Pope Warns Against "Obsessive" Facebook Use

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI says social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace can foster friendships and understanding, but warns they also can isolate people and marginalize others.

Benedict urged a culture of online respect in his annual message Friday for the World Day of Communications.

Benedict welcomes as a "gift" new technologies such as social networking sites, saying they respond to the "fundamental desire" of people to communicate.

But he also warns that "obsessive" virtual socializing can isolate people from real interaction and deepen the digital divide by excluding those already marginalized.

He urges producers to ensure that the content respects human dignity and the "goodness and intimacy of human sexuality."

Comments

[mzdebbee]

sorry about that Mizta Pope
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okayz

PEACE BEE WITH YOU

and also with you...
yeah I know...

[mzdebbee]

Dearezt Mizta Pope,

It iz with all do respect that I call to inform that you must know a few Icons of your mission institute accounts with myspace, and facebook I know Im frindyz with them as I will list for you these Icons:
God, Jesus, Blessed Mother, Saint Frances, St Patrick, Mother Theresa(I know I spelled her name wrong) and a HOLY bunch of other people,

Sincerely,
THE BEE
Nurse DebBEE, Registered Nurse, Retired United States Navy, Director of Random Acts of kindness Charities Inc, Host of The Phoenix Late Night Show, www.beehealthyworld.com

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[Martin Middelmann]

The article really only states the obvious. It can be summed up in 3 words:

"Use Common Sense"

[metatron1970]

"He urges producers to ensure that the content respects human dignity and the "goodness and intimacy of human sexuality."

Sounds nice on paper, but the Vatican's ideas on human sexuality I can do without. If you read the Church's catechism, no sex seems to be consecrated save that which is within the boundaries of marriage, and then only for procreative purposes. And then children sired from such a union are told they come from this "original sin" (Augustine's code-word for sexual relations which has no Scriptural basis.) The Vatican's views on contraception are so laughably archaic nobody takes them at all seriously anymore.

[bobbyperu]

I haven't accepted Jesus as my personal saviour, but I did accept his friend request.

[Skeptiqone]

Now THAT was Funny!!!

[frogluv73]

The Pope is concerned about marginalizing people? Like he and the Catholic Church have done with homosexuals? Like religion has done with non-believers? Really, seriously? We need another John Paul II. We need to bring a little open-mindededness and reality back into religion.

[smithshaw08]

Bladerdash! Some of my friends met their spouse on myspace. Embrace the internet, seek out your soulmate! But you thieves stop hacking into the credit card accounts. I'm a shopaholic & you're cramping my style. Use your brain for something worthy.

[TheLar]

Not quite sure I can accept anti-obsession lessons from the organization that defended child molesters.

[carallen]

I can't imagine that the same audience that listens to the Pope is the same one that uses Facebook. I mean I'm glad to see that the Catholic Church is aware of such technologies but perhaps they should modernize their belief structure first.

[ethandavid]

Which part of the belief structure needs to be modernized?

[leeman79]

Priesthood and facebook could be a very dangerous combination.

[postman606]

I can't think of another long-running major institution, like the Catholic Church, that needs to fade into oblivion.

[buckbuck11]

Benny doesn't want to find out how few friends he reall has??

[forpeace]

*

Online Pope!

*

[JohnFromCensornati]

Obsessive fantasies regarding imaginary friends can isolate people from real interaction with the world and deepen their ignorance by excluding rational, science-based thoughts.

[discourse jockey]

Sorry what? Wasn't paying attention, just edited the evolution article at Conservapedia to make it conform to Creationis­t-Christia­n dogma...

[mexamerican]

is he warning his fellow priests? they might be using it to fish for kiddies.