Inter Mirifica - Changing World of Communication

Inter Mirifica the Vatican II Decree on the means of Social Communication, offer important insights and instruction on the proper use of the “means of social communication,” including the press, movies, radio, and television. The principles of the document can easily extend to the Internet, smart phone applications, and other modern channels of communication. Much has changed in the world of social communications since the promulgation 50 years ago of Inter Mirifica (The Means of Social Communication), the Second Vatican Council’s decree that addressed the concerns and problems associated with the media. But the document has been effective, and the topics it discusses have been further developed in other Vatican writings over the last five decades, as media has rapidly advanced.

“Communication has, always been and will continue to be central to the life of the Church, but sometimes it’s so central and part of what we do that we take it for granted,” said Msgr. Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. “What Inter Mirifica did was to start an effort to give more explicit attention to the importance of communication and invite people not just to communicate spontaneously, but to reflect on what they were doing.” Promulgated on Dec. 4, 1963, the decree urges the Church “without delay and with the greatest effort” to make effective use of the media in various apostolic endeavours. It argues that it is within the Church’s birthright to use the means of social communication in the pursuit of preaching the Gospel of salvation. It stresses the need for morality in media, that social communication be correct, honest and accurate. And it underlines the responsibility of the individual to be watchful of their own well-being, ensuring that the media is not causing themselves “spiritual harm.” Inter Mirifica further encourages the creation of a “truly Catholic press,” with the clear purpose of “forming, supporting and advancing public opinion” in accordance with the natural law and Catholic teachings. It also devotes considerable space to underlining the need for the Church to assist Catholic media in terms of financial, technical and episcopal support.

Pontifical Council Documents

1959 - Statuto Filmoteca vaticana

1971 - Communio et progressio pastoral Instruction on means of SC

1973 - An appeal to all contemplative religious

1989 - Pornography and violence in the communications Media A pastoral Response

1989 - Criteria for Ecumenical and Interreligious cooperation in communications

1992 - Aetatis novae A Revolution in Human communications

1995 - 100 years of cinema

1997 - Ethics in Advertising

2000 - Ethics in communication

2002 - Ethics in Internet

2002 - The Church and Internet

The Council suggested the establishment of a World Communications Day, a day to pray and reflect about the future and the present problems with media. It was recommended that meetings involving media professionals be instituted to explore ways to press for progress in media. Thus, as was the case with ancient works of art, the name of the Lord may be glorified by these new discoveries in accordance with those words of the Apostle: “Jesus Christ, yesterday and today, and the same forever.”

Sr. Aruna SABS