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| Catholicism on the Internet | |
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| Topic Started: Saturday, 30. September 2006, 19:33 (1,604 Views) | |
| Rose of York | Saturday, 30. September 2006, 19:33 Post #1 |
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A few years ago a fellow parishioner reacted in horror when I told her I contributed to a discussion forum run by "The Universe" Catholic newspaper. "That's dangerous" she protested. "My husband goes on the internet but I want nothing to do with it." However much I tried to explain the lady would not accept there is any means of knowing Joe Kelly's site is genuinely sponsored by a perfectly reputable Catholic publishing company. I found it very sad because the lady is very bright and would probably enjoy internet access to conversations, Catholic news and online sermons - all of which are available on The Universe site. That's my plug for our friends on The Universe site. Can we chat about what we as Catholics have gained (or lost???) from internet usage during the past week? |
  Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 30. September 2006, 19:49 Post #2 |
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During the past week I gained: 1 The pleasure of telling Mr Mac Sweeney to get a new site up and running asap. 2 Appreciation from site members, for the provision of a new home for this forum, after cyber vandals had ruined its predecessor. 3 Online sermons. Our parish priest preaches well. In my last parish I would have needed online sermons because we never got "real ones" at Mass. 4 Updates, by email, from two friends who ask to be included in Cyberforum Prayer Requests. 5 Stimulating company on this forum, with serious discussion, chat and a few laughs. 6 Appreciation from members after the moderators had pulled together compiling membership lists, contacting people, and starting the new forum off with a few topics, in readiness for welcoming our friends (members) back home. 7 Daily emails from Independent Catholic News and The Universe, keeping me in touch with Catholic News at home and overseas. 8 A sight of beautiful Christian paintings, much valued because we who live out in the sticks rarely visit Art Galleries. 9 A boost to family life, with the receipt of emails from grandchildren, saying "Thank you for giving us such a lovely day out and for looking after us and giving us such lovely food and how is the dog?" I am reassured their parents are handing down good manners and respect. 10 An opportunity to submit, to a Diocesan newspaper, a brief article without getting wet going out to the post. There's plenty more. Ten will do for the time being. What did you, as a Catholic, gain from internet access during the past week? Contributions will be gratefully received. |
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| Karin | Saturday, 30. September 2006, 20:08 Post #3 |
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We are very blessed to have these forums, especially THIS one. It keeps our faith alive and fresh, we have the opportunity to talk about Catholic issues, personal issues, pray with and for one another and just being friends. That means alot and we would never be able to do this without the Internet forums. |
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Karin Hvaljen Isus i Marija. Kraljica Mira, moli za nas. "Praised be Jesus and Mary. Queen of Peace, Pray for Us." | |
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| MickCook | Saturday, 30. September 2006, 20:51 Post #4 |
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Well honestly, I don't know! Imagine the poor dear's horror at learing that the Vatican is on the Internet... I mean, the VATICAN !!!! Not to mention all those religious orders. Imagine the Internet over-run by Nuns !!! Boggles the mind! |
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:) Mick The Cook Companies | |
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 30. September 2006, 21:13 Post #5 |
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The poor dear would say "How can I believe that is the genuine site of the Vatican?" Poor dear, my eye. She is married to a highly qualified (retired) professional and I suspect she had an education every bit as good as his. Now she labels herself as "just a housewife. I leave all responsibility to my husband." What a shame. They are both very intelligent, and in their early eighties. If she is the survivor of the two, the internet could, one day, be her main contact with the outside world. |
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| Patrick | Saturday, 30. September 2006, 21:53 Post #6 |
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 Has she been on there before herself? |
  
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 30. September 2006, 22:08 Post #7 |
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Now now Mister Mac Sweeney. The lady did not say the site run by the Universe is dangerous. She thought I was in danger for taking it for granted the site is genuinely owned by a Catholic. Just thought I would put Joe right in case he pops in, reads your posting (above) and not my praise of his site.
Hiya Joe. 
