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Pope praises Twitter and your 'profound' tweets

Lol! Pontiff tries to get down with the kids, smh!!

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Pope Benedict XVI has given a tentative thumbs-up to micro-blogging sites such as Twitter, but explained to his followers that they may reap more spiritual reward by just piping down a bit online.

In his annual message ahead of the Catholic church’s World Communications Day, the Pontiff chose to focus on the virtue of silence in the modern world - but proved he can also mix with Web 2.0 trendies in a thinly veiled reference to Twitter and its ilk.

“Attention should be paid to the various types of websites, applications and social networks which can help people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation or sharing of the word of God,” he said.

“In concise phrases, often no longer than a verse from the Bible, profound thoughts can be communicated, as long as those taking part in the conversation do not neglect to cultivate their own inner lives.”

However, much of the Pope’s message warned how incessant chatter, especially the sort found online, could be bad for the soul.

“In our time, the internet is becoming ever more a forum for questions and answers – indeed, people today are frequently bombarded with answers to questions they have never asked and to needs of which they were unaware,” he continued.

“If we are to recognise and focus upon the truly important questions, then silence is a precious commodity that enables us to exercise proper discernment in the face of the surcharge of stimuli and data that we receive.”

This is not the first time the techno-Pontiff has used World Communications Day to wax lyrical about the web.

Last year, for example, His Holiness urged Christians to be respectful on social networks and other websites.

Despite his hi-tech credentials, however, the head of the Catholic church (registered users: 1bn+) has just 31,000 followers on Twitter and hasn’t even used the service since 25 December. There must be a lot of lapsed Catholics out there. ®

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Anonymous Coward

Ha!

"Pontiff tries to get down with the kids, smh!!"

Wouldn't be the first time a member of the Roman Catholic Church has tried to "get down with the kids", if you see what I mean...

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Re: So predictable

"I know some people calling themselves Christians have done bad things"

That's not what people took issue with, it's the fact that some of the clergy did some bad things, then some other people decided to move those wrong-doers sideways, then some other people decided to completely ignore the reports of wrong-doing. Then finally, even more people refused to even admit that the wrong-doing even occurred. The higher up you got, the more complicit people were in covering up the abuse.

Even last year in Ireland, the Catholic Church was objecting to legislation that would mean that a priest that is informed of abuse but failed to report it could be convicted of a criminal offence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14707515

On topic - my first thought was, they're trying to be hip, but actually it makes sense. The church's job is to engage with people, and with young people, this currently could be the most effective method.

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Please answer in one tweet

Which is the one true religion, with supporting evidence and why are all the others false?

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