As Catholic Social Media Communicators, we use our digital presence to spread the word of God, educate our page members about the Catholic faith, and share other faith based. Sometimes we may be unsure about the use of a particular content idea, link or graphic.
The key guideline in moderating a religious page, is that whatever you post should align with the teachings of the church. Most of us are generally aware of what the basic teachings are, but for content focused on the more controversial issues such as abortion, same sex marriage and divorce?
Check the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). The Catechism contains the essential and fundamental content of the Catholic faith in a complete and summary way. It presents what Catholics throughout the world believe in common. It presents these truths in a way that facilitates their understanding.
The Catechism presents Catholic doctrine within the context of the Church’s history and tradition. Frequent references to Sacred Scripture, the writings of the Fathers, the lives and writings of the saints, conciliar and papal documents and liturgical texts enrich the Catechism in a way that is both inviting and challenging. There are over three thousand footnotes in the Catechism. You can access an online version of the CCC here.
Check your bible. And not just any bible! Ensure that it is a Catholic bible. Why? Because, Bibles used by Catholics differ in the number and order of books from those typically found in bibles used by Protestants. This is due to Catholic bibles remaining unchanged following the Reformation, thus retaining seven books that were rejected principally by Martin Luther. For a list of Catholic bibles click here. In our archdiocese, along with the English speaking Catholic church, the Jerusalem Bible is used. The only exception being United States which uses the New American Bible.
If you’re still not sure after consulting the CCC and scripture, then talk to a priest. During their time in the seminary, priests study subjects such as Biblical studies, liturgy, ethics, pastoral studies, church history and preaching. A priest can in turn offer guidance and further explanation that can help you as a page moderator formulate content that is aligned to the teachings of the church.
Using these resources, you can have a better understanding of where the church stands, and effectively communicate that position in your Catholic social media content.
Sources:
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-catechism-of-the-catholic-church.cfm
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/bible_versions.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Bible
http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/why-are-catholic-bibles-different/