemporary media by critical stand- ards which include gospel values. Particular attention should be paid to the damage which can be done to children and adults by excessive exposure to television violence and especially to all forms of im- morality in the mass media. Furthermore, how children understand reality still depends largely on their relation- ships with other people. But “other people" now include a much larger community than the immediate family, notably the community to which children are exposed through media, particularly television which occupies so much of most children's time. TV is impor- tant not only for the behavior it may encour- age but that which it prevents—for instance, conversations, games, family celebrations, and other activities which foster learning and character development. Instruments of catechesis Broadcast media present special oppor- tunities and challenges to the creativity of catechists. Radio and television can be direct instruments of catechesis. Catechists who plan to use them for this purpose should either acquire specialized media training or collaborate with others experienced in broad- cast production. It may be appropriate for them to seek positions as consultants or advisors to producers of programs dealing with religious matters within their compe- tence. Accountability of broadcast media The broadcast media should be encour- aged and supported when they promote human values, and called to task when they air unworthy and degrading presentations. This points to the need to make people familiar with the criteria and procedures which local television and radio stations are required to observe in order to obtain and keep their operating licenses. Individuals should be made aware of their right and duty to state their views to broadcasters. Audience Knowledge of the audience is as impor- tant to successful broadcast production as familiarity with media technology. Producers must understand people’s attitudes and values. Religious and catechetical program- ming should be professionally excellent, and responsive to the interest and needs of view- ers and listeners. Broadcast media can be particularly help- ful in meeting special catechetical needs and problems. They can, for instance, be the most effective means of communicating with people in isolated and rural areas, as well as with such groups as the aged and shut-ins. Radio and television also offer opportuni- ties for ecumenical collaboration and so, po- tentially, for reaching larger audiences. More pooling of local, diocesan, and national talent and funds is essential to upgrade the amount and quality of religious and catechetical pro- gramming. On-going technological developments People concerned with the religious and catechetical potential of media should be alert to significant changes in technology, or- ganizational structure, and policy now occur- ring or anticipated in the broadcasting in- dustry. Catholic press Despite the emergence of electronic media, print media of many different kinds reach daily into virtually every home and place of work. The Catholic press has long been central to the Church’s communication effort. It de- serves the support of the Catholic people. The Catholic press is the least expensive way of regularly bringing comprehensive religious news and instructional features to a large number of Catholics. It helps foster the sense of Christian community in its readers. It serves as a forum for the members of this community, providing opportunities for dis- cussion and the exchange of ideas. Catholic newspapers, magazines, books, pamphlets, and parish bulletins can be use- ful catechetical tools, especially in adult pro- grams. Editors and publishers should pro- vide appealing publications which help con- temporary Catholics evaluate their experi- ence in the light of Christian values, foster their growth in faith, and promote community among them. In particular, they should pay close attention to the requirements of justice and charity in reporting the news. Minority cultural, racial, and ethnic groups should have access to and make use of Catholic publications which are in their languages and reflect their special cultural values and con- cerns. There is need for continuing dialogue and cooperation between catechetical leaders and the editors and publishrs of Catholic publi- cations at the diocesan and national levels. The aim should be to develop ways of ex- changing ideas and information about catechetical needs and about the effective use of the Catholic press for catechetical pur- poses. Catechists and catechetical offices at all levels should provide the Catholic press with news releases and photographs reflect- ing newsworthy aspects of catechists — trends, programs, meetings, personalities. They should also offer suggestions for inter- pretive features and columns of a catecheti- cal nature, and be prepared to supply these when asked. As opportunities arise, they should collaborate with the Catholic press as planners, consultants, and writers. Secular press The secular press also offers opportuni- ties to catechists, although it would generally be unrealistic to consider it a vehicle for di- rect catechesis. Through a diocesan (or other) communi- cations office or directly, catechists should provide secular publications with accurate and interesting information on catechetical matters. Typically, this is done by news re- leases. Catechists should be prepared to re- spond to press inquiries and to spend time when necessary discussing questions and is- sues with journalists. Secular publications are generally willing to entertain suggestions for articles and features on catechetical topics, provided these are of general interest. Opportunities exist in relation to publications ranging from community-oriented news- papers to national publications. In their ap- proaches to the secular press on the latter levels in particular, catechists are advised to work with diocesan or national communica- tions offices. Training media producers All who use the communications media in their work “have a duty in conscience to make themselves competent in the art of social communication”; ^ and this applies in par- ticular to people with educational responsi- bilities, including catechists. Theory, tech- nique, and research should be part of media training. In line with what has been said above, catechists should learn how to take media into account as a crucial part of the cultural background and experience of those being catechized; how to use media in catechesis; and how to help their students understand and evaluate media in the light of religious values. They should also learn the proper use of advertising, which is such an influential means of communications today. Training media users Catechetical instruction concerning media should help people become knowledgeable viewers, listeners, and readers. Such train- ing is necessary for them ‘‘to benefit to the full from what the instruments of social com- munications have to offer.” ^ It is also re- quired if they are to seek to improve the quality of media, either by advocacy directed at professional communicators, or by pursu- ing careers in media. Because television occupies so much of the time of so many people, catechesis should seek to foster critical understanding of this medium in particular. Viewers need to know, for example, how programs are planned and produced; techniques used by advertisers and others to influence and per- suade; whether and to what degree TV gives a true picture of life or distorts reality; and the role of profit motives in determining pol- icy in commercial television. Communica- tion techniques suited to print media (for example, the logical patterning of a typical news story) are inappropriate in the elec- tronic media, which require other modes 2 Pastoral Instruction, 15. 3 Ibid., 65. suited to themselves. Understanding the “language”—techniques, principles, sym- bols, etc.—is essential to both sender and receiver. Otherwise communication is im- peded. Because people grow in maturity and be- cause there are frequent changes in the media, continuing education is necessary to keep the critical faculty well-honed. Finally, the Church is grateful to those in the media who produce and present programs of bene- fit to the spiritual development of humanity. CONFERENCE 1977 PUBLICATIONS OFFICE: UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE 1312 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005