The initiative aims to address declining Catholic membership in African countries and equip young leaders with digital evangelisation skills.

Dr Linus Kweku Labik, a Ghanaian graduate, plans to target first-year university students to prevent them from abandoning their faith.

"I have seen instances where young people stop going to Church after they graduate from senior high school and go to college and university. This trend is concerning as it has led to the dwindling Catholic population in Ghana" Labik told ACI Africa.

The Ghana Conference of Catholic Bishops (GCBC) described the situation as "alarming" and attributed it to "many external and internal factors".

Sister Josephine Bakhita, coordinator of the programme, told ACI Africa that the training aimed to address moral issues. It also promoted hope among the youth, thereby making them more like Christ.

Africa Digital Faith Influencers Formation

The course, titled "Africa Digital Faith Influencers Formation", covered seven modules including -

• Theories and application of African synodal processes
• Methods and skills for digital influencing
• Principles and practices of Catholic social teachings
• Transformational servant leadership
• Spiritual maturity for professional and personal development

Instructors were drawn from various Catholic institutions across Africa and Vatican dicasteries.

Sr Bakhita described the eight months of formation as "an amazing experience, much as it was challenging".

The Kenyan SMK member said "It was amazing to see dignitaries, including Catholic bishops, priests and religious sisters from various countries, who turned up to award the certificates to the young people from their Dioceses and parishes. This was a wonderful act of solidarity with our young people".

Financial support for graduates

In his address at the graduation ceremony, PACTPAN's Coordinating Servant, Fr Stan Chu Ilo, urged the young graduates to be diligent in the implementation of their projects.

"As you form your project cohort, I advise you to put a lot of time into it. Be careful about the people you are bringing into your project just as you must be careful about the people you are bringing into your lives" Fr Stan said.

The graduates are now set to implement projects in their respective communities. PACTPAN plans to provide financial support and mentorship to help kickstart these initiatives.

Sources

ACI Africa

CathNews New Zealand

Conducted by five researchers under Auxiliary Bishop Joaquim Mol Guimarães of Belo Horizonte, the study suggests a growing dominance of voices conflicting with bishops and official structures within the Church.

Since 2018, organised groups of Catholics have targeted bishops, individual prelates and even Pope Francis. The influencers view them as allied with leftist factions.

They are particularly aligned with former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under investigation by Brazilian authorities for attempting to overthrow democratic rule in the country.

Influencers like Bernardo Küster and Father Paulo Ricardo have amassed significant followings, impacting believers with what Guimarães describes as "fake narratives" and "fabricated doubts".

"They have created giant bubbles on social media, in which their followers play a central role in determining the scope of their publications and thus reinforce their ideological perspective" Guimarães said.

Fragmentation of Catholic teaching

The research, which monitored the online activity of five Brazilian Catholic influencers over a year, reveals a fragmentation of Catholic teaching online. It has led to the emergence of parallel churches and conflicting magisteriums.

The study also highlights the spread of misinformation, with instances such as Küster's baseless accusation against theologian Leonardo Boff.

In 2021, Küster was sued by theologian Leonardo Boff after he claimed, without presenting any evidence, that the Liberation Theology thinker had diverted $2.6 million in public funds.

Boff won the suit, and Küster had to pay $22,000 in damages.

Guimarães criticises these influencers for promoting personal views detached from reality, resulting in unwarranted criticism of the Church's hierarchy.

Guimarães said these online influencers use "a manipulative teaching authority" and transmit "personal and particular views" based on "formulations of faith without connection to reality, strongly centred in moralisms impregnated by ideological and political elements".

The result, he claimed, is "undue and unfounded criticism of the church's institutional structure and hierarchy".

While some influencers opt for a lighter, more narcissistic approach, Guimarães stresses the need for digital evangelists who adhere to the Gospel's principles rather than social media's profit-driven strategies.

The research team intends to explore the audience of Catholic digital influencers further, aiming to optimise social media for evangelisation while navigating its challenges.

Sources

Crux Now

CathNews New Zealand