The Pope’s Appeal to the Media: Upholding Truth, Protecting Dignity, Promoting Respect
Last Friday the Catholic Church celebrated the World Social Communication Day. Pope Benedict XVI gave a media communication on Educating People to Truth, which can be underlined in the light of an understanding of general good will:
He pointed out: “While the print media struggles to maintain circulation, other forms of media such as radio, television and the internet are developing at an extraordinary rate. Against the backdrop of globalization, this ascendancy of the electronic media coincides with its increasing concentration in the hands of a few multinational conglomerates whose influence crosses all social and cultural boundaries.”
He further went on saying that internet too “has opened up a world of knowledge and learning that previously for many could only be accessed with difficulty, if at all.” “On the other hand, it is also readily apparent that much of what is transmitted in various forms to the homes of millions of families around the world is destructive.”
“The responsibility to introduce and educate children and young people into the ways of beauty, truth and goodness is,” he said, “a grave one. It can be supported by media conglomerates only to the extent that they promote fundamental human dignity, the true value of marriage and family life, and the positive achievements and goals of humanity. I appeal again to the leaders of the media industry to advise producers to safeguard the common good, to uphold the truth, to protect individual human dignity and promote respect for the needs of the family.”
