Challenge of the Media

“We live in an epoch which puts a premium on sincerity. And yet , our era has become known as the time of impostors, of falsehood and lying. Among others, the list of impostors includes those member of the press, who spread scandalous indiscretions and slanderous insinuations, appeal to people’s lowest instincts, gradually corrupting their moral sense. To the press one could add movies, radio, television. These instruments useful in themselves, when handled by shrewd operators bombard people with sound and colors and hidden persuasion, which is all the more effective because of being hidden. Such media are capable of little by little making the best fathers hated by their children, of making white seem black and vice versa. This is how the habits of thought and the customs of people are being transformed today. Whenever possible, we should use the means of communication to give sound doctrine to society as a whole.

We should stress those ideas which have a transcendental importance for social progress: the defense of life from its conception; the dignity of the family and of the person; social justice; the right to work, due concern for the weakest members of society….In many cases we can communicate these ideals without difficulty…by writing a Letter to the Editor, by making telephone calls, by participating in opinion polls or on radio programs. These means are available to us for showing our approval of a program or an article that either reinforces fundamental human morality or fails to do so.”