Church to log on to social media to connect with youth

KOCHI: Men in cassocks tweeting on social issues, or sending a friend request on Facebook would be a routine online activity soon when the catholic clergymen in Kerala follow what the Pope has hinted - that the church needs to follow new ways to reach out to the congregation.
Though there has not been any direct reference by the Pope to social media, one of the major suggestions raised at the synod of bishops, which concluded on Sunday, was that clergymen should be better trained in electronic communications.
"Besides traditional and perennially valid pastoral methods, the church seeks to adopt new ones, developing a new language, attuned to the different world cultures," said Pope Benedict XVI to conclude the three-week-long synod on Sunday.
In fact, recently, the Pope had asked all clergymen to expand their presence in the virtual world to reach out to youngsters who have been found to stray away from the path of the church. Further decision on the synod's deliberations would be taken only after the Pope prepares the 'apostolic exhortation' on the topic, a compilation of all the deliberations.
"Many priests are already active in the cyber world. Once the apostolic exhortation comes, we will have motivational workshops and other deliberations on this topic. It is through these measures that the church can be one of today," said Archbishop Francis Kallarakkal of the Latin church. The synod of 260 bishops from around the world was deliberating on 'new evangelisation,' to stem the haemorrhaging of the faithful. The Pope has asked the clergymen to work more to revive faith among those who have lost it to various reasons.
Kerala Catholic Youth Movement, Syro-Malabar Christians, Kerala Catholic Friends and the Kerala Catholic Students League are some of the organizations which have an impressive presence on the web.
"Many local churches have already started their websites, and there are many youth organizations that have launched discussion forums. The response is very encouraging," said Fr Stephen Alathara, deputy general secretary of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council.
The apostolic exhortation is an elaborate process, and can take from six months to one year to complete.