HHS Debate Finds Catholics on the Internet

February 21, 2012Sr. Susan Wolf, SND

The current debate over the HHS mandate requiring insurance coverage of sterilization and contraception has been widely covered over the Internet and social media. Fortunately, Church leaders and many Catholics are also there to present our case for the right to religious freedom directly to the public as well.

Catholics and others have been posting their views on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. They have sent e-letters and posted articles on news sites and blogs.

This is the new world of communications. Those who are using the Internet and social media have a chance to be heard in this world of the 24 hour news cycle. Some Church leaders and many Catholics have already recognized the value of the new media and have adopted these channels as part of their ongoing communication efforts. They are in position to respond to challenges and crises in ways that are timely and unfiltered. They can present their messages directly to the public. This is extremely important for moral and ethical issues, responding to natural and human disasters and teaching the faith. Let this current event be a wake up call to those who are not there.

I attempted to create an article to demonstrate this new use of the Internet and social media by the Church using a free tool called “Storify.” It was not as user friendly as promised and I couldn’t get many of the features to work. However, I was able to create a story and I think it shows how we can be in the public discussion when it comes to faith and values, if we are on the Internet and social media. You can find that story at this link.

Your feedback is always welcome.

Comments (3)

Paula Ruddy

February 21, 2012 at 11:45 am

Wow, Sister Susan, you did storify. It is only one side! There are many Catholics who have been writing that the issue is not one of religious liberty at all. What do you mean “our” story?
Don McCrabb

February 21, 2012 at 1:36 pm

Sr. Susan, you make a very powerful case for the Church taking better advantage of social media because the Church can 1) respond much faster and 2) take their case directly to the public leaving it “unfiltered” by the media. There are, of course, other things to consider:

Notice the importance of how the question is framed. Is this a case of religious freedom or a woman’s right to contraception? Is the story well informed by facts or is it shaped by perceptions? How do we know if the author has done his or her homework and checked sources? Does the press of deadlines eat away at journalistic standards of fairness and independent confirmation?

We need to be in the social media but it is not enough just to show up. We need to be intentional about our message, solid on our facts, and strategic in when, and how often, we present our message.
Sr. Susan Wolf, SND

February 21, 2012 at 2:10 pm

Paula, I said make our “case” (not our story) meaning in the debate over the HHS mandate which is requiring all insurance companies to provide specific services that the Catholic Church is opposed to. My point in this article is not to discuss all perspectives on the debate, but to demonstrate that Catholics who are using the Internet and social media have a chance to be in the discussion and I used the “Storify” tool to show examples of some who are.

Thanks, Don, for your thoughtful insights. You ask very good questions that we all need to keep in mind. I agree “We need to be in the social media but it is not enough just to show up. We need to be intentional about our message, solid on our facts, and strategic in when, and how often, we present our message.”