What the Laity expects from Church’s Communication Ministry - 2004 (BJMM025)
Expectations of the Laity from Church’s Communication Ministry
[Dr Edward Edezhath. Results of the survey done for the presentation at CBCI General Body Meeting 2004, Jan. 07-14, 2004, held at Marymatha Major Seminary, Thrissur with the theme Called to be a Communicating Church]
1. Introduction
In this context
what is the role of the Church? What do we faithful expect from the Church in
the field of the media?
I am not a professional in the field. So
why am I here? I am a representative of the ordinary lay faithful of the
Church. A father of three fast growing children (ages 4,12 and 16). A university teacher constantly in touch with hundreds of
young minds. An animator of a vibrant youth movement very much alive to the
struggles of the modern-day young men and women to make relevant their Catholic
faith in daily lives and friendship groups. All these diverse roles are perhaps
what make me a typical representative of many a Catholic faithful trying
to find their bearing and keep maintain their
balance in the dizzying pace of a media-drenched world.
2. Methodology
I have been asked to share the
expectation of the lay people concerning the use of the media in the Church. My
preparation for this sharing was through a series of consultations. The 1000
odd strong email fellowship of Jesus Youth, Joynet was quite handy. I also
prepared a response sheet to initiate a reflection and discussion. Many
individuals and groups gladly cooperated. One such occasion was ‘the Cultural
Exchange Program’ when 450 youth and their animators came from all over India
to live for a month in Kerala. This provided me with a golden opportunity to
listen to people from all different corners of the nation.
What am I trying to present here? A gist of my numerous discussions
with a variety of people which communicate their struggles and disappointments,
hopes and requests in relation to this all-pervading phenomenon called social
communication media and its use or lack of it in
the Indian Church.
3. Living in an age of possibilities
There is a sight
that I often witness. The scene is the parish anniversary, a Jubilee function,
Sunday school anniversary or some other parish function. First there is the
Eucharist which is often well attended, followed by a public meeting which will invariably be a very poor show - attended only by
a handful. The final variety entertainment session is perhaps the biggest
crowd-puller with parishioners and a substantial
number of non-Christians attending it. The focus of the parish priest is only
on the public meeting, which is not attended by people. But the part that the people look forward to is often planned by
‘you don’t know who’. What the parish priest focuses on
doesn’t quite interest the people and what the people look forward to is often
dismissed as unimportant by the priest.
This is the age of the media. The Second Vatican Council called
communication media "marvels" and "gifts" from God, but it
also recognized that these gifts can be mixed blessings, depending on how they
are used. The influence of the media on living styles, choice patterns and
attitudes of the people is powerful. Most of the family tragedies and personal
disasters are easily attributed to the influence of the media. Most of the
people I asked look up to the Church to turn the powerful tide of the media to
bear positive fruits.
In this powerful media world can the Church do anything?
I asked different people in so many ways about the capacity of the Church to be a positive influence in the world of the media. As one of my respondents vociferously argued “The Church and the leftist groups have been the most effective media proponents. Why? Because they have the clearest message to give and the most motivated people to do it.”
Among the responses 49% rated the capacity of the Church to be a
powerful influence to be “very high” and other 24% “high”. People in general
have a great confidence in the Church to the change the tide of the negative
effects of today’s TV, Internet, Ads and the like.
And the strength of the Church?
Modern technological developments made today’s media revolution
possible. The desire to reach the grass roots (for commercial purposes for the
popular media) accelerated the revolution. In tandem,
these possibilities are a great boon to the Church in relation to its mission.
The Church, wherever and whenever it wants to communicate to the
ordinary man and woman, uses the language of the common man, not Sanskrit but
vernacular. What is today’s vernacular?
“We have a Pope
who has caught the spirit of this wonderful possibility of the media” This was the response of many
young people. Look at the “World Youth Day”, see the variety of initiatives,
the respect he commands in the media world, he
has helped the young Catholics hold their head high amidst the challenges of
the media.
How active are our dioceses?
“Are you aware of some Church
bodies that are active in the media field?” I asked them. 15% said “None”
and 43% said “very Few”.
“Church communicates mainly through the circulars read during the
Sunday masses.” Another one responded to me through email: “When the Church
encounters a problem, she gives enough explanations. But these explanations
never reach the majority. Sometimes church fails to convey the messages in a
colorful or attractive way”
4. Search for the blind spots
Some responses expressed concern about the inadvertent negative
picture the Church projects about itself.
“Social Communication of the
church I believe will not stay within the Catholics alone but would be
extending to the general public too. So, then what is said is also as important
as how it is said. Many a time the communication that goes out to the public is
about the squabbles in parishes and among
groups, rites and dioceses. Also, the conflicts between
religious (including nuns) does become the talk of the town.”
“Church is dealing with mostly in its domestic
problems. No attempt to communicate to the world outside. Church has
forgotten its mission through social communication.”
There were responses pointing at Church’s inability to have its own
good newspaper. Many mentioned the
success story of Shalom publications including the flourishing Malayalam
Catholic weekly “Sunday Shalom”. One of them: “Success of the Sunday Shalom
newspaper shows that if we give what people really thirst for, it will be well
received.”
