Apparently B16-why do I always feel like shouting, "Bingo" when hear that- Ratzinger has now given his "blessing" to the use of facebook, twitter etc....

In a related story not 5 minutes later on HLN, a new survey has shown that internet relationships formed on social networking sites lead to a 50% higher chance of, shall we say, "encounters" of an adult nature.  

It's a good thing we now have the papal blessing for this combined with the use of condoms a few weeks back.  The big picture is all coming together now.  :detective:

Blessing a network (FaceBook) that has recently partnered with gαys? I don't think Benedict's intention was to bless FaceBook so that it would be clean of sin. I'm guessing his intention was to bless it so that more people would go there, for whatever reason was running through his head. He should be fighting modernism instead of blessing social networks.

Here's a link to the press release in Italian:

http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/26753.php?index=26753&po_date=24.01.2011&lang=en

I translated it in Google and didn't find any true blessing in it, just talk about the proper use of technology.  I don't find anything heretical in it at all.  Here's the translation:

PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FOR THE 45th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY

At 11.30 am this morning in the John Paul II to the Holy See Press Office, held a press conference to present the message of Pope Benedict XVI for the 45th World Communications Day on the theme "Truth, Reporting and authenticity of life in the digital age. "
Speakers: S.E. Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the Rev.mo Monsignor Paul Tighe, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, the Rev.mo Bishop Giuseppe Antonio Scotti, Assistant Secretary of the Pontifical Council, Dr . Comm Angelo Scelzo, Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council.
We publish below the intervention of the Archbishop President, SE Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli:


INTERVENTION S.E. MONS. Claudio Maria Celli

1. This message is in line with in-depth posts in recent years

• 2007 - Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education.

• 2008 - The media: At the Crossroads between activism and service. Searching for the Truth to share.

• 2009 - New technologies, new relationships. Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.

In 2010, in line with the work of the Synod of Bishops, the message (the priest and pastoral ministry in a Digital World: new media at the service of the Word) had a strong relationship with the proclamation of the Word and the consequent reflection on the need a true pastoral in the digital world.

2. The message of this year begins with a fact now becoming increasingly clear: it is in large measure a real cultural transformation, not only because new technologies are changing the way we communicate but the communication itself.

Is emerging: "A new way of learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities to establish relationships and build community."

3. It is again emphasized the positive nature of what is happening in the communications field.

The Pope speaks of "wonder" in the face of "extraordinary potential" of the Internet, stressing that it shall, if used wisely can "help meet the desire for meaning, truth, and unity which remains the core of the suction human being. "

4. Outlining the issue arising from social networks, please note that it favors the creation of new relationships: a situation that highlights the question of the correctness of one's actions and the authenticity of his being.

5. New technologies offer great opportunities for meeting men, overcoming the limitations of space and culture of belonging, and create the possibility of giving rise to new friendships despite the inevitable risks.

6. The new possibilities offered by modern relational technology highlight how it is now possible not only exchange information but sharing the same vision of the world, of hopes and ideals.

For this reason, even the Pope speaks of "a style of Christian presence in the digital world" style that actually leads to "a form of communication honest and open, accountable and respectful of others."

Therefore, the messages clearly argued that in this context to communicate the Gospel is not only overtly religious place content in different platforms, but also "bear witness constantly, in your profile and digital means of communication, choices, preferences, judgments that are deeply consistent with the Gospel, even when it does not speak in explicit form.

Even in the digital world, "there can be no announcement of a message without a coherent testimony by those who proclaim."

7. "The truth we seek to share does not derive its value from its 'popularity', or the amount of attention it receives." Indeed, "the truth of the Gospel is not something that can be the subject of consumption, or use shallow, but it is a gift that calls for a clear answer."

8. Pope calls on Christians to join with confidence and creativity in an informed and responsible network of the digital age has made possible "because" this network is an integral part of human life. " Indeed, "the Web is helping to develop new and more complex forms of intellectual and spiritual awareness, shared awareness."

9. In this context, "the proclamation of the gospel requires a respectful and discreet form of communication that stimulates the heart and moves the consciousness, a form that recalls the style of the risen Jesus when he made partner in the journey of the disciples of Emmaus."

10. "The truth is that Christ is the answer to that full and authentic report of human desire, and sense of community that emerges in mass participation in various social networks."

For this reason, the believers, their testimony can make valuable contribution "to the web does not become a tool that reduces the person to categories" easily manipulated.

In so doing, believers "encourage everyone to keep alive the eternal questions of man, to prove its desire for transcendence and the longing for forms of authentic life worth living."

11. In the message there is "a new evaluation of the report, considered primarily as a dialogue, exchange, solidarity and creating positive relationships."

It is important that this vision of bringing hope and indicates ways ahead.

12. The Pope connects three important aspects of human life today: the digital communication, self-image and integrity of life. The dynamics of communication in the digital world created new ways to build their own identity, and here is the call of the Holy Father to the consistency, authenticity. He invites us to overcome "the partiality of the interaction, the risk of falling into a kind of construction of self, which can indulge in complacency."

13. The Pope underscores our deep personal responsibility, both in the construction of our "I", both to others:

"The increasing involvement in the public digital arena, leading to establish new forms of interpersonal relationships, affects the perception of self and raises inevitably the question not only the correctness of one's actions, but also the authenticity of his being."

14. "A person is always involved in what it communicates. When people exchange information, are already sharing themselves, their world view, their hopes, their ideals. Thus, there is a style of Christian presence in the world digital: it is expressed in a form of communication honest and open, accountable and respectful of others. "

15. The message speaks of a "Christian style" presence: it is what gives meaning to the title of the message, meaning that the witness of Catholics operators can not be exhausted in the mere discussion of religious themes, but is known to occur at the level of tangible personal testimony. Consistency with the Gospel of life is itself a form of advertisement; explicit communication that makes credible the ad. More than ever, the need to introduce the Gospel in its integrity must manifest itself as a "sign" distinctive of the digital age.