Communications Can Renew the Church

Communications Can Renew The Church Being in Europe I was struck by a general lack of interest among Catholics in the Church. With many other pre-occupations, church going or frequenting the sacraments had become almost secondary for many people on Sundays-1 asked myself «s the way the C hutch presents herself has something to do with this? Secondly, over the years 1 have kit that among many Catholics, communications meant media and technology and all the negative elements that come with these. And (malty, being in communications 1 have often (elt.il communications is clearly understood and practiced, it can help build communities of faith, it can contribute to renewing the t hnrch. This book is an attempt to look into these issues and suggest ways how communications can help renew the ( luttvh. Written lucidly, without too profound theological or abstract philosophical concepts, the book is a reflection on the catholic t hut ch's involvement in communication at ion and media and suggests a new eeclestology that is more participative, communication and empowering the communities. fr. Jacob Srampickal, SJ, has a doctorate in Development t ommunk at ion (torn the I 'nivrrsitv o( I ee, Is, 1 ngland, f- ' and has authored several books including: I hiderstandiug * i » ( oimnuuicatiou (1982), Voice to the Voiceless, iWer of JjgP People's Theatre (1994). Babel to Habtt Mas,id and * IVvond (.'OO.V), Cross Connections: Interdisctplmajy contmtinic.it ton sttubes; 2.005), I Jtutei standing I >rvfioputrnt Communication (2007). As president o| I 'ttua/OCK(Signis) the international communication association of the Church in India (199,) 08) and in Asia (PHM 2001), he was the inspiration behind the establishment of the National Institute of Social Communications, Research and I raining (NlSt'OKI )ol t he ( itluiln Bishops'( ouhunc. ot India in New Delhi, and was its co foundri, I lv is presently the Directot of the Communications Programme at the Pontifical 1 m-goti in Uuiverstty in Rome. 1 lis areas of interest include; Media - Religion ( tiltute, Media 1 ithi.es,. 1 .Vveiopment 1 'omintutivat ton, Media 1 ducat ton, 1 'astorai ('ommtnucattons etc. Contents Abbreviations Acknowledgement Foreword Introduction Part I Introductions 1 Understanding Communication, Media,Communications 2. Importance of Communication and Media for Church Today Part II Situation on the Ground 3. The Public Image of the Church 4. Why do Catholics in the West Abandon the Church? 5. Why are Catholics Afraid of Being Progressives? 6. Why Is the Church Hesitant to Communicate? Pat III Theological perspectives of communications 7. Theology and Communication 8. Developing a Theology Conversan with Today's Cultures 9. Contextual Theologies as Attempts to Communicate Theology 10. Better Inculturation for better Evangelization: An Indian analysis 11. Centrality of Communication in formation: the Interdisciplinary training approach Part IV Catholic Church from a Communication Point of Vie 12. Witnessing as the Best Communication 13. Lay Participation in the Church 14. How can Communications Help Renew Parish Life? 15. BECs and Communications 16. What do We Communicate Through Our Social Work? 17. Communications for Inter-religious Relations 18. Popular Religions as Signs of Genuine Communication Part V Catholic Church from a Media Point of View 19 Evaluating Catholic Church's Contribution to Media 20. Contextualized Media Education 21. Catholic Schools: Surviving in the Media Age 22. Opportunities and Challenges for Parish Communications in the Internet Age Part VI Communications for Renewing the Church 23. Communications Challenges for Today's Church 24. Mastering Communications in the Church 25. Media : the New Areopagus 26. Communications can Renew the Church - the Possibilities Appendices A . Suggested Syllabus for Introducing Communications in Formation B. Communication Dimension in the Diocesan Pastoral Plan C. Selected Bibliography D. Other books by the same author