ENCOUNTER: JOURNAL OF AFRICAN LIFE AND RELIGION

The “Decree on the Media of Social Communications” Inter Mirifica solemnly promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI in December 4, 1963, is one of the documents of the Second Vatican Council. This conciliar document is divided into two brief chapters: ‘On the teaching of the Church’ and ‘on the pastoral activity of the Church’; with ‘introduction’ and ‘appendices’ preceding and following the two chapters. By way of introduction, the document started by acknowledging the tremendous technological discoveries, which, as they were, are products of the great talents exhibited by men and women of the modern era and made possible by the grace of God. These discoveries did uncover new avenues of communicating most readily news, views and teachings of every sort. The most important inventions include the press, movies, the radio, and television, which cover many people, and for which they are called the media of social communication. This acknowledgement goes a long way to rid technology of any reductionist depiction as though it was evil. Instead, it shows that men and women of the modern era have lived up to the injunction to guard the earth by creating things that ease life, make positive progress and contribute to the spread and support of the Kingdom of God. However, the Church also acknowledges that when misused, some technological innovations can harm society. That is why she beckons on the laity to strive to instil a human and Christian spirit into the media, so that they may be by the great expectations of humanity and God’s design.

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