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| PJD | Sunday, 1. October 2006, 16:05 Post #8 |
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There seems to me to be two sides to the Internet. First, the social side which acts as a replacement for formal, narrowly-led parish meetings, which are invariably fixed at times in the evenings when anyone sensible will not attempt to travel. And, not being horrible about it, the Internet means that you don’t have to sit opposite, converse with etc., those who for no logical reason you just aren’t going to gell with. And when I come to think of it carefully, the actual Church atmosphere (e.g. before/after Mass) is much nearer to that contained within forums than it is within the surrounds of a ‘how nice to see you again’ social meeting accompanied by the inevitable furniture of tea, cake, and smiling niceties. Reading this, I do sound a bit horrible. Second, the discussional side which in fact replaces something that was never there in the parish in the first place! And what was there, if it was, was generally supervised by one priest or another; or if not controlled by one committee or another; anyone daring to issue the odd dissension or two guaranteed to immediately produce the classic ‘I’m not with you’ frown and ‘let’s get on with things gentlemen’ dismissal. And as for theology; never discussed. I think I had better stop now. PJD |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 1. October 2006, 16:17 Post #9 |
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Please continue. :D |
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| Patrick | Sunday, 1. October 2006, 16:43 Post #10 |
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PJD, you make some interesting observations. Please do continue, my friend. I promise you'll not be excommunicated and grant you diplomatic immunity... 
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| Karin | Sunday, 1. October 2006, 18:21 Post #11 |
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But you know what, PJD? Our forum IS one of the best places we can be. We are free to ask those questions no one will actually sit down and discuss at the parish level. We can discuss theology, the problems with clustering, our own spiritual journeys, the need for prayer, funny things, smart things, you name it, we have the potential to find answers here within our group for topics everyone else is either too busy to really discuss or even broach. We may not agree together on all topics nor should we, but we have the ability to ASK, to answer, to learn about and discuss. We have a wonderful gift in front of us each day. We are blessed with our Internet forum(a) and with our friendship in Christ. |
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Karin Hvaljen Isus i Marija. Kraljica Mira, moli za nas. "Praised be Jesus and Mary. Queen of Peace, Pray for Us." | |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 1. October 2006, 18:28 Post #12 |
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On this forum there is absolutely nobody who "does everything because nobody else is willing and my mother and father and my grandparents before them had to do everything and that is why our family get Bishop's medals."
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| PJD | Monday, 2. October 2006, 13:32 Post #13 |
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Just a point of interlude…… We all know only too well that the Internet will not be going away, and as much as some ‘established’ forces might have bewailed its coming, to ignore it would obviously be to their eventual disadvantage. Their problem doesn’t lie in the instrument itself but with a natural instinct to cling to the familiar and regard ‘new upstarts’ with some apprehension. Discussion forums are relatively revolutionary in the sense that, not only can visitors cross communicate with speed, but the choice of joining in is open to all. There is a kind of democracy here, different in its universality when compared to other means of dialogue; and it is this very fact that has placed formalized Catholic lay intellegentsia on the back foot – with certain Catholic editors/writers only just beginning to understand and appreciate that, in the long run, to ignore this phenomena is to invite their own redundancy. Everyone is grateful for, and appreciates, the hard work done by the moderators in setting up these particular facilities; and the perusal of contributions, and their possible deletion, is certainly not a quick operation. Moderators not only have their work cut out, but also endure responsibility for making right judgment. Not easy; but the reward is much grace. I have read and sometimes downloaded many intellectual contribution, historical transcriptions, well informed opinion etc.from forum sources – particularly mentioning the lower house – and would like to return sometime to this subject in relation to ‘forum academia’. PJD |
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| denis | Monday, 23. October 2006, 23:57 Post #14 |
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The question is though, How many Catholics are on, or can afford to be on the Internet? |
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| pat | Tuesday, 24. October 2006, 00:17 Post #15 |
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I was able to look up Mass times for a parish I was visiting last weekend I received a newsletter from the Miraculous Medal society I googled a Spanish-English translation of the Rosary prayers for a lady I visit in hospital I read through some of the argy-bargy on the other place  Apart from this I got a copy of the will of my 6th great grandfather sent to me by a lady in Australia, who downloaded it from the internet. I did some research on why there seems to be a shortage of long grain rice in the supermarkets (GM contamination, apparently) My flatmate, who suffers from agoraphobia and depression, used it as his lifeline to the outside world God bless, Pat |
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