The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet

by Brandon Vogt

Overview

We're experiencing the biggest communication shift since the printing press. Millions have adopted Facebook, YouTube, blogs, and Twitter. What does this mean for the Church? How can Christians harness these new tools to reach out, teach, cultivate community, and change the world?

Following Pope Benedict's call to evangelize the "digital continent," The Church and New Media explores the power and risks of New Media, while guiding Christians through this new environment.

Foreword by Cardinal Seán O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap.

Afterword by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

Expert contributors include:

• Father Robert Barron
• Jennifer Fulwiler
• Lisa Hendey
• Father Dwight Longenecker
• Thomas Peters
• Mark Shea
• Matt Warner

"The Church and New Media is the best kind of reading: timely, vivid, and rich in valuable information. For anyone seeking to understand and use today's new technologies in advancing the Catholic Faith, this book is an unsurpassed resource."
– Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver

100% of the royalties from this book will be used to establish school computer labs throughout the Archdiocese of Mombasa, Kenya.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592760336
Publisher:	Our Sunday Visitor, Publishing Division
Publication date:	08/15/2011
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Brandon Vogt is a writer and speaker who blogs about theology, technology, social justice, and books at ThinVeil.net. He heads the social-justice commission and teaches in his parish's adult-formation program. Brandon works as a mechanical engineer and lives with his wife and two children in Casselberry, Florida.

Table of Contents

Foreword Cardinal Sean O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap. 11

Introduction The Digital Continent Brandon Vogt 15

Part 1 Put Out Into the Deep: New Media and Evangelization

Chapter 1 The Virtual Areopagus: Digital Dialogue With the Unchurched Father Robert Barron 25

Word on Fire 32

Catholics Come Home 37

Chapter 2 Into the Light: Sharing the Spiritual Journey Jennifer Fulwiler 45

Online Conversion Stories 50

One Billion Stories 53

Chapter 3 Speaking Their Language: Connecting With Young Adults Marcel LeJeune 57

Busted Halo 60

Spirit Juice Studios 65

Part 2 That the World May Know: New Media and Formation

Chapter 4 Modern Epistles: Blogging the Faith Mark P. Shea 73

Popular Catholic Bloggers 80

Blogging Clergy 84

Chapter 5 New Wineskins: Fresh Presentations of Ancient Tradition Taylor Marshall 89

Podcasting the Faith 92

Old Content, New Mediums 96

Chapter 6 Digital Discourse: The New Apologetics Father Dwight Longenecker 99

Called to Communion 102

Online Apologetics 105

Devin Rose 108

Part 3 Fostering the Flock: New Media and Community

Chapter 7 Innovative Shepherding: New Media in the Diocese Scot Landry 113

Jeff Geerling 119

The Digital Vatican 124

Chapter 8 High-Tech Community: New Media in the Parish Matt Warner 131

Angela Santana 139

Parish Websites and Social-Media Guidance 144

Chapter 9 That They May Be One: Cultivating Online Community Lisa M. Hendey 149

Faith and Family Connect 153

Catholic New Media Community 156

Part 4 To the Ends of the Earth: New Media and the Common Good

Chapter 10 Changing the World: New Media Activism Thomas Peters 163

CatholicVote.org 166

Our Catholic Faith in Action 169

Catholic Relief Services 173

Chapter 11 Moving Mountains: Building a Digital Movement Shawn Carney 177

Fathers for Good 180

Reel Love Challenge 183

Fulton Sheen's Cause for Canonization 186

Conclusion To Infinity and Beyond: The Future of the Church and New Media Brandon Vogt 190

Afterword Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan 207

Glossary 211

Appendix 214

Acknowledgments 216

Notes 218

Church AndNew Media. com 223

Book Royalties and Computer Project 224