The Church views communication as essential based on the Trinity - the Father communicates through creativity, the Son through dialogue, and the Spirit through community building. Over time, the Church has moved from fear and avoidance of media to active involvement. It recognizes the importance of communicating internally to build community, and externally for evangelization using various media like television, radio, and digital platforms. The goal is two-way dialogue and creating communion through social communication.

1. The Church &
Communications

2. The Trinity
Father: The Creator
source of creativity
Son:
Word/Incarnation
communication,
dialogue,
identification with
listener
Spirit:
Inspiration/Breath &
Communion
Building community
& society

3. The Church is
Communication
Cardinal Avery
Dulles

4. The Church vs the Media
Fear of losing control led to fear and
suspicion of the media,
condemnation and avoidance of
media
The Church gradually moved toward
cautious use and imitation of the
media
The Church now promotes active
involvement in the media
Cardinal Martini: “The Hem of His
garment”

5. Models of the Church ~
Cardinal Avery Dulles
Preacher: missionary, herald;
homilies
Teacher: authority, top down;
catechism, dogma, clear ideas and
teachings
Sacrament: encounter with Christ;
place, environment, ritual, atmosphere
Body: mystical body, community;
sharing
Dialogue: respect, cooperation;
listening, openness, interaction
Disciples of the Master: all these;

6. The Church Speaks about
Communication
Vigilanti Cura ~
1936: Pope Pius
XI’s encyclical
focused mainly
on Film
Miranda
Prorsus ~ 1957:
Pope Pius XII’s
encyclical on
means of
communication

7. Inter Mirifica ~ 1963
Media: A modern
day pulpit
Social
Communications:
Announce the
Gospel
Media Education:
How to interpret
and use mass
media

8. Inter Mirifica ~1963
All have the right
to communicate &
receive
information
The Catholic Press
is important for
teaching
Communication
should be a part
of every pastoral

9. Communio et Progressio ~
1971
Pastoral
Instruction:
Theology of
communication
Communication
can create
Communion
Pastors need
communication
training

10. Communio et Progressio ~
1971
Training of
Catholic lay
professionals
Communication
should be a two-
way dialogue, not
just a one-way
pulpit

11. Evangelii Nuntiandi
The Church would be
guilty before the
Lord if it did not
make use of
communications
Mass media can help
us to meet Christ
Mini/Group media
can help us to
understand and
accept Jesus Christ

12. Evangelii Nuntiandi
Mass Media is the
New Aereopagus
Like St. Paul, the
Church must
enter the
aereopagus and
announce the
Word of God

13. Redemptoris Missio
New
Way of
Being
Church

14. Redemptoris Missio
Social
Communications
creates a New Culture
Mass Media - chief
means of information,
guidance, and
inspiration
Young people are
conditioned by the
mass media

15. FABC
Dialogue
with
The Poor
Cultures
Religions

16. Aetatis Novae 1991
Pastoral Instruction on
Social
Communications – 20
years after Communio
et Progressio
Practical Guidelines
for Pastoral Planning
according to all
previous documents
Public Relations

17. Asian Synod - 1998
Applied documents to
Asian Situation
Triple Dialogue
Asian Media
Experiences
New Way of Being
Church
Pastoral Planning

18. Church Use of Communication
Internal Church
Communication ---- Ad Intra
External Church
Communication ---- Ad Extra

19. Internal Church Communication
Administration: e-newsletters,
email, websites, texting, Skype
conference calls, multimedia
Community Building: teaching,
homilies, catechetics, liturgy,
religious AVs, media literacy,
creative use of digital technology,
blogs…

20. External Church Communication
Mission &
Evangelization
Direct: televangelists,
radio & TV preaching
Indirect: dialogue
with society on issues;
articles, interviews,
public witness
(Mother Teresa),
media literacy

21. Types of Communication
used by the Church
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Group
Mass
Interactive Digital Multimedia

22. Catholic Communication
Organizations
UCIP Intern. Catholic Press Assoc.
SIGNIS (formerly Unda and
OCIC) Catholic Film, TV, AV
FABC Commission for Social
Communication
UCAN Union of Catholic Asian News

23. The Church &
Communications