Pope Urges Priests To Go Forth and Blog

Hugh Pickens writes "Pope Benedict XV, whose own presence on the Web has grown in recent years, is urging priests to use all multimedia tools at their disposal to preach the Gospel and to engage in dialogue with people of other religions and cultures. 'The spread of multimedia communications and its rich "menu of options" might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web,' but priests are 'challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources,' says the Pope. The message from the Pope, prepared for the World Day of Communications, suggests such possibilities as images, videos, animated features, blogs, and Web sites and adds that young priests should become familiar with new media while still in seminary, though the Pope stresses that the use of new technologies must reflect theological and spiritual principles. Many priests and top prelates already interact with the faithful online, and one of Benedict's advisers has his own Facebook profile. So does the archbishop of Los Angeles. The Pope adds, 'I renew the invitation to make astute use of the unique possibilities offered by modern communications. May the Lord make all of you enthusiastic heralds of the Gospel in the new "agorà" which the current media are opening up.'"

Just be careful

[Tony]

I hope he warns them about FBI posing as 13-year-old choirboys.

Re:Religion

[WED Fan]

Well, could bring a new definition to "flame war" when the comments section of the blog turns ugly.

God is real?

[argent]

God is transcendental. The real number line can not contain Him.

Once again - copycats

[Anonymous Coward]

This is another 'idea' stolen from another religion (namely the Church of FSM, which spreads its message primarily through the tubes)...
-RAmen

Re:Hmm...

[Chris Mattern]

I could be wrong, but I come to slashdot thinking I will not be sexually abused. Maybe it's different now a days, /. having girls and all.

You can get sexually abused by a girl on slashdot now? Why don't people *tell* me these things?

Re:Just be careful

[Anonymous Coward]

I hope he warns them about FBI posing as 13-year-old choirboys.

They should know better than to surf sites like hornypriests.gov

SOAP

[symes]

He gave a sermon on iptables in linux and simple object access protocols. It was call "Pope on a SOAP on a ROPE"... I'll get my coat

This is a actually a really good idea

[PaganRitual]

Posting your crap online makes it that much easier to ignore than if you bother people in the streets or coming knocking on their doors bothering them in the name of your chosen mythology.

This invitation should extend to all religious institutions and their constituents.

Re:Off-by-one error

[peslick]

No, they did mean Pope Benedict XV. He was a very progressive pope. He was one of the earliest advocates of blogging - the early 20th century in fact.

Re:History of the church from the 14th century.

[Exception Duck]

21st century... damn keyboard.

Re:God is real?

[DanielHast]

That would have been a great joke if it worked. Unfortunately, transcendental numbers are on the real line.

That's much catchier

[sharkey]

"Go Forth and Sodomize" just doesn't have the same appeal.

Re:sweet virtual confession

[Anonymous Coward]

You know, they probably don't call it the Jesus Phone for nothing. It has to be different.

-mobby_6kl