Communio et Progressio

Pastoral Instruction on The Means of Social Communication

Timothy G
Freddy I
Vatican II/IY2018
In a nutshell…
Latin for Unity and Advancement.
Issued by Pontifical Council for Instruments of Social
Communications on 23rd May 1971, eight years after
Inter Mirifica on the 5th World Communications Day.
Considered to be an update after Inter Mirifica (Decree
on the Means of Social Communication) which was
promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 4th Dec. 1963
 Unity & advancement of men in society

Intro (chief aim)

SOCCOM Gift of
God

• Constitution on the Church in the

World Today
• Decree on Ecumenism
• Declaration on Religious Freedom
• Decree on Missionary Activity of the
Church
• Decree on Pastoral Duties of Bishops
Guide Christians in attitude • Decree on Means of Social
towards media Communication
Sets out doctrinal practices and
general pastoral guidelines
Art. 1 – 3 of Comm et Pro
 Communio et Constant Bishop
Progressio Changes through
Councils

Well-received by
all Experts

SOCCOM

Art. 4 – 5 of Comm et Pro

 Part 1
The Christian View of the Means of SocCom:
Basic Points of Doctrine
 Unity and deepening
of social Means of Indispensable
consciousness
SOCCOM Spread news and
other things...
The receiving end of
communication Unity Advances of
of men tech and Christian
Inventions  innovations conception of how
=
relationships = men should live
Christ’s desire to
cooperation participation in together
communicate His all
fellowship divine work of
through His Life, Death
and Resurrection  creation and
Unity in togetherness conservation

Moral principles
 influences the
availability of the
means of
communication.
•Dignity of man
•essential character of SocCom
•innate qualities of medium used
•Gaudium et Spes art. 36
Art. 6 – 14 of Comm et Pro
 For a full and proper understanding of man: should see
the media’s place in history of Creation, Incarnation and
Redemption; as well as its morality of media.

Communicators:
Recipients:
• Actively employ the
• Read, listen, view various
media
media
• Competency 
• Would be able to interpret the
effective media
message in that media.
• As influences
increases, so does the
duty to propagate Art. 15 of Comm et Pro
Δ output of Contribution for
Essentials of communication
media common good

Meet growing
needs of society sincere honest truthful

Balance between
news and
education, and
light and serious Truth, moral, validity
entertainment more important

Benefits of Deeper In tune with aims of People of God.

SocCom understanding “...promotion of unity belongs to the
innermost nature of the Church”
“by her relationship with Christ,
Cooperation in Greater sympathy both a sacramental sign and an
creative works between men instrument of intimate union with
God, and of unity of all mankind”

Art. 16 – 18 of Comm et Pro

CHAPTER 1 – THE WORK OF MEDIA IN HUMAN SOCIETY
CHAPTER 2 – THE MEDIA: THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR
THEIR PROPER WORKING

Part 2
The Contribution of Communications
Media to Human Progress
 CHAPTER I
THE WORK OF THE MEDIA IN HUMAN
SOCIETY
 The work of media in human society:[19&20]
A world-wide
exchange of Greater
brotherhood and Education. understanding and
cooperation. closer unity.

Enrich men’s Help them to keep

Advantages
minds. and touch

Help people to developing Powerful Establish a measure of

counties to achieve instruments for universal equality in
progress and freedom. progress which all men.
 Dangers and difficulties [21]

1.How can we ensure this swift ,haphazard and endless stream of news is
properly evaluated and understood?
2.the media are bound to seek mass audience, and so they often adopt a
neutral stance in order to avoid giving offence to any section of their
audience?
3.How, in a society that is committed to the rights of dissent, is the
distinction between right and wrong, and false to be made?
4.How in the face of competition to capture a large popular audience are the
media to be prevented from appealing to and inflaming the less admirable
tendencies in human nature?
5.how can one avoid allowing communications, made indirectly and through
machinery, to weaken direct contact-especially when these communication
take form of picture and images.
6.When the media invite men to escape into fantasy ,what can be done to
bring them back to present reality?
7.How can one stop the media encouraging mental idleness and passivity?
8. How can one be certain that the incessant appeal to emotion does not sap
reason?
Decline in moral Decline social
standards. communication

Disadvantage [22]
 public forum where People can understand and
every man may make a proper decision.
exchange ideas.[24] [27]

representatives
Expresses the ideas
Public opinion who reflect his own
and reaction.[25]
views.[28]

