VATICAN CITY, MAR 5, 2004 (VIS) - Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, is in Augsburg, Germany where he spoke today to the congress of "Aid to the Church in Need" (ACN) on the theme "Modern Media - A Blessing or a Curse."
ACN was founded on Christmas Day 1947 by Norbertine Father Werenfried van Straaten, who died January 31, 2003. It is a universal public association of the faithful that offers financial support to more than 8,000 projects worldwide. Bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful may propose projects but each must have the recommendation of the local bishop.
Archbishop Foley said he does not "think the media are a curse" but "they can represent a risk," when they fail to enrich the lives of people through offering good news and good programming. He highlighted the need in Germany - where polls indicate "only one third of Germans accept the First Commandment" - for the Catholic media to make its voice felt, to make Church teachings known, and to promote the good work done by the Church, especially its volunteers for the poor, the sick and the handicapped.
He said he was told that in the general news media "not one television news program in Germany reported on the Holy Father's World Youth Day in Manila several years ago, when seven million people joined him for Mass in Rizal Park, perhaps the largest gathering in the history of the world!"
"Thus," affirmed Archbishop Foley, "even in your own nation and in most nations of the developed world, there is a 'Church in need' ready for your aid -- in your example, in your personal commitment to the Catholic Church and to its entire teaching, in your readiness to cooperate with our Holy Father and with your bishops."
He urged his listeners to "use the press, use radio, use television, use the Internet to tell the good news of what Father Werenfried did during his life and what you continue to do in the same spirit. . Also, seek coverage not only for the work done by Aid to the Church in Need, but seek coverage of religion in general and of the many needs to which you cannot always respond; seek coverage to promote understanding, to stimulate prayer and to elicit generosity and service."
CON-CS/MEDIA:CHURCH/GERMANY:FOLEY VIS 20040305 (390)
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