The Catholic Church engages with the internet in a variety of ways in order to enhance the community as well as remain connected with the digital world. In the lecture by Dr. Heidi Campbell at the University of Perugia on April 18, 2019, Campbell divides the internet into three sub-sections, including digital entrepreneurs, digital spokespersons, and digital strategists. Digital entrepreneurs, or tech pioneers, “shape religious discourse and practice due to notoriety of their online work.” These people begin by sharing religious information on the internet which evolves into something greater than themselves. Digital spokespeople function as representatives of the Church through digital media online. Lastly, digital strategists are “prosumers leveraging web to mobilize new public ministry.” These three types of creators shape the religious content seen on the internet.
After scrolling through catholic.org, it is clear that the website promotes an educational and participatory perspective of the Catholic faith and Church. The home page provides links to the daily reading, links to purchase a Bible, and calendar updates while the sidebar includes a link to free Catholic classes, prayers, news, and more. The website is very simple and easy to navigate, making it a user-friendly for any and all generations. The information given is not persuasive nor is it in your face about promoting the Church, instead it provides resources for someone who is seeking out the faith and needs further guidance. The creators of this website are most similar to the digital spokespeople mentioned in the lecture. Rather than a single individual running a blog or new-site, this website is sponsored by a nonprofit organization called Your Catholic Voice Foundation. They represent the Catholic Church through digital media online in a positive and informative way.
As technology continues to evolve and the internet becomes a part of our daily lives, the Catholic Church has found a place for itself in this digital age. The digital spokespeople who facilitate catholic.org created a corner on the internet for information and guidance regarding the Catholic faith to reach an audience of believers, and/or people seeking it out.