In the democratic “digital continent” that is the New Media, Catholics must not settle for second-class citizenship. As Pope Benedict XVI has said repeatedly (following the lead of his predecessor, John Paul II), Catholics must step up to the digital platform and claim the web for Christ and his truth, using responsibly, with energy and imagination, the many forms of New Media that are the communications modes of today and tomorrow.
This was the message offered by speakers and attendees at the 3rd Catholic New Media conference hosted by SQPN (Star Quest Production Network), a constellation of Catholic bloggers, podcasters, video posters and web heads. Held at the Archdiocese of Boston’s pastoral center in Braintree (10 miles south of Boston), the gathering was graced by a visit from Cardinal Sean O’Malley, known as the “blogging cardinal,” who offered encouragement to all Catholics engaged in the New Media.
The Knights of Columbus was a main sponsor of the event, and featured the Order’s three main websites:
The keynote speakers provided some excellent insights into the why, the how and the vital importance of Catholic New Media. Thomas Peters of American Papist offered a rallying call for Catholic bloggers to work together in formal and informal ways to defend the teachings of the Church and the tenets of natural law and common sense, to effect fundamental cultural change. One blogger networking and linking with others can have an exponential impact on the web.
Lino Rulli, host of the “The Catholic Guy” show on Sirius Radio’s Catholic Channel, had a serious message about quality production and standards within Catholic media – amid his usual humor and antics ( would someone find this 38-year-old Italian guy a wife!). With an engaging and iconoclastic radio persona, Rulli said, he seeks to call the young, disenchanted, uncatechized into a dialogue about the possibility of God and the joys of Catholicism. His target audience is not the pious who show up on Sundays. Rather, he considers himself a success if he can give out his business card in a local bar and have someone say – hey, I heard you on the radio while I flipping the dial looking for Howard Stern.
Father Roderick Vonhögen is the mastermind and energy behind SQPN and the annual conference. He and his group are leading the way into the digital age, forging a positive and effective engagement with the New Media. Although he agrees with Catholics who yell and scream on the sidelines that the Internet can be an ungodly cesspool of sin and conceit, Father Roderick also pointed out that it is an open forum that offers equal time for Catholics who are willing to rub elbows with the pagans, like St. Paul at the Areopagus.
The message I came away with from this conference, and the one last year in San Antonio, is this: don’t be fooled by the web’s façade of secularism and cynicism. The person blogging bile or sheer nonsense on the web is made in the image of God (however he has defiled it) and has a deep-down thirst for the good and the beautiful – for truth. Catholics must enter the web with no illusions (and an Internet filter), knowing that they will face resistance, bigotry and blowback of the worst kind – but by faithful, reasoned and charitable persistence in presenting their message (in whatever digital format) they are positioned to win the web for Christ. At the very least, they must seek to “save at least a few” because God expects no less.
Nice post. Wish I could've met you!
Posted by: Inspiredangela | August 13, 2010 at 01:41 PM
Great post! It was an amazing event and I'm looking forward to posting recaps on my blog as well. Thank you for being a sponsor :)
Posted by: Angelsteph | August 09, 2010 at 10:38 AM