Propaganda a nauczanie społeczne Kościoła

Abstract

The term „propaganda” has changed its meaning in history. The origins of propaganda date-back to antiquity. From the etymological point of view, however, the origins of propaganda should be sought in the Church herself, in her administrative structure, to be precise. Pope Gregory XV established a Congregation for the Propaganda of the Faith in 1622. Positively speaking, its purpose was to promote the Catholic faith in the world which has not yet been exposed to evangelization. Negatively speaking, it was to root out heresy from the doctrine of the Church. The congregation seeks to spread the Catholic doctrine, and not merely an opinion about it, yet the term „propaganda” bean to function as gaining advocates of the Gospel. In time, the concept has changed its church and religious reference, and has taken on a lay and ideological character. As a tool of new ideas, currents and systems propaganda was most often stressed during the pontificates of Pius XI and Pius XII. This was due to the totalitarian regimes, fascism and communism. When the two systems were formally over, the teaching of the Church in this respect was somewhat silent. John Paul II points to various forms of contemporary imperialism, which on the one hand manifest the lust for profit, and on the other, it-tends to gain power in order to impose one’s own will on others. Consequently, we have propaganda manifested through an idolatrous cult for money, material values, technology and consumerism.