ASIA - New document released by Asian Bishops on Social Communications

Manila (Agenzia Fides) – A document on communications was recently published by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), meant to deepen and update the relationship between the Church and communications in the various sectors of the Asian continent. The publication explains the need for continuous study in this area, for additional reflection and modernization, given the rapid development of communications technology and the “new pulpits” from which the Church is called to preach the Gospel. The document is entitled “Church and Social Communications in Asia” and notes that this progress is particularly being observed in Asia, especially in some southern and eastern Asian nations, which are on the cutting-edge in the production and usage of the latest forms of information technology.
The text, which is written by the Bishops' Institutes for Social Communication, an entity of the FABC, offers recently published articles from theologians and experts in the first part, while the second part offers a collection of all the documents drafted in the Bishops’ meetings on communications from 1996-2007. Thus, it hopes to serve as a useful reference guide for use in the training of those planning to work in this field, indicating the general guidelines to be applied and taken into account in the various Asian nations.
The text contains analysis gathered from talks given at the Asian Synod celebrated in Rome in 1998 and also offers articles on specific themes from theology, communications, spirituality, and pastoral care. On a more local level, the document contains reports on two special initiatives on the academic level: the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication based at St. John's University (Bangkok), and the Program on Pastoral/ Social Communication at the Graduate School and Theological Faculty of the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (Manila).
For some years now, the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences has made it one of its priorities to strengthen their presence in the mass media and to take full advantage of the “new pulpits” to evangelize, which implies using all the modern means of communication that the new technologies offer society. The Asian Bishops have made a great effort in trying to insist on a communication that respects man in his dignity and rights, that promotes justice and solidarity and that fights against discrimination, inspiring authentic Christian values. The Church in Asia is called to encourage all members of the Church to take an active role in using these newly- presented possibilities in spreading the Good News and the Kingdom of God and, in the meantime, to educate others in the critical use of mass media.
The Church is convinced that the mass media and the new technologies, especially the Internet, should contribute to creating peace and harmony in society and among the people of Asia. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 3/9/2008)