OPENING STATEMENTS FOR ODW BLOG

TITLE 1V INSTRUMENTS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION.

Canon Law 823, paragraph 1.
“In order for the integrity of the truths of the faith and morals to be preserved, the pastors of the Church have the duty and the right to be vigilant lest harm be done to the faith or morals of the Christian faithful through writings or the use of the intstruments of social communication; they likewise have the duty and the right to demand that writings to be published by the Christian faithful which touch upon faith or morals be submittedto their judgment; they also have the duty and right to denounce writings which harm correct faith or good morals. (Code of Canon Law Latin-English Editon. Canon Law Society of America, 1984)

WHAT IS AN INSTRUMENT OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION?
(Excerpted from the Code of Canon Law; A text and commentary c ommissioned by the Canon Law Society of America; Study Edition, 1985.)
“The use of the media in the service of the Church’s teaching office and on the prior censorship of books.”
This also pertains to the use of the diocesan publication (in this case the Diocesan newspaper, the Catholic Voice) which is deemed to be the Bishop’s official channel of communication with the faithfful.

Cannon 822 explains.
Paragraph 1. “The pastors of the Church, employinig a right which belongs to the Church in fulfilling its responsibility, are to endeavor to make use of the instruments of sociall communication.
Paragraph 2. These same pastors are to see to it that the faithful are taught that they are bound in duty to cooperate so that the use of the instruments of social communication is animated with a human and Christian spirit.
Paragraph 3. All the Christian faithful are to be concerned about furnishing assistance in this pastoral activity in such a way that the Church effectively fulfills its responsibility through such instruments; this is especially true for those who in any way have a role in the regulation or use of these instruments.”

HOW DO THESE CODES APPLY TO THIS BLOG?
Cannon 822 encourages the use of the media for the good purposes of the Church and of humankind.in using the various avenues of media communication to educate the faithful on the Church’s mission of teaching.

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO THE OAKLAND DIOCESE?
It has become overwhelmingly clear that the official newspaper of the Oakland Diocese, The Catholic Voice, under the guise of official church teaching, has been put into the service of the political left through the publication of groups and their activities and representing them as respected and official Church agendas.

Each month we will feature background information on some issue presented in the Voice, providing the reader with further details on the connections, activites and goals of groups appearing in the Voice.