A man who speaks 15 languages couldn't help but be interested in the Internet. Pope John Paul II has been the most media-savvy pope ever. From the beginning of his papacy he has encouraged the Church to use the media to win over the minds and hearts of people everywhere. Now, for World Communications Day 2002, he has turned his mighty pen to the Internet.

World Communications Day isn't until May 12, but the pope issued his statement early (on January 24, feast of journalists' patron St. Francis de Sales) to give the Church time to reflect on its themes in advance. The short, but abundant, statement can be read in its entirety at the Vatican Web site. Here are its principal themes:

'Cast Deeply Into the Net'

The underlying theme of this statement comes from Luke's Gospel (5:4), when our Lord invites St. Peter to "put out into the deep." He and his partners had been fishing all night without results. In this highly symbolic story they heed the Lord's advice and immediately fill their boats to overflowing. Invoking this story, the pope challenges the entire Church to "go for it" on the Internet: "For the Church the new world of cyberspace is a summons to the great adventure of using its potential to proclaim the gospel message." Indeed, the official English translation of the document ends with a play on words, "I dare to summon the whole Church bravely to cross this new threshold, to put out deeply into the Net...."

Why is the Internet so important to this pope? Because, as he says, the Internet causes billions of images to appear on millions of computer monitors around the planet. He asks, "From this galaxy of sight and sound will the face of Christ emerge and the voice of Christ be heard?"

Issues of Concern

There is no naïveté about the "interplay of danger and promise" on the Net. The pope compares the Internet to the ancient Roman forum where proponents of many ideologies competed for acceptance. He rightly observes that the Net is a means, not an end. The Christian community should think of "very practical ways" of helping those who make contact through the Internet move toward real human contact with the Church.

The Net can be a great tool for religious education (catechesis) to bolster the faith of Christians new and old. But the Internet does not teach values. It may provide information, but not wisdom. And the Internet can never replace personal contact and human witness in the life of the Church.

Public authorities need to "guarantee that this marvelous instrument serves the common good and does not become a source of harm." Finally, we can't allow our hours of solo surfing to replace the true solitude that nourishes the soul. As the pope reminds us, we need "inner quiet to ponder and examine life and its mysteries."

In other words, keep things in perspective. But, when the pope tells us to put out into the deep, he is recalling a central theme of his papacy. Don't settle for mediocrity, he has said again and again, in relation to this same passage from Luke. Be not afraid. Go for it!

John Bookser Feister is editor of AmericanCatholic.org.

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PARISH
saint-andrew.net
St. Andrew's Web committee meets once a month—everything else happens online. This simply designed site shows that you don't need a team of artists to do the most basic job of a parish site: Tell the people what's going on—and when. This site is loaded with vital, current information about parish life. The calendar is especially well executed. The parish is in Elk River, Minnesota, Diocese of St. Cloud.

MEDIA
magis.creighton.edu
Welcome to the world of media pioneer Father Don Doll, S.J., professor of the fine arts at Creighton University. His photos have graced National Geographic, his video documentary made ABC's Nightline. Now he's produced a DVD with fascinating mission stories, including segments on what's happening in El Salvador, India, and among Native Americans. Sample Doll's work on this site.

ISSUES
moratoriumcampaign.org
The Church, following the pope's lead, has become outspoken against the death penalty. Here's a site from a group inspired by Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J. Articles, resources, statistics, addresses, an online petition form—they're all here.

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From Friar Jack

Welcome! Thanks for your outpouring of e-mail about my recent column on evil. For those of you awaiting response, hang in there! I'm catching up. My next column will be out in a few weeks. Meanwhile, here are a few of your comments:

Pauline, from Canada, writes,
"Your message on evil was very thought provoking, especially after the readings on the First Sunday of Lent...I would have been happy to have you on hand during the last few years when I was in charge of ongoing formation!"

Thomas, from the U.S., takes another view: "I am having a hard time with the many articles on evil and nonviolence that have flooded newspapers and magazines lately. [Evil] is like a cancer. Taking immediate aggressive action early in the process can save major surgery later. God bless. Thank you for your time and for your ministry."

Greg, from Australia, enjoyed the references to Merton and the poll about poverty. Pat, from the U.S., writes, "I've been a subscriber to the Messenger for a number of years, but I really enjoy your computer touch. Oddly, it seems more personal than a magazine."

Another writes, "Cut me from your list. [I'm] a simple Catholic who does not want his children and grandchildren eradicated by the hitlerian, evil monsters...."

Nancy writes from the U.S., "You distilled my own objections to the simplistic political thinking around us into a well-rounded and theologially sound piece. Thank you so much."

Finally, Jim sent this to AmericanCatholic.org in response to my column: "'Fear begets anger. Anger begets violence. Violence begets injury. Injury begets fear.' This mantra came to me in meditation one day. I call it the chain of shame. In order to stop the cycle we have to stop at one of the 'begets.'"

By the way, for you newcomers, I am a real Franciscan friar. You can find out more about me here. Peace and all good!

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