Archdiocese of the Internet?

John Freund, CM
January 18, 2013

Someone at CatholicTechTalk writes…”I received an email from the Austin Diocese the other day wondering if this blog operates on the approval of our diocese.  In writing back, I responded somewhat flippantly with the question, “Which diocese covers the Internet?”  The point I was trying to make was, of course, that there isn’t a diocese that covers this blog nor the Internet as the Internet has a global reach.

Later, a crazy idea crossed my mind, should there be a diocese that covers the Internet? 

Pope Benedict XVI has described the Internet as a “Digital Continent” with our mission to go forth and evangelize in this new land.  Dioceses are geographic in nature, but if you think of the Internet as a virtual world as some parts of it have been described, perhaps this suggestion isn’t as far fetched as it sounds.   Today, people are increasingly spending more of their free time and consequently their lives online.  If this is where people “live”, isn’t it the church’s mission to joyful teach and spread our faith wherever we are?

Perhaps I presume to much and this may just be a crazy idea.  I’ll end this thought by mentioning that other religions may not think its all that farfetched.  Try Googling  the name of our savior “Jesus Christ” and look to see where other religions are spending advertising dollars on evangelizing their faith on this Digital Continent.”

Indeed an interesting question in this year of faith. Share your thoughts by hitting the Comment link.

 


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1 Comment

  1. verda imperial

    YES!!! a timely measure to reach out to more netizens who can read, share religious teachings to and from Church leaders and other faithfuls.. The Catholic Archbishop as the head of the Internet Archdiocese or his representative, to administer this site for all the netizens- Catholics and other faiths.. The Catholic as the universal church to invite all Catholics, Christians, and other faiths.. Sacraments can be had at the nearest church or place of worship..
    This is specially good for people who live away from their parishes like overseas workers and development workers like me.