Mar 5, 2009 6:46 am US/Eastern
Catholics Asked To Give Up Texting For Lent
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Each year during the Christian season of lent, people give up things they like as a sacrifice.
This year, the Catholic Church is asking them to give up something besides ice cream, chocolate or cookies.
It's asking them to give up technology.
"I can't do it, no, I can't do it at all," said 14-year-old Dominique Scott at the thought of giving up texting.
No texting, television, IPods, or the internet for six weeks.
It's not that the Catholic Church opposes technology.
In fact in recent years we've seen just how much it's embracing it.
In January, Pope Benedict XVI launched his own channel on You Tube.
Here in Boston,
Cardinal Sean O'Malley has been blogging on the archdiocesan Web site for years.
"We are constantly looking for new ways to expand our reach, to invite more people to become part of the Catholic Church and the Cardinal fully supports that," said the Cardinal's spokesperson Terry Donilon.
But can Catholics go without technology for that long a period of time?
Just ask Katie Dardis.
"I actually gave up television."
The 25-year-old says she understands why Catholic bishops are worried about too much technology.
She too is concerned about people putting more faith in virtual relationships, rather than real ones.
"There's a temptation there…of making so many contacts that you can't have deep contacts," she said. "You have superficial relationships and that's a danger of technology."
Dardis admits this past week without TV has been difficult, but she says it does have its benefits.
"When we take these 40 days to go without, it's an opportunity to grow closer to God."
Read Keller's Blog:
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
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