Vatican welcomes Catholic bloggers

May 03, 2011

Catholic bloggers from around the world met in Rome on May 2 for an unprecedented Vatican blogging "summit."

The 150 invited guests received encouragement from Vatican officials at the meeting, which was organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

The meeting was designed as a get-acquainted session rather than an attempt to set standards for blogging. However, many speakers offered their own thoughts on the appropriate approach for Catholics engaged in blogging. Elizabeth Scalia, an American blogger, cited the need to guard against an "us and them" attitude, saying that Catholics "have not business fostering enemies." Father Roderick Vonhogen, a Dutch priest and blogger, said that print journalists should become accustomed to seeing bloggers use their news stories. "If they steal some of your content, as long as you put out quality, you will make it," he said.

Thomas Peters, another prominent American blogger, urged Vatican officials to ensure that bloggers receive advance copies of Vatican documents. Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, replied that his staff is working with bishops' conferences to ensure timely release of news.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Church needs blogs, bloggers need church, say meeting participants (CNS)