'Blogging Bishop' welcomes 'Vatican Blogfest'

Bishop Michael Campbell

Bishop Michael Campbell of Lancaster is apparently the only Catholic Bishop in England and Wales to have his own regular Blog. As a keen blogger Bishop Michael Campbell has welcomed the news that the Vatican is organising a meeting for Catholic bloggers in Rome on 2 May. Though unable to attend himself due to prior commitments he believes that it’s important for the Church to use the new media for evangelisation and apologetics.

Besides, Bishop Campbell has found writing a weekly Bishop’s Blog - a simple and practical means of keeping his far-flung Diocese informed about his day-to-day life and ministry as Diocesan Bishop.

The Catholic Diocese of Lancaster covers the major Lancashire cities of Preston and Lancaster, the seaside towns of Blackpool and Morecambe and the towns and villages scattered across the peninsulas, valleys and fells of Cumbria. Every week, with a click of the mouse, the Catholics of the Diocese and others, too, can read and see photographs of Bishop Campbell’s work in the diocese – Parish Visitations, Confirmations, meetings, etc - or at national and international meetings and events.

Another service provided by the Bishop’s Blog that has proved useful to visitors are the blog’s links to the Bishop’s speeches and homilies - again a valuable aide in the ‘new evangelisation’.

Known as the author of six books on Sacred Scripture, Bishop Campbell also writes a popular Weekly Scriptural Reflection based on the Sunday Lectionary which is available on the diocese’s recently re-vamped website:

Bishop Campbell comments: "The new media represent a revolution in communication as significant as the invention of the printing press. It has taken journalism and public discourse out of the hands of powerful media groups and put it in the hands of millions of ordinary people throughout the world.

"Just as the Church was at the forefront of other revolutions in communication, such as the copying and dissemination of manuscripts, printing presses, radio and television, the Church is embarking on the development of the new media through the creativity and investment of time and money by thousands of Catholic bloggers and web designers.

"The meeting in Rome on the 2nd of May organised by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications is a recognition by the Holy See of the importance of this fast-changing medium for the future of the Church’s engagement with modern culture. May Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, bless this endeavour."

To read the Bishop's Blog see: www.lancasterdiocese.org.uk/Groups/154613/The_Diocese_of/Our_Bishop/Bishops_Blog/Bishops_Blog.aspx

Scripture Reflection: www.lancasterdiocese.org.uk/Groups/154615/The_Diocese_of/Our_Bishop/Weekly_Scripture_Reflection/Weekly_Scripture_Reflection.aspx

Lancaster Diocese: www.lancasterdiocese.org.uk