“Human genius has with God’s help procured marvelous technical inventions… The Church is particularly interested in those who directly touch our spirit and open new avenues of easy communication to all.” Pope Paul VI, Among the Marvellous Things, 1963.
“Man’s genius has with God’s help produced marvelous technical inventions from creation, especially in our times. The Church, our mother, is particularly interested in those which directly touch man’s spirit and which have opened up new avenues of easy communication of all kinds of news, of ideas and orientations,” Ibid.
“The scientific mentality has wrought a change in the cultural sphere and on habits of thought, and the progress of technology is now reshaping the face of the earth.” Vatican II The Church in the Modern World, 5.
“The Church sees the media as “gifts of God,” to unite all and to cooperate in the plan of salvation… The deeper understanding based on the teaching and spirit of the Second Vatican Council will now guide Christians in their attitudes to media and will make them the more eager to commit themselves to the field.“ Pontifical Commission on Communication, 1971.
“In communications media, the Church finds a precious aid for spreading the Gospel and religious values, for promoting dialogue.” Ibid,
“The essential meaning of their ‘kingship’ and ‘dominion‘ of people over the visible world, which the Creator himself gave them for their task, consists in the priority of ethics over technology, in the primacy of the person over things, and in the superiority of spirit over matter.” Pope John Paul II, 1979.
“Technology is a precious resource when placed at the service of man and promotes human integral development for the benefit of all,” CCC 2293.
“Today’s young people, especially, know that the progress of science and technology can produce not only new material goods but also a wider sharing in knowledge. The extraordinary progress made in the field of information and data processing, for instance, will increase man’s creative capacity and provide access to the intellectual and cultural riches of other peoples. New communications techniques will encourage greater participation in events and a wider exchange of ideas.” Pope John Paul II, God’s Mercy,
“The world is being reshaped by technology. Not only are computers transforming the way we live and work, they enable many adults to pursue lifelong learning to keep pace with the rapidly changing workplace. Communication technology has also made the world smaller through e-mail, global networks, and increased contacts with other cultures. This globalization of society increases our awareness of and interdependence with other peoples and societies.” USCCB Our Hearts Were Burning, 27.
“Do not be afraid of new technologies! These rank among the marvelous things which God has placed at our disposal to discover and to make known the truth.”
Pope John Paul II, Jan, 2005.
“New technologies, create further opportunities for communication understood as a service to the pastoral government and organization of the different tasks of the Christian community.” “Communication media (is) not only to make known information but to promote fruitful cooperation.” Pope Benedict XVI, 2006.
Technology
This is the newest of spiritual gifts and Pope Paul VI invited Catholics to embrace the gifts and advances of technology in the 1960’s. Technology as a spiritual entity explores all the channels for communication and service that come from computers and other electronic devices. Education in the technology field has exploded in the last 50 years and many Catholics use technology to spread the faith and religious values of the Church around the world. Rather than frustration, those with technological skills enjoy the challenge and the inventiveness of learning new ways and means to communicate the faith. Their faith is energized by learning and sharing what they have learned from machines. The ethics of their faith informs the content of their information and sharing.
Questions to share
- Which passage touches you or burns in your heart the most? Why?
- How have you exercised this gift in the past?
- How are you now exercising this gift in ministry?
- Do you see new ways you can exercise this ministry in the future?