Back in 1963 Pope Paul VI promulgated a document, Decree on the Media of Social Communications – Inter Mirifica. (IM). In this forward-looking document states:

“Among the wonderful technological discoveries which men of talent, especially in the present era, have made with God’s help, the Church welcomes and promotes with special interest those which have a most direct relation to men’s minds and which have uncovered new avenues of communicating most readily news, views and teachings of every sort. The most important of these inventions are those media which, such as the press, movies, radio, television and the like, can, of their very nature, reach and influence, not only individuals, but the very masses and the whole of human society, and thus can rightly be called the media of social communication. (IM1)”

In this document the Church recognizes the importance of such media and how it may be used to preach the gospel message (IM 2). The Church reserves he right to make use of media “insofar as they are necessary or useful for the instruction of Christians and all its efforts for the welfare of souls (IM 3).”

I seriously doubt that even those of the Council who tried to look to the future, could have foreseen the explosion of mass communication with the internet, email, social media, Facebook, and the like. I also doubt that while they also recognized how such means of mass communication could be misused and abused, they could have foreseen the level of pure evil that is also out there.

As many of you know I have a saying that appears on the bulletin inserts that I sometimes publish that people need to be reminded more than they need to be instructed. I use this because all people are born with and innate goodness. However, with our fallen nature (thanks Adam & Eve), we sometimes stray from the path. My goal here is to utilize the electronic means of communication to remind us all of what we are called to be. Actually, it is mostly to remind myself and just drag those who stumble onto this blog, along on this journey.
I am certainly open to having you who read this to submit questions you would like to see addressed. Since I am retired, I have time to do research and am more than happy to do it. No anonymous requests will be addressed.
With this in mind, and in cooperation with the Webmaster of the OLQU webpage, Mr. Jim Chaloupka, we have launched this page. I look forward to seeing where this adventure leads. You may catch me at Church or e-mail to deaconjim@wowway.net.

Christo et Ecclesiae – For Christ and for the Church