Freedom speech for The process of promoting

individuals and groups. what is something called a
[26] "propaganda campaign“.[29]
THE RIGHT TO BE INFORMED AND TO
INFORM [33]

FREE ACCESS

PUBLIC OPINION GO HAND

IN HAND
RIGHT TO BE
INFORMED;
FREEDOM OF
EXPRESSION

POPE JOHN XXIII,

POPE PAUL VI
2ND VAT. CNCL
 access to the source and channel of news
1.Modern man cannot do without information that is fully consistent accurate and
true.[34]
2.society,at all levels, requires information if it to choose the right course. The
community requires well-informed citizen.[35]
3.Those whose job it is to give the news have a most difficult and responsible role
to play. They face formidable obstacle and these obstacle will sometimes include
persons interested in concealing the truth.[36]
4.It hard for anyone to learn the whole true and to pass this on to others, but
newsman face an additional problem. of its nature, news is about what is new.
[37]
5.communicators must give news that is up to the minute, competent and
comprehensible.so more and more they have to seek out competent men for
comment, background briefing and discussion.[38]
6.those who have to keep the public informed must give the news quickly if it is to
appear fresh and interesting.[39]
7.communicators must hold the wandering attention of a harried public by vivid
reporting.[40]
8.the recipients who piece together the news that comes to them in fragments
may well and up with an unbalanced or distorted idea of whole picture.[41]
This right to information
is inseparable from
freedom of Because man is social by
communication. social nature, he feels the need
life depends on a to express himself freely
continual interchange, and to compare his view
both individual and with those of people.[45]
collective, between
people.[44]

Freedom of communication

freedom of Can well understanding

communication also the importance of the
implies that individuals free flow of information
and groups must be free and opinion that enable
to seek out and spread the citizens to play an
information.[47] active part in the
community.[46]
 EDUCATION CULTURE LEISURE

teaching instruments-Tv
& radio
education facilities
being artistic and
-provide religious
cultural achievements presented to the
instruction and basic
within the orbit of a public as
education
great part of the human entertainment.
useful instruments for
race [49].Enrich great works
instructing people in
contemporary culture recognized as the
agriculture, hygiene,
and communicator[50]. product of genius,
medicine and in many
modern techniques, the particularly in
forms of community
media can make music, drama and
development.
achievements known literature[52].
use media for education
more widely[51].
should have a creative
quality and elicit an
active response.[48]
media cover the whole earth and multiply the
opportunities for international cultural cooperation,
creative work using the talents of artist from many
nation. both communicators and recipients should
seek to acquire a truly church taste[54]

artistic expression both for its own excellence and for

what it does for man should be highly appreciated.[55]
 ADVERTISING
Social’s benefits Social’s detriment

fake advertising- if harmful or

Encourage the widest utterly useless goods are
distribution of products and touted to the public, if false
helps industry to develop assertions are made about the
and benefit the population- goods for sale, if less
the buyer's liberty of admirable human tendencies
choice[59]. It is true that a are exploited[60]. the vast
judicious use of advertising sums of money spent in
can stimulate developing advertising threaten the very
countries to improve their foundations of the mass
standard living.[61] media.[62]
 CHAPTER II
THE MEDIA: THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR THEIR PROPER
WORKING
1.Social communication are to give their best service to
mankind, the importance of human element must
recognized.

2.This element plays a more decisive role than the most

marvelous electronic and mechanical instruments by
themselves.

3.The proper functioning of the media in society does not

occur of its own accord.

4.Both communicators and recipients, according to

their own requirements, need a suitable grounding
if full advantage is to taken of the opportunities offered by
these instruments.
[63]
 TRAINING I: A training that ground a man in
the basic principles governing the working of the
media in human society, [64]

Communication genuinely Training should include a

enrich men’s minds. practical

character and function is Should be done with special

understood reference to man and society
 Need some basic training:
knowledge of the media that
their personal advantage and
will keep pace with their
contribution to the society as
maturing.[66]
well.[65]

Parents and
educators
training must be given
must grown
The recipients a regular place in
up with
school curricula.[69]
media-
understand of
the media .
[70]

encouraging in children artistic taste, a educators to take note of some of

keen critical faculty and sense of the broadcasts film and
personal responsibility based on sound publication that most interest the
morality.[67] young in their care.[68]
 The communicator

The training of a
Need serious specialized
communicator human
training in ever aspect of
qualities as well as
their work-higher
professional competence
learning[71]
should be develop[72]
 “they are obliged to pay
Communicators continual attention to
breathe life into the Attempt to match and to carry on an
dialogue that all the needs of uninterrupted
happens within the their public.[74] observation of the
family of man.[73] external world.” - Pope
Paul[75]