The about the Church and the
TV: “Why there are no good catholic TV channels so far? Many Protestant
preachers make a telling impact in this area
(e.g., Benny Hinn). Many of them mix correct and not so correct teachings
related to basic faith which confuse even devout Catholics.”
The failure of Jeevan TV was mentioned repeatedly. There were angry
responses about the recent changes. “Jeevan TV which turned to be a
total flop... It's a big mistake from the part of the church, a grave
sin....Instead fostering what is good we gave Satan one more channel to spread
commercialism and all those stupid, wanton sins…”
In the area of the Internet
even though many seemed to access famous Catholic international sites they are not really aware of the official sites of the Church in India. Some were asking for online
Bibles in Indian languages and prayer and intercession facilities. The
initiatives of Jesus Youth were specially mentioned here. “There is a lot to be
done by the Catholic Church in this area. But a lot can be done by the laity
and organizations like Jesus Youth who have a lot of
educated people under its wings. Joynet is a good beginning in this regard.”
How clear is the vision/
plan of the dioceses on matters relating to the media? 35 % of the responses said, “Very Poor” and another 20 and 26 per
cent “Poor” and “Average” respectively. A representative comment was, “Dioceses do nothing practical in media”
Many dioceses have communication centers which used to bring
together artists of a variety of hues for training and ministry. There are
specific communities or areas in famous for flourishing artists in large
numbers. Music groups and dramatic performances have also
been developing in different pockets. But there is a perceptible change now. In
many dioceses is there a sense of helplessness? Is there a sense of inability
to do anything specific for the artists and a feeling that everything is taken over by the commercial world?
We are not equipped to respond to these new changes
The TV sets and numerous channels have come to stay in most of the
Catholic homes. Almost all of our educated youth and educational institutions
are well exposed to the Internet. There is much to be done to give orientation
to safeguard our faith and morals in these changing times. “It is a terrible
shame that the Church does not make use of its abundant possibilities.”
How
effective are our dioceses in educating our families on the use of the media? As can be expected most were disappointed. “Very Poor” was the
response from 39%. 20 plus said “Poor”.
Families should be given orientation about how to watch and what to
watch on the TV. People should know how advertisements influence us. Young
people, specially, should become aware of good Catholic Internet sites and
email groups. These are the new areas of faith formation that the diocesan
commissions and church organizations should take up.
It is heartening to see the CBCI coming
together to reflect on these changes and to equip itself to respond. As many
respondents wanted, the process should continue. “The priests and lay apostolic
bodies have to be given orientation and training.”
5. The Language of today
The communication media is much more than
entertainment or a new way of giving out information. It is a whole new way of
looking at the world and society and a fresh approach to relationships and
getting any work done. What the Church needs today is to grasp this tool and
equip itself for its mission by this new radical inculturation.
There is this Bishop…….
v ………. he has a ‘core group’ of lay people to sit
with him, every month, to give ideas, sound and test his own plans, to get feedback about changing times, and grow together with them….
v ………. he had a ‘living together’ with his
priests, all of them, in a center outside his diocese. It was tough in the
first part with pungent criticism and release of pent-up animosities, but he
faced it silently. And then, after a day, it was growing together into a
community, changing the whole face of the diocese.
v ………. as an active priest he used to be in touch
with youth from far and wide, but now he continues to minister to them through
the email. Yes, it helps him to be in touch with the fast-changing world and
its lifestyle and problems.
v ……….. he has a fixed time in the evening to
pray with others in the bishop’s house. He has a goal of growing together as a
community with them to provide a model for his people.
v ……….. he has seen to it that in the major
departments of this diocese his priest work as teams with good laity.
Periodically he sits with these different boards and listens to them. In this
way he has integrated many of the influential laymen in the diocese and is able
to be in touch with them.
Of course these are different bishops from different parts of the
country. But they all have learned the language of today and integrated it into
their working style.
What are some of the characteristics of this media driven
world?
Clarity of goal: ‘Media for what?’
The business world has very clear goals, to push the brand and make money.
Often the media professionals in the Church forget their goal, to make Jesus
known and build a culture and society based on the Gospel. “Church should be for Evangelization and all its
energy should be spent for it.” What the Church need is a communication
strategy with a clear sense of vision and mission. Zero
in on people with missionary zeal and professional excellence who in
turn will find the most relevant media to communicate the message.
Teamwork: In today’s world any creation is an effort of many, a complex process
of experts in one’s own field collaborating in humility. The present-day styles
include active listening, consultation, collaboration and participation. Sometimes the leaders in the Church are
distressingly independent, unwilling to continue from where others have stopped
and averse to sharing wider platforms of collaboration. The negative
competition in the Church is the greatest threat for it to be relevant.
