Media-savvy morality: Vatican spreads the good word

In this modern age where secularization appears to have gained the upper hand, how can Christianity affirm its moral ascendancy?

The higher ground can be accessed by means of social media. Or so believes the Vatican as it goes about reaching a wider audience beyond the pulpit to convey its message. Indeed, it's proof-positive of the Papacy's openness to debunk the doubtful perception that the Catholic is wary of change, especially the blessings of new technology. Recently, the Pope made news as he revealed its new crusade for the church to achieve "an unprecedented level of interaction with Catholics all over the globe."

Now that the Pope is taking and sending messages via Twitter, aside from availing himself both to his flock of devotees and non-believers alike through Vatican's Facebook page, one upside over this attitude is the opportunity to open more widely the possibility for engaging dialogue across a variety of religious faiths, thus extending the chances for ecumenism and world peace in a time when there's nothing more alienating than detachment and exclusivity: fundamentalism and such narrow-minded notions borne out of parochial nationalism.

With more openness, perhaps the Vatican can get more sunlight and dispel the darkness over controversies it tends to hide from the public, such as sexual abuse perpetrated by priests. There's hope, too, that this sense of transparency could stretch the elbow room for discussion on such taboo topics as women finally finding a place under the Vatican sun and becoming priests.

Let there be light, indeed.