In a message for World Communications Day, May 20, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI called on parents, teachers and the Church to expose children to media education to develop their skills in choosing media products.

Reflecting on the theme: Children and the media: a challenge for education, the Pope said parents have a right and duty to ensure the prudent use of the media by training the conscience of their children to express sound and objective judgements to guide them in choosing or rejecting programmes.

“In doing so, parents should have the encouragement and assistance of schools and parishes in ensuring that this difficult, though satisfying aspect of parenting is supported by the wider community,” he said.

“This heartfelt wish of parents and teachers to educate children in the ways of beauty, truth and goodness can be supported by the media industry … to promote human dignity, the true value of marriage and family life and the positive achievements and goals of humanity.”

The local observance of World Communications Day 2007 will be marked by the celebration of a special Mass today, Sunday, May 20, a visit by Paul A Soukup SJ, next month and the launch of an annual media award to be conferred by the Archdiocesan Commission for Communications (ACC) in collaboration with the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT).

Today’s Mass, the theme of which is Communication for the Common Good, will start at 5.00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart RC Church, Richmond Street, Port of Spain.  Msgr Cuthbert Alexander, Episcopal Vicar for Communications will preside.

Paul Soukup holds a doctorate in communications and is the author of numerous articles and publications on various aspects of communication. He is currently an associate professor in the Communications Department at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California.