Vatican invites Catholics to use Internet

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican urged Roman Catholics to use the Internet to spread the faith while warning them about pitfalls such as online pornography in two documents released Thursday.

The Holy See touted the Internet's potential and pointed out its problems, including "hate sites, the dissemination of rumor and character assassination under the guise of news."

Overall -- and despite its dark side -- the Vatican portrayed the Internet as an opportunity not to be missed as it seeks to strengthen and widen its following around the globe in Christianity's third millennium.

The Internet "is an opportunity and a challenge and not a threat," said Archbishop John P. Foley, who leads the Vatican's communications network.

Foley acknowledged the Internet is not always used for noble ends, even by those within the church.

A priest in rural Spain was arrested this month on suspicion of involvement in an Internet child pornography ring that also served as an electronic forum for child abusers to exchange experiences.

While asserting that government censorship should be avoided, the Vatican, in one of the documents, said "the Internet is no more exempt than other media from reasonable laws against hate speech, libel, fraud, child pornography" and other offenses.

It called industry self-regulation the "best" option.

The Vatican also staked out a role in developing and monitoring the Internet. It said it aims to "emphasize that the Catholic church, along with other religious bodies, should have a visible, active presence on the Internet and be a partner in the public dialogue about its development."

The Vatican said it was encouraging its flock, from bishops to parents, to monitor the quality of Internet content and guide young people in embracing it.

"The Internet can unite people, but it also can divide them, both as individuals and as mutually suspicious groups separated by ideology, politics, possessions, race and ethnicity, intergenerational differences, and even religion," said the document, entitled "Ethics in Internet."

"Already it has been used in aggressive ways, almost as a weapon of war, and people speak of the danger of 'cyber-terrorism,"' the document said.