From Mr C. Buttigieg

Contrary to what implied in the news item entitled “Archbishop against cyberspace” (TMIS, 30 January), Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca sees cyberspace as a marvellous invention with an enormous potential for good.

The article refers to what Toni Sant said about the Archbishop’s comments in a message to journalists on the occasion of the feast day of St Francis de Sales.

It appears that Mr Sant misunderstood the thrust of Mgr Mercieca’s message on the subject.

The Archbishop started by stating that the Church approaches the Internet medium with realism and confidence. Mgr Mercieca added:

“With Internet, the Church sees another powerful and special means to spread the Gospel all over the world. Through Internet, information can be provided and interest stirred or developed regarding the Christian message. This will surely bear fruit with regard to evangelisation.

“Internet, like all other means of communication, can be used for that which is good but it can also be used for that which is bad.

“We all know that, in spite of the enormous potential Internet has, which can serve for the good, there are those who are using the Internet in a way that degrades human beings and causes them harm.

“The immoral use of the Internet is not restricted to pornographic sites or certain teaching that can only create confusion and put at risk those who are immature and therefore more vulnerable. Improper use of the Internet can also lead to situations where one gets carried away when in contact with other people in what is known as ‘chatting’, with the negative consequences this may lead to, not only in one’s personal life, but also in one’s relations with one’s family and/or one’s behaviour with other people.”

Mgr Mercieca would like to assure one and all that he felt the need to dwell on this subject in light of certain incidents that were brought to his attention. He wanted to take this occasion to pass this message to journalists to encourage the local media to contribute towards helping people, especially the young, to be able to make sound evaluations and good choices when using the Internet.

The Archbishop knows that the essence of the Internet is that it provides an almost unending flood of information, much of which often passes in a moment. He also knows that, in a culture which feeds on the ephemeral, there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values. The Internet offers extensive knowledge, but it does not teach values; and when values are disregarded, our very humanity is demeaned and man easily loses sight of his transcendent dignity.

Mgr Mercieca feels that despite its enormous potential for good, some of the degrading and damaging ways in which the Internet is being used must be obvious to all, so one needs to ensure that this marvellous instrument serves the common good and not become a source of harm.

Charles Buttigieg

Public Relations Officer

Archbishop’s Curia