IN THEORY:

First it was Barack Obama. Then Queen Elizabeth. Now Pope Benedict XVI has established his own YouTube channel. The Pope, although he has warned of the dangers of new media, also wants to embrace it to help broaden the Holy See’s message. What do you think of this, and when are you to start up your own YouTube channel?

Pope Benedict XVI regularly points out the benefits of technology, including the Internet. The Vatican website ( www.vatican.va www.vatican.va) has improved greatly since its inception in 1995 and provides a wealth of useful information to site visitors.

While there are many positives to the many technological advances the world has experienced, especially over the last decade and a half, the pope has also warned about the dangers of spending too much time surfing the Web and also his concern with immoral content contained on not a few sites.

I am glad to see that he is forging ahead with the YouTube initiative. This will increase his visibility and get out various messages he has to offer.

As for me, I don’t plan on starting up my own YouTube channel any time soon due to my lack of technological skills. In fact, our Sonic Wall won’t even allow us YouTube access!

Given this Vatican development, perhaps we will have to rethink our policy on access to YouTube.

Father Stephen Doktorczyk

St. Joachim Church

Costa Mesa

“Communicate what you want others to know in as many ways as are possible” seems to be the best advice nowadays.

Can the likes of the pope and queen and our president be wrong?

To be like them, I will need friends who are wizards with communication systems giving me efficient and timely technical support and advice. I am truly technologically challenged! I empathize with a friend who said, “I’ll retire before I have to learn computers,” and did! I still have my electric typewriter!

I have lots to learn about computer systems and websites and rely on others to set up excellent ones for this Parish Church. When friends tell me I need a “YouTube channel” here I will acquiesce and ask them to set one up with me.

(The Very Rev’d Canon) Peter D. Haynes

Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Parish Church

Corona del Mar

I think it is brilliant. I know of many other groups that have done similar things, even create alternative video networks, www.godtube.com www.godtube.com, etc. This is a better idea because it is in the mainstream.

I never thought a church should advertise on a Christian radio station that only encourages people to change churches. If they are going to spend the money, they should do it to reach people who have not heard it yet.

I am not sure I am interesting enough to start a channel, but it might be interesting to put out some videos of things our people are doing in the community. I’ll have my tech teams look into it.

Ric Olsen

Lead pastor, The Beacon