Advocacy

Cathnet also seeks to live out the gospel. Catholic Social Teaching has much to say about living a good life. The values of the opensource community align very well with Catholic Social Teaching. We want to promote Catholic Social Teaching to the opensource community and indicate the Catholic Church is their friend. We want to promote the open source community to the Catholic Church as a way to live out the gospel.

Ethics in the Internet — by Rob Zaar — last modified 2007-03-09 21:47

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS document 'ETHICS IN INTERNET'

The Church and Internet — by Rob Zaar — last modified 2007-03-09 21:51

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS document THE CHURCH AND INTERNET

Free Software's surprising sympathy with Catholic doctrine — by Rob Zaar — last modified 2007-03-09 23:14

"The technological configuration underlying the Internet has a considerable bearing on its ethical aspects. Use of the new information technology and the Internet needs to be informed and guided by a resolute commitment to the practice of solidarity in the service of the common good. The Internet requires international cooperation in setting standards and establishing mechanisms to promote and protect [that common good]. Individuals, groups, and nations must have access to these new technologies. Cyberspace ought to be a resource of comprehensive information and services available without charge to all, and in a wide range of languages. The winner in this process will be humanity as a whole and not just a wealthy elite that controls science, technology, and the planet's resources. Determined action in the private and public sectors is needed to close and eventually eliminate the digital divide." The above statements sound as if they could have been written by Richard M. Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation (FSF). In fact, they come from the Vatican Report "Ethics in Internet" (EiI). The FSF position on the same issues is that society "needs information that is truly available to its citizens -- for example, programs that people can read, fix, adapt, and improve, not just operate."

Christian endorsement of Free Software increases — by Rob Zaar — last modified 2007-03-09 23:16

Last November I described the Free Software's Surprising Affinity with Catholic Doctrine. Since then, several important things happened, from feedback by Stallman and other Free SW users to the birth, or acceleration, of some projects specifically based on the concept that Christians have even more reasons than others to adopt Free Software.

Eleutheros: A catholic approach to computer science — by Rob Zaar — last modified 2007-03-09 23:32

Eleutheros: A catholic approach to computer science (also a plone site!) "On the basis of official Church documents like Encyclicals and CEI directorates, we are convinced that there are strong ideal affinities between Christianity, the philosophy of Free Software and the adoption of Open Formats and Protocols. We believe it is evident that the usage of such instruments is much more in line with Catholic Doctrine than fully closed, non Free solutions."