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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Love your neighbor' on social media? Let the Vatican tell you how 

'Love your neighbor' on social media? Let the Vatican tell you how 

Published May 30, 2023 08:14 am
To try to stop the negativity on Catholic Twitter and other social media sites, the Vatican released a pastoral reflection to guide people on how "love your neighbor" instead. (Photo from Pixabay)

As posted on CBCP News on Tuesday, May 30, the Vatican released "Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media" which is a 20-page text addressing the challenges that Christians face in using social media. The pastoral reflection discusses the difficulties that Christians have when using social media, which include information overload, constant scrolling, not giving others one’s full attention, being an "influencer," witnessing to Christ, "digital detox," the need for silence, intentional listening, and building community in a fragmented world. The document was issued by the Vatican Dicastery for Communication. It was signed by the Vatican's lay prefect, Paolo Ruffini, and its Argentine secretary, Monsignor Lucio A. Ruiz, who quotes from many of Pope Francis' talks from past World Communications Days. “One significant cognitive challenge of digital culture is the loss of our ability to think deeply and purposefully,” it said. Pope Francis has recently issued many cautionary statements against the danger of young people being so dependent on their smartphones that they stop face-to-face friendships. “We scan the surface and remain in the shallows, instead of deeply pondering realities.”  Also, it cautioned that such contentious conversations are especially concerning "when they come from church leadership, such as bishops, pastors, and prominent lay leaders."  "These not only cause division in the community but also give permission and legitimacy for others to promote similar types of communication," the document stated. It is said that the statement was "not meant to be precise ‘guidelines’ for pastoral ministry."  However, Paolo Ruffini, the head of the communications office, stated that the overall lesson is to avoid feeding the trolls and engaging in "behavior that divides rather than unites." *(Rhowen Del Rosario)*

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