In the aftermath of several attacks on churches in Delhi the social media was abuzz with information, sometimes factually incorrect, having immense potential of vitiating communal harmony (like the shabby treatment supposedly meted out to the archbishop of Delhi). Fortunately the coordinator of Catholic Communication Centre in Mumbai reacted quickly to the situation, issued a clarification in the social media and cautioned Catholics against spreading factually incorrect and unverified information. This writer too received several factually incorrect ‘forwards’ but just one forward retracting the earlier message.
Parishes need to use the social media more effectively as a tool of communication. At present the network in parishes extends to councillors and animators (usually via WhatsApp) but is somewhat lacking in last mile connectivity between animator and grassroot families (approx 8 families per animator). This is a vital link. Today almost every family is accessible on WhatsApp (either through parents or their children). Information can then be disseminated in minutes in the diocese and parish. Also long church announcements, meetings, events, banns of marriage, deaths, urgent blood donation appeals and socially relevant messages may be sent via the free and fast app.
