VINCENT NICHOLS, GEORGE PITCHER AND FACEBOOK

So the Archbishop of Westminster and George Pitcher both warn about the dangers of electronic isolation and relationships mediated through the keyboard.

Of course there are dangers and wise parents and balanced adults will guard against them.

However, there may be greater dangers to relationships in religion. I have counselled those heartbroken that a member of their family had been snatched from them into a closed order of Nuns, others sucked into the lonliness of the celibate priesthood, many more isolated into religious fanaticism, others damaged by the homophobia, authoritarianism and sexism enshrined in church policy.

Religious bigotry has fuelled the fragmentation of societies, the increase in prejudice and reactionary thinking.

Strange, because the Sacrament of the Mass is all about Holy Communication.

So when Facebook and other social networking sites allow people to communicate, to reconnect, to discover the thrill of friendships and to provide the resources to maintain them and explore them , perhaps the church should be encouraging and supportive.