Vatican asks nuns: less social media, more contemplation

The Vatican has asked nuns to spend less time on social media and more time in prayer and contemplation. The request follows consultation with many of the Church's 38,000 cloistered nuns who have found it to be a concern in their communities. 

The Church encourages social media, but with sobriety and discretion, and in moderation.

Highlights

By Marshall Connolly (Catholic Online)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
5/17/2018 (7 years ago)

Published in Vocations

Keywords: nuns, social media, prayer, contemplation

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The Vatican has asked its cloistered nuns to spend less time on social media and more time in prayer and contemplation. 

The request was issued by the Vatican on Thursday and reflects Pope Francis' Apostolic Constitution, issued in 2016. 

There are about 38,000 cloistered nuns in the Church. Cloistered nuns live isolated from the world and rarely venture out. Their job is to live a prayerful and contemplative life. They are allowed to use social media, but only in moderation. And the Church asks that they use it with 'sobriety and discretion.'

Social media is designed to be addictive, and so some people can become hooked on it. When the use of social media interferes with responsibilities, then it is a problem. 

The Vatican's request comes after consultations with many nuns in the Church. It is apparent there are complaints among the communities of some individuals using social media to excess. 

The Church has embraced social media as a way to engage with others and to help people to lead better lives. It can also be a channel through which the Church can help people to discern vocations. 

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