A changing
mindset: The present-day media is a response to
and at the same time an outcome of certain psychological make up and lifestyle
indicators of this age
- All pervasive boredom and yearning for variety
- Personal independence and need for direct experience
- Time conscious and packing up things in limited time
- Technological awareness and thirst information
- Simplicity in a world of complexity and affluence
- Respect for quality and professionalism
- Informality yearning for unity and close communication
Multimedia: In a
complex culture such as ours, modern men and women require a multi-pronged
approach. With a shorter attention span and
multifarious pursuits, especially in the case of youth, a talk may have to be
complemented by a buzz session, a written work to follow a video or a personal
experience to follow a theoretical presentation. This is the style of media, and
this has become the ‘how’ of communication today.
6. Specific steps
What scares away
many to launch deeply into the use of media is the financial
aspect, that it may involve a fortune to do anything in the field. Not
that the Church in general doesn’t have any funds to address the issue, but a change of policy is perhaps more important than the
money itself.
Involving lay people especially the media professionals
The Catholic community in India does not have any shortage of media
professionals in its fold. The ‘seniors’ among them (and most of them are so
young) would only be glad to collaborate at the appropriate level. It was asked
if the Catholic media professionals find
a place in Church’s media planning and related activities. A big 40 percent
thought that the catholic professionals have only an ‘insignificant’ role in
Church’s media activities. To quote some: “For the laity in the church it is a situation without anything to do.”
“There are plenty of media professionals who love the Church, encourage them.”
o
Find opportunities for
interaction with experts in different fields. Organize consultations. Create
platforms for lay professionals to come together and collaborate with the
Church.
o
Bring together the artists –
Conference cum retreats organized by Jesus Youth is a model
o
Catholic orientation should be
a key goal. Initiate study groups on scripture and Church documents – instead
of bringing in experts from outside encouraging them to prepare and present has
been found fruitful.
Integrating the different media into the various
ministries
o
Dramatic clubs and dance
training sessions can be best forums for Catholic formation. They are already
widely used in parishes as entertainment, but a diocesan coordination body
should see to it that skits and their preparation should be vehicles of faith
formation.
o
Catechetic department is area
of much media use. Skit enacted for youth and children before the Sunday mass,
use of short Christian videos in classes, poster exhibitions.
o
Lending library, parish
catechetical media library. With the advent of CDs this
has become very simple.
o
An agency to promote catholic
magazines of a variety of content. ‘Press watch’.
o
People already watch plenty of
films. Have an official or voluntary ‘cinema watch’ publishing and promoting
good secular films. Organizing a film festival is not expensive.
o
Making management and media
related expertise available to coordinating bodies of pious organizations,
diocesan departments and institutions to have clarity of vision, prepare
mission statements, brochures, clear documentation and media presentations will
make then face the present-day world with confidence and make the diocese more
growth oriented.
Media Education a must
“Bishops should see films,” someone
remarked. “Only then will they become aware of
its power and influence. They will then be able to tell people how it should be
viewed.” The fundamentals of media education should be given to priests and
religious. Seminaries and religious formation houses should take time for media
in their curriculum. If the leadership of the BCCs, the pious organizations and
various movements in the Church realize the urgency of guiding our people in
knowing how the media works and how to make choices this can initiate a big
wave of renewal in the Church.
o
Catholic schools and other
education centers could easily organized courses on media and values.
o
The Family Apostolate, especially
its successful Marriage Preparation Course could incorporate a section on the
media.
Media planning for tomorrow
Revamping the age-old communication strategies of the Church in the
light of recent developments of the media is important. Some dioceses have
already taken steps to digitize the parish
records and diocesan archives. Approach of the Sunday homilies, the styles of
meetings of BCCs and parish councils, working of different organizations in the
diocese, etc. could be given a new lease of life
through reflections in the light of the new Medias.
o
The growing number of TV
channels and radio stations are starving for good programs. More than a new
channel what is feasible is making available quality programs with Christian
content to these channels. Various bodies of the Church can make attempts in
this line.
o
Regional media commissions
should arrange workshops for various bodies on the possibilities of media
productions and the nitty-gritty of managing it.
o
Don’t limit catholic
presence to a single media. In this age of multimedia
complement talks with paperwork, films with leaflets, catechism books with
video clippings or poster exhibitions
o
Premier Catholic Educational
centers can help the church leadership in quality media productions for
internal consumption like documentation and faith formation not to mention PR exercises among the general public.
7. Conclusion
In the responses
I received, the youth from the Northeast I met during the Cultural Exchange
Program were highly appreciative of the media use of the Church. Most of the
others thought that there is room for much more to be
achieved. Many parents of young children were very apprehensive of the
powerful influence of the media over the children. “If we are not careful the commercial media will
destroy our families.” And they don’t see any other
body except the Church and its leadership to take proactive steps to inculcate
positive values through different media.
Those who have closely known the media when
they talk of greater media involvement by Church visualize a Church that will
speak in the language of the present day. This new language presumes a new lifestyle of greater sense of mission today and closer collaboration of different
sections of the Body of Christ, because ‘out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaks’. This means, as one of my respondents put it, a “Church with
fellowship that can withstand all hurdles.”
Representing the silent majority of the Church
may I request the Bishops of India a very active role in the fast-growing communication domain of this new era. May their leadership in combating and conquering these fast-emerging bastions
and principalities of negativity usher in Christ’s Kingdom in our families and
communities in a deeper way.
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