Technology and Faith in the 21st CenturyDiscussion Questions

Possible AnswersCreated by Claudia McIvor

Used With Permission

Discussion Question #1

“Religion can greatly benefit from the proper use of Cyberspace, whether from handy services such as helping travelers find a church for Mass or from the resources for scholarly research in a variety of church-related topics. However, besides the other problems noted, Cyberspace has become filled with a great deal of misleading or simply inaccurate information on the Church.

Just because you can find it on the web doesn't mean it's true; and just because a site uses "Catholic" in its name doesn't mean it reflects the teaching and practice of the Catholic faith. ‘Let the buyer beware’ applies very much in this case.” – Your Family and Cyberspace, USCCB 2000http://www.usccb.org/comm/cyberspace.shtml

Question: The statement above is cautioning us to beware of the authenticity of something posted on the web, so how can we verify authenticity?

Discussion Question #2

“Some argue that the Internet is too big and complex ever to be controlled. There are loopholes in every suggested solution, including turning over to parents the problem of protecting their children—as if it were possible (or even desirable) for parents to be with their children twenty-four hours a day. The complexity of the Internet, however, does not require giving up on it. It means that there is shared responsibility not only to protect children but also to ensure that the Internet contributes to society's civility, harmony, and the maintenance of moral standards. Otherwise it can easily become primarily a vehicle for the propagators of hate, violence, and obscenity.” – Your Family in Cyberspace, USCCB 2000http://www.usccb.org/comm/cyberspace.shtml

“Participation in the mass media arises from their nature as a “good” [quotes added] destined for all people. As a public service, social communication requires a spirit of cooperation and co-responsibility with vigorous accountability of the use of public resources and the performance of roles of public trust (cf. Ethics in Communications, 20), including recourse to regulatory standards and other measures or structures designed to effect this goal.” – From "The Media: A Network for Communication, Communion and Cooperation" (40th WCD message)http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20090124_43rd-world-communications-day_en.html

Question: Name some ways we can ensure the protection of our children on the Internet. How can this responsibility be shared among parents, grandparents, families, schools, media and government?

Discussion Question #3

“The media must avoid becoming spokesmen for economic materialism and ethical relativism, true scourges of our time. Instead, they can and must contribute to making known the truth about humanity, and defending it against those who tend to deny or destroy it. One might even say that seeking and presenting the truth about humanity constitutes the highest vocation of social communication.”- from “The Media: At the Crossroads between Self-Promotion and Service. Searching for the Truth in order to Share it with Others." 42nd World Communications Day (2008) paragraph 5http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20080124_42nd-world-communications-day_en.html

The world of digital communication, with its almost limitless expressive capacity, makes us appreciate all the more Saint Paul’s exclamation: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16).—Pope Benedict XVI, 44th World Communications Day message (2010)http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/communications/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20100124_44th-world-communications-day_en.html

Question: Can you think of ways the Internet and digital media (Facebook, YouTube, etc.) might be used to spread the Gospel in your homes? In schools? In Churches? In the World?

Answers to Discussion Questions

Question 1: How can you verify authenticity of a book, a website or an online document?

Is there one of these verifying stamps:Religious Superior's stamp: IMPRIMI POTEST "it can be printed"

Censor's stamp: NIHIL OBSTAT "nothing stands in the way"

Bishop's stamp: IMPRIMATUR "let it be printed" Is it from a recognized web site of the church such as USCCB.org, .va (Vatican

web site) or a diocesan web site? Does it tell you in the “About” where it comes from and who authorizes it?

For example, American catholic.org publishes a number of authoritative documents: St. Anthony Messenger Press and Franciscan Communications conducts its publishing ministry with the official ecclesiastical approval of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cincinnati. Our postal address is 28 W. Liberty St., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202. Phone: (513) 241-5615              (513) 241-5615      

What is the domain in the URL? If it’s .wiki then it’s user created What is the copyright information? Is it copyrighted by an individual or an

organization? Is there a citation indicating source material, references, etc. in the body of the

text?

Question 2: How can you ensure safety?

Physical and emotional safety are both important – tell your kids this Firewall software installed and updated regularly on computer Set parental restrictions on home computer Block unwanted sites on public computers Talk to your kids about allowable sites, dangers, strategies, boundaries Have and sign a Responsible Use Policy Monitor Internet use – keep computer in a public place Assert parental authority and do not allow children on social networking sites Never set up a profile with a child’s personal information such as name and

address Avoid posting photos of children on public sites and never name the photo in a

way it can be traced Know the difference between storing something locally on your computer and

posting it on a website Discuss long-term effects of posting information on the Internet (it never goes

away) Use avatars instead of digital images for children

Question 3: Creative ideas to spread the Gospel using the Internet

Create a family blog based on your faith experience – just make sure it adheres to safety guidelines

Update your parish web site – include video Create a Facebook page for your parish Youth group projects that collaborate with youth from other parts of the world Collaborate with other Catholic communities to have a voice in justice issues –

like our twinning ministry, which posts pictures of our sister parish in Haiti and videos of our missionaries doing relief work in Haiti.

Create a short video using Animoto to show what your group is doing Create a Voicethread so students can express personal comments around a faith

theme. Use wordle.net to create a word cloud with words contributed by a class or

students.