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Ibadan (Agenzia Fides) - ““The Church is communication”. It is very tempting for theologians to try to contest this statement but it is not a frivolous one,” said Bishop Emmanuel Ade Badejo, Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Oyo and President of the Social Communications Council of the Nigerian Bishops' Conference. Bishop Badejo said this in a speech he gave on May 20 at the Cathedral of Ibadan, addressing the Association of Catholic Media Practitioners. A copy of the speech was sent to Agenzia Fides.
Bishop Badejo highlighted that the communications aspect comes from Jesus' teachings: “Right on the façade of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, established in the 16th century, are these two evocative words: 'Euntes Docete' meaning: 'Going, teach.' These words are actually from the original, The copyright belongs to Jesus. He said, 'Go, therefore, and make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to fulfill all that I have commanded you.' (Matt. 28: 19-20).”
The Bishop also mentioned the various Church documents on communications and the various messages of the Pope on World Communications Day, to show the importance that it is given by the Church.
Bishop Badejo said that the key concept for understanding the role of the communications in the Church is “teach all nations.” He says that “all nations” means “all ages, time, groups, races. trends etc. Church communications has experienced a progressive development from the day when the disciples huddled together 'in the room upstairs where they were staying' (Acts 1: 12-14) in fear after the ascension of Jesus.”
The Bishop recalls the Pastoral Instruction from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, “Aetatis Novae”, published on February 2, 1992, which “recommended summarized and refocused all earlier documents and ascribed to Church communications a wide spectrum of responsibilities.” The media, the document says, must be at the service of persons and cultures, must dialogue with the world, must serve human community and progress, serve ecclesial communion and foster a new evangelization. They must face current challenges of solidarity and integral development, policies and structures as well as ensure the right to information and communication. From the strictly pastoral point of view the instruction called for the defense of human cultures, promotion of the Church’s own means of communication, the formation of communicators and the pastoral care of all communicators.
“The issue of media education must never be allowed to diminish in the face of ravaging consumerism, pornography and violence in the public media. Church communications must seek all and every opportunity to promote media education and awareness to equip the public. The more critical the general public is in consuming media messages and products the more the sanity of society is protected from the real interests behind the glamor and glitter of the media,” the Bishop concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 22/5/2009)
