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austraLasia #1974

Pope Benedict's theme for World Communications Day 2008 attracts comment by philosophers

ROME: 2nd November 2007 -- "Social Communications media: at the crossroads between being champions of their own ideas, and service. Seeking the Truth in order to share it". Thus runs an unofficial translation of the Pope's theme, originally phrased in Italian, contrasting 'protagonismo' and 'service'.  as the word 'protagonism' does not actually exist in English or, in those few dictionaries that allow it, means something other than what the Pope clearly intends, I have chosen 'champions of their own ideas' to express that intention. (jbf)
    The recently appointed head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, comments that it invites 'reflection on the role of the media in relation, especially, to the ever present risk that the media become self-referencing and no longer instruments at the service of truth, a truth which is to be sought and shared'.
    WCD, the only World Day set in place by Vatican Council II (Inter Mirifica, 1963), is celebrated in many countries, though not all, on the Sunday before Pentecost (which in 2008 will mean the 4th May). The actual message expounding the theme will be released by the Pope on the Feast of St Francis de Sales, patron of journalists, on 24th January.  On this day, or around that time, Salesian communities around the world are encouraged (cf. 'Salesian, Communicator', the Handbook on Social Communications, easily available in the SDL English collection under Social Communications) to gather local media people to show support,  and to take action in an area which was one of Don Bosco's charismatic priorities.
    The 2008 theme has already begun to attract comment by philosophers, who are showing interest in this recall to action by way of service. The 'gifting' philosophy has become a point of much reflection in secular journals dedicated to media and cultural reflection (cf., for example First Monday online). An Italian philosopher, Gaspare Mura, has already offered comment on the Pope's WCD 2008 theme, saying it recalls the thinking of great intellectuals like Karl Popper, Hans Georg Gadamer and Giovanni Sartori, particularly Popper's view that 'there is no freedom without education to understanding, and responsibility'. Education and freedom are key words for liberal society in the truest sense of that term'.  Francesco Casetti, head of the communications department at MIlan's Catholic University, says the theme calls for a huge educational effort on the part of those insititutions, Catholic or otherwise, which prepare people to work in media.

     _________________ 
 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xml Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org

List of Articles
No. Category Subject Views
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1989 GIA 1989_VIDES Japan opens Bosco Bakery School in Siem Reap Cambodia 579
1988 India 1988_Don Bosco Skills Training Centre Ahungalla Sri Lanka 424
1987 Cambodia 1987_The Don Bosco Foundation of Cambodia 447
1986 PGS 1986_Voice Katolika's "valuable insights into challenges and opportunities for Church media" 515
1985 FMA 1985_FMA Philippines and Papua New Guinea Provincial Chapter 563
1984 FIN 1984_North Philippines: Symposium on lay and religious missionary formation 522
1983 World 1983_In the interests of fairness.... and in a spirit of rejoicing over the Beatification of Ceferino Namancurá 347
1982 FIN 1982_FIN: Salesian Family Commission Spirituality Weekend (and other Salesian Family matters) 571
1981 World 1981_Readers' questions about .....Zefferino, Zeferino, Zeffirino, Ceferino, and so on and so forth 430
1980 FIS 1980_Business As Usual in Pakistan… 452
1979 PGS 1979_DBTI - SI: Salesian Sisters help conduct retreats 522
1978 FIN 1978_Brothering for life 503
1977 Cambodia 1977_Honest citizens, good Muslims! 371
1976 VIE 1976_Salesians in Vietnam celebrate Mission Day 331
1975 KOR 1975_Death of Korean prenovice 446
» World 1974_Pope Benedict's theme for World Communications Day 2008 attracts comment by philosophers 559
1973 Cambodia 1973_Cambodian journalists of the future 413
1972 AUL 1972_Australian Prime Minister visits St Joseph's College, Ferntree Gully 448
1971 FIS 1971_'Here we help the young help themselves in life' 483
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