Media
at the Service of Authentic Peace
- Fr. Ambrose Pereira
sdb
World
Communications Day 2003, is to be celebrated on 1st June 2003
and has as its theme Media at the Service of Authentic Peace. The message of Pope John Paul II
released on 24th January, Feast of St. Francis de Sales has several
points for reflection and action for media personnel and those responsible for
communications.
Catholic Communications Solomons organized
a short media meeting to reflect and share on the Holy Fathers message as well
as evaluate the different programmes that they are involved in. The meeting was held on 1st
March, 2003, at Don Bosco Henderson and was attended by Fr. Jack Harris cm,
professor at Holy Name of Mary Seminary; Sr. Margaret Tisch smsm, deputy
principal Bishop Epalle School; Dr. John Roughan, SIDT advisor; Claudius
Horiwapu and Moodie Nanao SIBC personnel, Charles Kadamana, Solomon star, Br.
Henri Ugini fms, Laumanasa; Edna Rivero, Don Bosco; Joe Vidiki, Georgiana
Sogoteé and Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb, Catholic Communications personnel.
Discussions centered around the four areas of: truth,
justice, charity and freedom. There
were suggestions and possibilities put forward. It was felt that in the current
situation there are limits and constraints on expressing the truth. “Opinions and rumours are constantly
being passed around, but there needs to be a balance in reporting” stated Dr.
John Roughan. Fr. Jack Harris
expressed his frustration at the lack of follow-up to stories. He also suggested a trained media
personnel could approach persons and interview them on issues and
happenings. Claudius Horiwapu
mentioned the different programmes of the past involved people at grass root
levels. “These programmes have been
stopped due to lack of funds”, he said.
Moodie Nanao highlighted the fact that a two-way communication is most
necessary if the message is to reach the people. Charles Kadamana voicing the sentiments
of the others was happy that there are church items in the paper. “Education”, stated Fr. Ambrose, “gives
persons a broader understanding of events and happenings and the relationship
between them. It is only with a
broad base that we can grow and develop”.
Joe Vidiki and Georgiana were praised for involving persons and producing
programmes that inspire persons live good lives. Media Education and other
long term initatives were also discussed.
“Catholic Communications has been able to
run its many programmes due to the cooperation of people at various levels. Thanks to our bishops, priests,
animators in the parishes, personnel at Solomon Star and SIBC, the many
benefactors, volunteers and all those who believe in the media,” said Fr.
Ambrose Pereira sdb, Director Catholic Communications as he brought the meeting
to a close. A delicious meal
followed.
World Communications Day
2003
Media
at the Service of Authentic Peace
Celebrated on 1st June 2003
Message of the Holy Father Pope
John Paul II
Introduction: Truth, justice, charity and freedom are
the pillars of a peaceful society pointed out Blessed Pope John XXIII’s
Encyclical Letter "Pacem in terris", forty years ago. Peace, justice, and social stability are
still lacking in many parts of the world. Terrorism, conflict in the Middle East
and other regions, threats and counter-threats, injustice, exploitation, and
assaults upon the dignity and sanctity of human life, both before and after
birth, are dismaying realities of our times.
The power of the media to
shape human relationships and influence political and social life, both for good
and for ill, has increased. Hence the theme: "The Communications Media at the
Service of Authentic Peace in the Light of 'Pacem in terris.”
Media and Truth: is the
fundamental moral requirement of all communication is respect for and service of
the truth. Freedom to seek and speak what is true - facts and information and
the nature and destiny of the human person - regarding society, the common good,
and the relationship with God.
The media often renders
courageous service to the truth; but sometimes they function as agents of
propaganda and disinformation - narrow interests, national, ethnic, racial,
religious prejudices, material greed, and false ideologies of various kinds.
Media personnel have to resist these pressures, but also by Church and other
concerned groups.
Media and Justice:
The universal human good - "the good, that is, of the whole human family"- in
which every individual and all peoples have a right to share.
Media carries with it
special responsibilities. It often belong to particular interest groups, private
and public, the very nature of their impact on life requires that they must not
serve to set one group against another - class conflict, exaggerated
nationalism, racial supremacy, ethnic cleansing, and the like. Setting some
against others in the name of religion is a failure against truth and justice,
as these belong to the deepest realm of the human person's dignity and freedom.
It is the task of the media
to accurately report events, explain issues and diverse points of view, so that
grievances and divisions can be understood and healed.
Media and Freedom:
Freedom is a precondition of true peace and one of its most precious fruits. The
media serve freedom by serving truth: they obstruct freedom when they depart
from what is true by publishing falsehoods or creating a climate of unsound
emotional reaction to events. When people have free access to true and
sufficient information can they pursue the common good and hold public authority
accountable.
The media enjoys a privileged status. Reporters and commentators in particular
have a grave duty to follow the demands of their moral conscience and to resist
pressures to "adapt" the truth to satisfy the demands of wealth or political
power.
Ways must be found to give
the weaker sectors of society access to the information which they need for
their individual and social development, and ensure that they are not excluded
from having an effective and responsible role in deciding media content and
determining the structures and policies of social communications.
Media and Love: "The anger of man does not work the righteousness
of God" (James 1:20). True peace among nations must depend not on the possession
of an equal supply of weapons, but solely upon mutual trust" ("Pacem in terris,"
113).
The communications media
have an immense role to play in building trust. They can create the positive or
negative public reaction to events, which suits their purposes. This enormous
power calls for the highest standards of commitment to truth and goodness. Thus,
men and women of the media are especially bound to contribute to peace in all
parts of the world by breaking down the barriers of mistrust, fostering the
point of view of others, and striving always to bring peoples and nations
together in mutual understanding and respect - to reconciliation and mercy!
As men and women of the media
we are challenged by vocation as well as by profession to be agents of truth,
justice, freedom, and love, contributing by their important work to a social
order "founded on truth, built up on justice, nurtured and animated by charity,
and brought into effect under the auspices of freedom" ("Pacem in terris," 167).
That the men and women of the
media will live up to the challenge of their calling in service of the universal
common good. Our personal fulfillment,
the peace and happiness of the world depends on this.
From the Vatican, 24 January 2003, the Feast of Saint
Francis de Sales
IOANNES PAULUS II
