Decree on the Media of Social Communications

Inter MirificaSolemnly Promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul

VI

December 4, 1963

Report by: Paola Beltran, Abby Dryden, Lexi Lessaris, & Liz Tuxbury

CLE A period

Ms. Noonan

4/1/09

Pre-Vatican II

Before Vatican II, many forms of technology were being introduced to the world.

–In 1947 a camera and film system was invented

–The first cable television in the United States was invented and put on the market for the public.

–There were only three TV stations at the time, but it was a way for people to find out what was going on in the Nation and in the world, quickly.

–The first commercial color television is offered in 1953

And More…

- The Newspaper was extremely important--it was the easiest source of information.

- The radio was the biggest source for people to get world news and it became a lifeline. Families gathered around the radio to hear the news & listen to special events

Before Inter Mirifica was instated, the Church’s opinion was not shown as

strongly through different types of media.

- There was a Catholic radio that came about in 1931 and a newspaper started in 1897

- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen had two newspaper columns

- People, such as John Allegro were also writing books on Christianity

So Basically…

Before Vatican II was passed there were many issues concerning technology and what should be done with it. There were many new inventions and although there was a couple ways in which the church was using this to their advantage, it was very little and they could really use it more to reach out to the people. At the same time, they wanted the people to use it for the better of the world, and not to promote evil.

The Document

The Document

- On the Fourth of December, 1963, Pope Paul VI promulgated the Second Vatican Council’s second document, Inter Mirifica.

- Inter Mirifica deals with the relationship between the Catholic Church and the media, hence it’s English title: Decree on the Media (Means) of Social Communications (IM 1).

• The document recognizes movies, television, press, and radio as various types of media (IM 1).

– The Church refers to these types of media as the ‘media of social communication,’ because they allow people to communicate in mass means (IM 1).

• Because of media’s mass influence, the Church has decided that the topic of media should be discussed within the Council.

– The document states the if media is used properly, it can be of great advantage to human kind by contributing to entertainment and to spread and support the Kingdom of God. (IM 2).

The Church recognizes media as the most important recent technological advance because it influences the

lives and minds of humankind (IM 1).

–Also, through the document, the Council warns that media can also be used in a harmful way (IM 2).

–The Catholic Church believes that it not only has the right, but the responsibility to assist humankind with the advancing media because it has such a significant influence on the world (IM 3).

Continued…

The Church recognizes that media can be used either to the great advantage or disadvantage of the people, and the church strives to

use it to the advantage of the people (IM 3).

• The Church will work to ensure that media is proper enough to support the kingdom of God (IM 2).

The Second Vatican Council made it clear in their document, Inter Mirifica, that the Catholic Church will ensure media helps to promote the common good and welfare of all of mankind, as

well as to instill Christian values into media (IM 3).

•The document states that pastors must instruct God’s people so they can use media to further God’s word and salvation (IM 3).

•Inter Mirifica also states that the laity must work to instill a Christian spirit into all types of media (IM 3).

The document states that all people involved in any type of media have moral

responsibilities. All people working directly with media must understand the

magnitude of their job—their work directly influences the lives of people (IM 4).

– Those working directly with the media must take into consideration all aspects of the given circumstances, because those circumstances (person, place, time, etc) shape the propriety of the media (IM 4)

– Therefore, all people working closely with the production of any type of media must develop a correct moral outlook (IM 5).

• The document teaches that news given to a community must be sought out in a respectful and peaceful way and reported in a true, timely manor (IM 5).

• The search for, and report of news must all be carried out in accordance with the laws of morality and with respect for the individuals involved (IM 5).

• The document also teaches that, though news should primarily focus on the goodness of mankind, the publication of moral wrongdoing can be beneficial to a community if it is represented in a way that highlights the mistakes of evildoing (IM 7).

In any given society, the people have the right to, and need for news and information concerning their community in order to form closer bonds

between citizens (IM 5).

• The document states that, though art has notable dignity, the laws of morality must still govern over the rights of art (IM 6).

• When man accepts these rules and carries out his art in accordance to moral law, he will be brought to happiness and perfection (IM 6).

When it comes to the relationship of art and morality, the Council teaches that morality must be of most

importance (IM 6).

The Second Vatican Council recognizes public opinion through media as the greatest influence on

humankind, and therefore all Christians have the duty to influence the public opinion with the glory of God’s

goodness (IM 8).

