Are priests afraid of Facebook?
The good the Church does is rarely of importance to the media and never makes the news cycle. Therefore it is up to priests to communicate the “good news” to the rest of us through the internet and social media. In this way, the Church can be built up.
This is the viewpoint of Father Jose de Jesus Palacios, whose article was featured in the National Catholic Register. He examines whether priests are afraid of Facebook, and if Facebook is truly a means to build relationships.
“Friends” on Facebook are not direct human contact, but Father Jose believes that the presence of a priest on Facebook can enrich the virtual world with the real world… and will lead to direct contact. In his experience with the Latin American social networking site Hi5.com, Father Jose spoke of a community where people have asked for prayers, spiritual counseling, help in vocational discernment, and Mass and confession times.
Fishing for men
There is also the importance of “fishing for men”, even on the internet. Priests can cast their nets through social media to connect with more Catholics. Ultimately it is not the fact that a priest does or does not have a Facebook presence or a website, but what the content is. At our core, people long for the truth. If that truth can be communicated through social media, the more power to priests who utilize that technology.
Read Father Jose de Jesus Palacios’ article, “Are Priests Afraid of Facebook?”
