SOCIAL NETWORKING

By Ambria Hammel | May 7, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Text messaging, online social networking and “Twittering” are quickly becoming primary methods of communication for teenagers.

With hopes of being able to keep up with today’s teenagers, many youth ministers in the Phoenix Diocese are taking to the popular Facebook and MySpace Web sites to organize parish events and retreats.

Simple, right? Not really. While there are a lot of good things that happen on the Web, Church officials know it also has the potential for harm.

The Office of Child and Youth Protection along with the Safe Environment Office is trying to head off potential problems by proposing changes to the way Church leaders, youth ministers and volunteers use these popular online social media tools to interact with minors.

They presented those proposed changes to more than 100 youth ministers, religious education directors and Catholic school administrators April 28 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.

“We know your passion for youth,” said Jennifer Mikitish, director of Safe Environment Training for the diocese.

The proposed policy would prohibit employees and volunteers from using personal e-mail, cell phones and other devices to communicate with minors.

The current “Policy and Procedures for the Protection of Minors,” revised last July, describes appropriate and inappropriate interactions and behaviors in Appendix III. It is available in English and Spanish at www.diocesephoenix.org/ocyp.

Mikitish explained that the hope is to err on the side of caution and ensure that the youth and their leaders are protected.

The Office of Youth and Young Adult Evangelization invited law enforcement professionals to speak to the youth ministers, school and parish personnel about the dangers that lurk online.

Lisa Andrus, deputy county attorney in Maricopa County’s sex crimes unit, spoke for two hours alongside John Guzman, a detective in the Phoenix Police Department’s Internet Crimes on Children division.

“In so many teens’ minds, this is cool, fun, entertaining,” Andrus said of cyber-bullying and “sexting.”

“It’s just like the bathroom wall. The only thing is that now you can’t wash the bathroom wall.”

She said many young youth ministers employ new methods of communication to be “in” with the teens, but urged great caution.

Craig Plenn, coordinator of youth and young adult formation at St. Benedict Parish, knows all about the risks new technology has for not only youth ministers, but among teens. He’s had to address cyber-bullying incidents with his teens.

Nevertheless, Plenn insists on the need for online communication.

“It’s essential to use social networking,” he said. “Teens don’t read e-mail as much.”

Plenn has maintained a Facebook group page for St. Benedict teens for more than a year. He set up security settings to protect his youth. 

Still, security settings aren’t always enough, according to John Iannarelli, supervisory special agent for the cybersquad of the Federal Bureau of Investigations in Phoenix. “You can’t be too careful,” he said.

Pending changes

But the safe environment and youth protection offices aren’t just worried about youth ministers following policy changes. Parents and teens have to cooperate as well.

For example, the current policy prohibits youth ministers from sharing their personal cell phone numbers. But the teens often get the personal information through another source.

Jen Rajani, youth minister at St. Germaine Parish in Prescott Valley, never gave her personal cell phone number to her teens. She’s been on the job less than a year, but teens have already called her personal cell phone.

Rajani said the youth get her number from their parents, who have it for emergencies.

While acknowledging the need for caution, youth ministers were taken aback by the implications of the proposed policy change.

It would mean that core leaders — volunteers who support youth ministers — could no longer contact teens through personal communication devices. This is a common way of inviting teens to upcoming events.

David Lins, director of youth ministry at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Scottsdale, is worried that the new policy could have an adverse effect on his outreach.

He compared the proposed policy to “Jesus checking with His lawyers.”

Mikitish said she’d be open to all dialogue about new communication methods that would reach their teens safely.