Communicators should
not allow themselves to To survive and to
II.OPPORTUNITIES AND
forget that the nature of expand
OBLIGATION:
the mass media makes -require reliable
COMMUNICATORS
their audience a vast financial backing,
one.[76] seek funds.[80]

Communicators should Maintain the highest The founding of

have goals-not only standards of integrity professional
popularity and passing service and continually to associations for
acclaim[77] make progress.[78] communicator is most
valuable.[79]
 II.OPPORTUNITIES
AND OBLIGATIONS:
RECIPIENTS

Improve the
quality of Not necessary
media that is to object and
generally be pessimistic;
realize- Recipients can be work together
authentic described as to expand
Dialogue active when they further
(cooperation) know how to [83]
[81] interpret
communications
accurately.
[82]
 Maintaining
Responsibilities and
freedom of Respect[86]
self-control[85]
speech[84]

Guarantee the
III.COOPERATION:
development of
Cooperation
social Establish in law
between Citizens
communication for and guarded[87]
and the Civil
good of all
Authorities
mankind.[91]

Concerned with
Encouraged to all aspect of
provide financial Protection-moral social
support to harm[89] communication
initiatives[90] [88]
 Help emerging
nation to develop
Exchange that is
their own means Provide Spreading
mutually
of social technical knowledge
advantageous
communication - assistance[93] [95]
[94]
the media
demand [92]

Practical the
possibilities that COOPERATION: Actively to further
are inherent in Cooperation Between Nation human progress
media [100] [96]

Collaboration-join Give them real Understand the state of

programmers inspiration[98] contemporary world
[99] society[97]
CHAPTER 1 – THE CONTRIBUTION OF CATHOLICS TO
SOCIAL MEDIA
CHAPTER 2 – THE CONTRIBUTION OF
COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TO CATHOLICS
CHAPTER 3 – THE ACTIVE COMMITMENT OF
CATHOLICS IN THE DIFFERENT MEDIA
CHAPTER 4 – EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL AND
ORGANIZATION

Part 3
The Commitment of Catholics in the Media
 Vital role through salvation history
Part 1 towards God’s creative redeeming work
among men…

Part 2 Aspect of human advancement by

media

Part 3 Role of media in Catholic life

Art. 101 of Comm et Pro

 CHAPTER I
THE CONTRIBUTION OF CATHOLICS TO SOCIAL MEDIA
CHURCH
TRUE COMMUNION
AMONG MEN

Contribution towards SOCCOM

Testify with
faith and
CO
M proclaim
PE PET their point of
OP EN
LE T view in
society
Dialogue in order to
contribute to solve problems
and do what is best for man’s They don’t
benefits dominate but
evoke
Need
sympathy
spiritual help
through their
in working
service
their role
Art. 102 – 105 of Comm et Pro
 Utilization of knowledge
CHURCH
Sufficient and Timely Media
Training
Tr risti
Ch
ain an
ing pr
in inci

True citizens of
Usage of recipient
ple

SOCCOM age
SOCCOM
s

guided by
research Christian Keep in touch with latest communication
and insight Education
with social Work with pros to communicate via media
teaching of in lieu with life’s experience and ideas
Church in
mind

Art. 106 – 110 of Comm et Pro

 Media
Students of Priesthood
knowledge &
application to all
fabrics of life
Religious in training

Media Broadcasts, Films Scientific Studies and

and Magazines Research of SOCCOM

•Reviews shape wise decisions •A call to do studies to Catholic

•Assess from point of: universities and institutions
• Worth •Share to all as a service
• Moral •Funding through cooperation
• Christian value

Art. 111 – 113 of Comm et Pro

 CHAPTER II
THE CONTRIBUTION OF COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TO
CATHOLICS
 PUBLIC OPINION AND A
CLOSER COMMUNICATION
IN THE LIFE OF CHURCH
 The church looks for ways of multiplying and strengthening the
bonds of union between her member.
 Communication and dialogue among Catholics are
indispensable.
 The Church lives her life in the midst of the whole community of
man.
 Maintain contacts and lines of communication in order to keep a
relationship with the whole human race.
 Both giving information and by listening carefully to public
opinion inside and outside Church.
 Helping in solving the problems that men face at the present
time.

