"All communication has a moral dimension," his statement said. "People
grow or diminish in moral stature by the words which they speak and the
messages which they choose to hear."

But the pontiff, whose theme was "The Media and the Family: A Risk and a
Richness" also had some positive words on the media.

"On the one hand, marriage and family life are frequently depicted in a
sensitive manner, realistic but also sympathetic, that celebrates
virtues like love, fidelity, forgiveness, and generous self-giving for
others," he said.

"On the other hand, the family and family life are all too often
inadequately portrayed in the media," John Paul added.

"Infidelity, sexual activity outside of marriage, and the absence of a
moral and spiritual vision of the marriage covenant are depicted
uncritically, while positive support is at times given to divorce,
contraception, abortion and homosexuality. Such portrayals, by promoting
causes inimical to marriage and the family, are detrimental to the
common good of society."

The pope urged "responsible communicators" to resist commercial pressure
and secular ideologies. He also called for regulations to stop the media
from acting against "the good of the family," although he rejected
censorship.

Parents, too, have an important role in controlling the quantity and
nature of media use in the home, John Paul said.

"Even very young children can be taught important lessons about the
media: that they are produced by people anxious to communicate messages;
that these are often messages to do something - to buy a product, to
engage in dubious behavior - that is not in the child's best interests
or in accord with moral truth; that children should not uncritically
accept or imitate what they find in the media."

The pontiff has frequently spoken out about the challenges created by
new technology and has called for greater responsibility by the media.
He also praises the potential of mass communications.

John Paul himself has avidly used the media to get his message out and
has presided over a technological revolution at the Vatican. This
included the 1995 start of its web site and the recent introduction of
papal messages sent to mobile phones.

END