Everyone who partakes in media has special obligations concerning their

choices (IM 9).• Viewers must choose to partake in the decent, morally correct media, and

avoid the media that could be harmful to themselves or others (IM 9).

– The document warns that support of harmful media would only reward those who use media only to make a profit (IM 9).

• The document instructs that, in order to use media to the best of its ability, everyone who partakes in media must have an informed conscience so they can sift through everything taught within the media and find the truth and goodness (IM 9).

– Those who partake in media must listen to the advice given to them from authorities concerning the media so they can be assisted in instructing their consciences (IM 9).

• Inter Mirifica teaches that the young must practice moderation of media (IM 10)

– They must also discuss everything they learn from the media with their elders in order to judge the truth of the information (IM 10).

– It is the parent’s duty to guard their children from morally harmful media (IM 10).

Continued…

Those working in direct contact of media have the largest moral responsibility (IM 11).

Newsmen, writers, actors, designer, producers, displayers, distributors, critics, operators, sellers, and all others of the like have so much responsibility because they form the images and information that people across the world can access—they have the principal moral responsibility concerning media (IM 11).

– These people should have strong morals and be understanding of the magnitude of their jobs (IM 11).

– They should take special care for their young viewers, and produce decent, moral entertainment (IM 11).

– They should shape their economic, political, artistic, and technical abilities so they only help the common good (IM 11).

– Public authorities must make sure information presented in the media is legitimate and beneficial to the common good and welfare of the community—it is their responsibility to protect the privilege of freedom of information (IM 12).

– Public authorities should also work to encourage cultural and spiritual events within the media (IM 12).

• First of all, all members of the Christian community should take part in the changing technology and media because it’s such a significant part of life (IM 13).

• Pastors should incorporate media into their services (IM 13).

– The document instructs that Priests, Religious, and laity should use their technical and artistic talents to assist the church in utilizing media (IM 15).

• Laity should use their technical, economic, cultural, and artistic abilities to promote the Kingdom of God (IM 13).

• A Catholic press system should be set up and fostered (IM 14).

– The press system should include newspapers that explain the Church’s news and influence people to grow in faith and Christian morality (IM 14).

The document suggested several reforms regarding the production and use of media

that should be made in the Catholic community.

• Christians should support films of good moral and educational value, as well as Catholic-owned/operated theatres (IM 14).

– These Catholic institutions should provide decent, morally correct entertainment that can be enjoyed by the young and adults (IM 14).

• Catholic television and radio stations should be set up and promoted (IM 14).

– These programs should be suitable for families and share the goodness of God and teach the Church’s word and religious truths (IM 14).

• Art and drama that enriches peoples’ cultural and moral lives should be promoted (IM 14).

• Schools that teach Priests, Religious, and laymen how to produce media in a Christian way should be set up (IM 15).

– In addition to teaching the technical aspects of media, these schools should educate critics on proper moral judgment (IM 15).

Continued…

• Different types of media should be used in Catholic schools, seminaries and lay apostle groups in order to help enrich and supplement Catholic teaching (IM 16).

– At every level of Catholicism, proper moral and educational media that have proper Catholic influence should be promoted (IM 16).

– Catechetical manuals explaining current Catholic teachings and regulations concerning the media should be made and used at these Catholic institutions (IM 16).

• The Synod invites Christians with financial and/or technical ability to donate their money or time to support the Church’s media effort (IM 17).

– The Synod teaches that Catholics have the obligation to maintain all forms of Catholic media—including newspapers, periodicals, film, television and radio—that spreads and promotes Christian truth (IM 17).

• Inter Mirifica suggests that there should be a celebratory day of media where, in every diocese of the world, the faithful pray for and collect funds for media endeavors (IM 18).

– The funds collected in the celebratory day should be used to assist the church in all aspects concerning the media in a need-based fashion, as determined by the needs of the worldwide Church (IM 18).

Continued…

• The Sovereign Pontiff has created a special office of the Holy See that deals with all aspects of the media of social communication (IM 19).

– Those involved in the office of the Holy See will be experts in all aspects of media from various countries (IM 19).

• The Bishops must monitor and encourage the media-related undertakings in their own dioceses (IM 20).

– National offices for the regulation of media (as defined in IM 19) led by these Bishops, as well as laymen, should be set up to monitor media to ensure it benefits the common good of all people (IM 21).

– These offices should communicate internationally since media is an international affair (IM 22).

Continued…

The church is confident that its children will willingly accept the changes regarding media, and that the changes will brighten the earth.

(IM 24).

