The Church in a Digital World World Communications Day Lecture Paul Tighe London, 5 June 2014

Context Church and Communications Mission – bring Good News to ends of the earth Communication – constitutive human activity, flourishing of society, face future Related – contribution and concern World Communications Day Messages – audiences (all, specialists, believers) Benedict to Francis – digital revolution Francis – promote authentic culture of encounter (nearness, solidarity)

Digital World Revolution/Transformation – cultural, change in communications Identity, relationships and Community (Foresight, Beddington) ‘New media’ – newness, dynamics, evolving, radical Digital is real – must be present Avoid dualism – interpenetration (Jurgenson) Media ‘ecosystem’ – environment, beyond instruments and use

Citizens Good or Bad Positive – gift for humanity, from God (not naïve) Human achievement – User Generated Culture Agency – regulation and individual responsibility Social – intrinsic ethic (Trust) Values/Attitudes – respect, honesty, objectivity, reason, openness, listening Professionals – bad and good, highest standards (price) Culture of Encounter - value other, quality of relationships Dialogue – listening, learning, sharing (more than a tactic) Authenticity

Believers Shared task Giving a soul – integral humanity Questions – not selling, imposing or manipulating Witness – time, walking with others, rule for the pilgrim Sharing source of joy and hope Neighbour – nearness, closeness Good Samaritan – compassion, mercy, tenderness Imitate and Recognize Time to speak – time to let love speak (Deus caritas est, 31)

Language Style – conversational, participative, engagement, listen, converse, encourage Institutional challenge – subsidiarity, devolved interactivity (glocal) Modes – beyond the text, multimedia (beauty), warming hearts Show rather than tell – experience of living (Stained Glass - Facebook, Youtube, apps) Vocabulary - words, icons, rituals (grammar of simplicity) Christ the Perfect Communicator – his words not ours (lectio divina) Vision, values and norms – Yes before No

Conversion Witness/Authenticity – Encounter with Christ Savouring the Word (silence and solitude) – actio segue esse Silence and Solitude Turning other cheek Trust – professional and graced, no complacency yet …. Faith – mustard seed/yeast

Convergence Strategy – convergence not competition Learn by doing – innovate, measure, reflect Networked learning – sharing, refining, adapting Travel light – platforms change Take risks – mol an oige agus tiocfaidh si Organic development – no master plan/no gurus Laity and clergy – penetrate world with Christian spirit/witness to Christ in midst of human society (Gaudium et spes, 43)

Receptivity Anthropological grounds - connection, searching, play, sharing, following Engage – friendship, truth, beauty, self-giving, openness Critique false gods (wealth, power, fame) – truth in love Augustine – only with God will my soul be at rest Nostalgia, yearning Mystery - encounter is personal,no manipulation or engineering

The Church in a Digital World World Communications Day Lecture Paul Tighe London, 5 June 2014