Social Media

Privacy is an important consideration, and care should be taken about displaying contact details on any social networking site.

While we might like to argue that we have a private account on Facebook or Twitter, nothing online is ever completely private. Keep in mind that if you are not comfortable with your employer, your bishop, or your parish priest reading your post, simply put: don’t post it. In particular, photos should never be posted without the express permission of the person being photographed or their guardian.

Those who engage in social networking as part of their Church ministry should do so in the name of evangelisation

General advice for social networking

The Church in Australia, both officially and unofficially has members on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google +, and Pinterest. To varying degrees, each of these networks can be used for the promotion of the Gospel message. As an appendix to this document, there is a short description of each of these networks in the document “The Social Networks” and how they might be used by Church personnel.

The following points are relevant to all of the different social networks

• Those working in a youth ministry or other Church capacity which could involve social networking should seek permission from a Diocesan leader (Bishop, Business Manager, or Communications Manager) before engaging in this area, and establish clear boundaries in ministry-based relationships.
• Bishops conference agencies are encouraged to have a social media present, however, it is not appropriate for an advisory council or a taskforce established by a bishops’ commission to develop a Facebook page or a Twitter account. Their social media engagement should always take place through the agency with which they have liaison.
• Clergy, Church workers or religious who use social networking sites in a professional capacity should keep this distinct from a private capacity and care should be taken in accepting or adding ‘friends’. There is great potential for a blurring of boundaries in the social networking field.
• Those Church organisations which wish to engage officially in social networking activities might choose do so as a group, and found a page which can be administered by a number of people. This system does not prevent Church workers from having their own personal profiles; it simply places a clear line between personal and work. This can also remove any ambiguity about friendship relationships or ministry relationships.
• The use of photographs or videos should be carefully considered. Where possible, photographic release forms should be signed, and permissions should be sought from all who appear in photographs or videos before being posted or tagged. For example, if holding an event, it is useful to announce at the beginning if a photographer will be present, and where photos may end up. Then people who are uncomfortable about their photos appearing can mention this to the organisers.
• Church networking activities should be monitored by a third-party where possible, and where this is difficult, the Church worker should refer to the underlying principles and teaching of the Church. Commentaries appearing on social networking sites of a rude or offensive nature or those which are vulgar or which could be interpreted as bullying should be removed immediately

We must remember, as Pope Francis reminds us, that not all parts of the world have the same access. Some live in poverty, others live in remote areas with limited access to technology. Hearing others talk about their social networking experiences can be profoundly isolating for those unable to take part. Social Networking should never replace authentic human relationships, but rather enhance them.

As we are reminded in this year’s message for World Communications Day, our use of technology should never be the cause of relationship breakdown, particularly in that most important of relationships, with our families.

“Families should be seen as a resource rather than as a problem for society. Families at their best actively communicate by their witness the beauty and the richness of the relationship between man and woman, and between parents and children. We are not fighting to defend the past. Rather, with patience and trust, we are working to build a better future for the world in which we live.” (World Communications Day 2015)

There is much to be discovered on social media, and ways in which we can use it to enhance our endeavours as a Church. The Catholic Church has a rich and beautiful message to share, and we should make use of these networks in the best way possible.

Beyond this policy, the Communications team of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has worked to develop a number of resources, which may assist in the area of social networking. At www.catholic.org.au, there are free downloads, written information as well as some tips for your organisation

The following information is taken largely from the book “Tweet others as you would wish to be tweeted | A scripture-based guide to social media for the Church” a book written specifically to address some of the issues around social media for the Church, to coincide with the World Communications Day 2015. It is available as an eBook or hard copy at www.catholic.org.au.

It is important to mention before defining these social networks some of the difficulties that can arise in using them in a Church-based or pastoral setting.

Social media is, by nature, social. At its best it can generate conversations and sharing between people of different social backgrounds, cultures, faiths and other walks of life. It’s important, however, that Church representatives engage in respectful conversations, and do not allow their social media spaces to be used for conversations that fail to respect the dignity of others or which might be seen to promote teachings contrary to the Catholic faith.

Ways of avoiding these pitfalls include changing privacy settings on sites such as Facebook to prevent unwanted posts, reviewing posts before they are made public, deleting and not responding to inflammatory messages.

Indeed, while one might not expressly post information on their Facebook page or Tweet something about the Church, there are still ways in which conversations or private messages between two parties might be contrary to the position of the Church.

Care should be taken, across social media that the dignity of our office is preserved and that Gospel values are communicated