[114]
To sustain a giving and Fully aware of the real Express their views
taking between her freedom to speak their on domestic
member[115] minds[116] issues[117]

the rules normal in Concerns the

Dialogue within the teaching of the
civil affairs equally
Church faithful[118]
apply[121]

The normal flow of life and

the smooth functioning of Play their active role in the life
government within the of Church[119]
Church require[120]
 The Church, is in duty
bound publicly to To announce without fail or
communicate her belief pause the full truth[123]
and her way to life[122]

Dialogue between the

Church and the
world.

Soccom help church:

Reveal herself to the modern
world , Foster dialogue within the Ready to deal with difficult
Church and make clear to the situation and should not
Church contemporary opinion abandon the initiative[124]
and attitudes[125]
 Perfect New ways of
Communicato Conviction[127] confronting
r people[128]
[126]

More
emphasis THE USE OF THE Help Christian
on MEDIA FOR GIVING education[129]
media[134] THE GOOD NEWS

Making their Adaptability Teaching of

proper to all Christianity Proper
contribution situations more presentation
[133] [132] interesting [130]
and
effective[131]
 CHAPTER III
THE ACTIVE COMMITMENT OF CATHOLICS IN THE
DIFFERENT MEDIA
 136 –
•detailed news
•Comment and
PRINTED WORD interpret
Impartation and •Effective
stimulation to stimulation of
knowledge Balance and correct thoughts
news and comments on •Promotion of
religion social dialogue

Have facilities to perform

CATHOLIC duties; accuracy of items
PRESS while sharing to partners

Aid the Catholic readers in light

of Christian values while
maintaining the right to choose
Freedom of expression reading materials
that shapes public
opinion and views
Art. 136 – 141 of Comm et Pro
 142 –
•Contemporary

CINEMA life
•Strong influence
on education,
Pastoral planning Promotion of human knowledge,
for media progress or spiritual culture and leisure
values •Artistic
expression of life
•Engagement of
audience-
Collaboration in participation
projects of religious
CINEMA principles and use of
instruments

Contribution to
basic education for
illiterate
Network
establishments among
Catholic media
Art. 142 – 147 of Comm et Pro
 148 –
•New patterns of

RADIO AND TELEVISION communication

•Breaks through
Enriches people’s barriers
Religious
religious life and •Advancement in
aspect Proper
Create bonds technologies
transmissions in •Artistic
broadcasting expressions
Adaptation to nature of used
medium; competency of
broadcasting technique
RADIO & TV Broadcasts leading to
education and dialogue
Spokesman of
the Church
(conscious role)

Mutual trusts Mutual contribution

among Catholic through feedbacks
media and Organizing Christian
broadcasting broadcasts for countries
companies that forbid broadcasts Art. 148 – 157 of Comm et Pro
THEATRE 158 –
Partnership and •Most ancient form of expression
synthesis of multi- and communication
media

Experimental
THEATRE workshop of
expressions and
idea

Encouragement of
playwrights (and those
involved with the craft)
Art. 158 – 161 of Comm et Pro
 CHAPTER IV
EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION
 EQUIPMENT,PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION

Instruments of social communication[162]

evangelization[163]

the official catholic organization and enterprises

[164]

should able to call upon trained personnel[165]

the different sorts of projects and

organization[166]
The competent ecclesiastical authorities at all levels lend support
and honour those in media.[167]

The local hierarchies will taken a keen interest in the apostolate

of social communication.[168]

Office for the communication media should set up in every

country.[169]

Mission of the national and diocesan offices to stimulate,

promote and harmonize Catholic activities .[170]

The national and diocesan offices will maintain these contacts

with the professional world social communication.[171]
General guidelines for the development of the apostolate of social
communication on the national level.[172]

Under the overall direction of a bishop or a number of bishop-

episcopal conference[173]

Public spokesman. [174]

Continual two-ways flow of new information.[175]

Effective dialogue-church and outside world.[176]

Religious orders and congregations will give thought to the
many pressing tasks of the church-to fulfill them under their
constitutions, collaborate with one another.[177]

Corresponding and cooperate-religious congregations and

international organization.[178]

Each in its own sphere and in a way that fits its statutes.[179]

Through their specialized officer and the catholic professional

association-assure for the international Catholic organization
the funds necessary for doing this work.[180]
Conclusion…
The world is getting more complex.
The Pastoral Instruction is the guideline that is ever-
changing with time and situations but remain rooted in
the Gospel
The church is eager to encourage technological
advancement and researches in order to be abreast with
time.
People of God walk in history...advance with time...they
look forward with confidence and....enthusiasm 
development of communications (187)