Former Clydebank Priest Calls to Make Voices Heard

Clydebank Post
June 4, 2013

http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2013/06/04/459177-former-clydebank-priest-calls-to-make-voices-heard/


FORMER Clydebank priest Archbishop Philip Tartaglia recently told local Catholics "Don't shoot the messenger just because you don't like the message".

He also urged his flock to become actively engaged in traditional and new media, from Facebook to Twitter to newspapers and television and stressed the importance of communications in the life of the Church - "and in our own everyday existence".

He said Catholics had been "dismayed, hurt and embarrassed" to read headlines and hear news bulletins bringing shameful revelations about the Church in recent times.

He added: "We have experienced the power of the media, and sometimes felt under siege from the harsh glare of rolling news."

But the media had also brought good news about the election of Pope Francis and given prominence to his messages to the world.

He said social media were already being used to great effect to reach out, to inform and to engage with people, who are often far from the Church door, but reachable through a Facebook posting or a Twitter message.

The Archbishop added: "Of course these tools are but the first step to evangelisation, but they can open hearts and minds previously closed to us."

He said Catholics should have their say in the media but cautioned them to get it right.

Archbishop Tartaglia asked his flock to support the Church "in her efforts to make her voice heard in the noisy world of modern communications".