• This will all be put into action with the assistance of pastoral instruction put together by the experts (from various countries) involved with the office of the Holy See (IM 23)

So Basically…

• The Church recognizes all types of media as a very influential part of humankind

• The Church suggests all people get involved with the media, but warns that it can be harmful or beneficial.

• In order to made media beneficial, the document says everyone must be media literate and morally sound.

• The document suggested reforms with Catholic television stations, newspapers, and radio stations, in addition to media-filled education and masses.

Reforms

• Immediately after the passing of the document, Inter Mirifica, mass media was highly influenced (Walker).

– Religious broadcasting became a popular way to the people to get information about the church.

– The document inspired new educational media that would teach catholic values to be made

– World social communications day was created by Pope Paul VI in 1973 in order to celebrate and learn about new media advances in relation to the catholic religion (Vatican.va)

• The majority of the people felt the document’s suggested use of media would benefit the Catholic Church because

it expressed religion in exciting and easily attainable way. (Waznak)

The document has sparked countless lasting reforms that are still in place today.

There is at least one Catholic newspaper in every state of the US and some states have more.

– For example, Missouri has the Catholic Missourian in Jefferson City, Catholic Kev in Kansas City, St. Louis Review in St. Louis, and The Mirror in Springfield-Cape Giardeau (Catholic Newspapers).

Catholicism is oftentimes represented in film.

– Most of the best Catholic movies are films that deal with Catholic characters, Catholic society, and the Bible in ways that are not hostile to the Church (Park).

– Some recent prominent Catholic-teaching movies include The Last Supper in 1974, Babette's Feast in 1988, The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988 as well as the most recent, The Passion of the Christ in 2004 (Catholic Movies).

• On iTunes alone, there are 136 streams of Catholic radio that is available to anyone, free of charge ("iTunes").

• There is the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network which is broadcasted in more than half of the states, and in most cases, several parts of that state ("EWTN AM & FM Radio Stations").

There are now countless Catholic and Christian radio stations that broadcast

Catholic news and teaching.

• The EWTN Global Catholic Network has it’s own television channel.

– Its prime programming includes: Sunday Night Live with Fr. Groeschel, Catholic Compass, The Journey Home, Mother Angelica Live Classics, Threshold of Hope, Ewin Live, Life on the Rock, The World Over, and EWTN Global Showcase (ETWN Television).

• There are also many popular television shows that highlight the Christian faith.

– For example, CBS’s Joan of Arcadia focuses on Catholic faith, and Warner Brother’s Emmy-Nominated show 7th Heaven focuses on Christian family life (Internet Movie Database).

Catholic teaching and news is also readily available on television.

The Vatican has also been reaching Catholics through the internet.

– Websites that report Catholic news, such as www.Catholic.org and National Catholic Reporter Online, are prevalent.

– Pope Benedict XVI has his own website where viewers can read apostolic letters and homilies given by him (The Holy Father- Pope Benedict XVI).

– A website that is specifically for the Vatican is available online as well (Vatican: the Holy See).

• Very recently, the Vatican has become even more accessible for Internet surfers.

– In January of 2009, the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI now has his own youtube website where he will post video coverage of Benedict’s appearances (Israely).

– During the 2009 celebration of World Communications Day, Pope Benedict XVI requested that youth use their social networking websites, such as facebook and myspace, to spread God’s good news to other youth (Pope Asks Young Catholics to Use Technology to Share Their Faith).

• Time Magazine sums up the relationship of media and the Catholic Church in a great way: The medium may change, say Church leaders, but the message remains the same (Israely).

Continued…

– Although the Vatican and Pope Benedict XVI have their own websites, there needs to be more websites on the internet about Catholicism and educating people on it. The Internet is becoming the people’s main source of news (Growing Internet).

– With thousands of new channels, there should be more variety in the times of Catholic news and entertainment channels on television.

Since the media is constantly exchanging and expanding, the Catholic media surrounding

that needs to expand and change with it.

So Basically…• People felt that the document meant that technology would help the church send

their message, and teachings in an interesting, and fun way.

• Broadcasting in radio, television, newspapers allowed people to get their information easier and more conveniently to access.

• The document allowed for educational religious media for all to learn the values and teachings for the church.

• Pope John Paul VI created World Social Communications Day to commemorate and to learn about new advances in media technology relating to Catholic Religion

• In the future, there needs to be more expansion on the Internet. Since today’s society is becoming more and more dependent on the Internet for daily news, there need to be more prominence of Catholic media online.

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Continued…