Introduction
These guidelines are offered as a synthesis of best practices. They include material compiled from church entities, for-profit corporations, and non-profit organizations. Suggestions and comments are welcome at commdept@usccb.org.
In this document, “church personnel” is defined as anyone—priest, deacon, religious, bishop, lay employee, or volunteer—who provides ministry or service or is employed by an entity associated with the Catholic Church.
Last updated November 2025
Guiding Principles
"Communication is a means of expressing the missionary vocation of the entire Church; today the social networks are one way to experience this call to discover the beauty of faith, the beauty of encountering Christ. In the area of communications too, we need a Church capable of bringing warmth and of stirring hearts (Pope Francis' Message for the 48th World Communications Day [WCD], 2014).
Social media has fundamentally changed how people communicate. Our Church cannot ignore it; in fact, it is our responsibility as Catholics to bring the Church's teachings into what Pope Benedict XVI called the "digital continent."
Pope Francis wrote in the 48th World Communications Day message, "The revolution taking place in communications media and in information technologies represents a great and thrilling challenge; may we respond to that challenge with fresh energy and imagination as we seek to share with others the beauty of God."
The Church can use social media to encourage respect, dialogue, and honest relationships—in other words, "true friendship" (Pope Benedict XVI's Message for the 43rd World Communications Day, 2009). To do so requires us to approach social media as a powerful means of evangelization and to consider the Church's role in providing a Christian perspective on digital literacy.
Before beginning work on social media guidelines, consider reading all of the World Communications Day messages issued since 2006, since each message includes reflections on social media.
The Church and Social Media: An Overview
Social media offer both opportunities and challenges to Catholic organizations. These can be grouped into three primary categories:
Visibility
Community
Accountability
Visibility
Online social media communities are vast and have grown at a rapid pace. Given the size and scope of these communities, they offer excellent forums for the Church's visibility and evangelization.
The key question that faces each Church organization that decides to engage on social media is, How will we engage? Careful consideration should be made to determine the particular strengths of each form of social media and the needs of a ministry, parish, or organization. The strengths should match the needs. For instance, a Facebook post may not be the most effective way to remind students of an event. However, a mass text message to all students and their parents telling them that the retreat begins at 9 a.m. may be very effective.
Because of the high volume of content and sites and the dynamics of search engines and online networking, social media requires constant input and monitoring to make the Church's presence effective. It may seem paradoxical when considering the fluidity of social media, but good planning and strategizing are as essential, if not more so, when approaching social media, as in traditional media. Additionally, actively following and engaging with current trends on social media is crucial, as it helps to maintain relevance and connect with a broader audience more effectively.
Community
Social media can be powerful tools for strengthening community, although it should not be viewed as a substitute for face-to-face gatherings. Social media can support communities in a myriad of ways, such as connecting people with similar interests, sharing information about in-person events, and providing ways for people to engage in dialogue, etc
The Final Document of the XVI Assembly, approved by Pope Francis, affirmed the importance of the Church’s engagement with digital communities:
The spread of digital culture, particularly evident among young people, is profoundly changing their experience of space and time; it influences their daily activities, communication and interpersonal relationships, including faith. The opportunities that the internet provides are reshaping relationships, bonds and boundaries…Christian digital communities and groups, particularly young people, are also called to reflect on how they create bonds of belonging, promoting encounter and dialogue. (113)
The use of social media should be well integrated into the overall communication strategy for the organization. Users may move seamlessly across multiple platforms, receiving information, and entering into dialogue using print, oral, video, and digital communications, in a variety of settings. Effective communication strategies recognize the expectations and preferences of the community and develop messages suited to those expectations and preferences.
A well-considered use of social media ultimately aims to encourage "an authentic culture of encounter" (WCD message, 2014) or creating engagement. Engagement is defined as the activity that happens around a post on a social network. This activity includes likes, comments, and shares. The more engagement that happens on a particular message, the more it will be seen. With the rapid adoption of digital social networks, the "digital continent" has become very crowded. The Church can be successful in being heard above the fray by cultivating engagement.
Accountability
Social media can be an effective tool for building community. Membership in communities also requires accountability and responsibility. Users of social media expect site administrators to allow dialogue, to provide information, and to acknowledge mistakes. The vast amount of information available to social media consumers has meant that they often only use information from trusted sites or sites recommended by those whom they trust.
While not every demand or inquiry can be met, it is important that creators and administrators of social media platforms understand both how much social media is different from mass media and the expectations of their consumers. Creators and consumers of mass media generally accept their one-way conversations (letters to the editor being the exception). Social media's emphasis is on the word "social," with a general blurring of the distinction between creators of content and consumers of content. Many communication experts have described the adaptation of social media as a paradigm shift in how humans communicate, a development as important as that of the printing press and the innovation of electronic communication.
As the Vatican Dicastery for Communication said,
The challenge of fostering peaceful, meaningful, and caring relationships on social media prompts a discussion in academic and professional circles, as well as in ecclesial ones. What kind of humanity is reflected in our presence in digital environments? How much of our digital relationships is the fruit of deep and truthful communication, and how much is merely shaped by unquestioned opinions and passionate reactions? How much of our faith finds living and refreshing digital expressions? And who is my 'neighbor' on social media? (“Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media,” Dicastery for Communication, May 2023)
Definitions
Definitions provide clarity and a common language. They are even more important in guidelines for social media since the usage of terms is rapidly evolving.
- Social network: A social network is a site that is entirely driven by the content of its members. Individuals are allowed flexibility in privacy settings; in posting text, photos, video, links, and other information; and in level of interaction with other members. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X, YouTube, and TikTok are often included in lists of social networking sites.
- Ministry website: An Internet website/tool created by employees, clerics, and volunteers for the sole purpose of conducting diocesan/affiliate business.
- Personal website: A social network page, blog, or any Internet website/tool created by employees, clerics, and volunteers primarily to share personal communication with friends and associates.
- Direct Message (DM): A direct message (DM) is a private message sent through a social platform. Followers often send a DM when they have an inquiry. By default, DMs from non-followers are often blocked or filtered into a secondary inbox. However, organizations who wish to use DMs to interact with customers can change their settings to receive DMs from anyone.
- Algorithm: In the context of social media, an algorithm is how a social platform determines which content to display at any given time to a particular user based on user behavior, preferences, and interactions.
- Blog: A blog (a contraction of the term “web log”) is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
Guidelines
When developing guidelines for church personnel to use social media, consider including the following elements:
- Define appropriate boundaries for communications. These should be in sync with diocesan codes of conduct for other areas, such as the diocese’s standards for protection of children and young people, Internet acceptable use policies, etc. Define what is considered confidential information, verifiable consent, personal identifiable information, contact with a minor, etc. Topics that are in current debate will generate more comments/responses. These include issues in which the Church’s teachings are often in contrast to some popular positions (gay rights, abortion, immigration reform, health care reform). In other words, the Church’s social teaching, including the pro-life aspects of those teachings, often elicit unfavorable comments. Some people determine that those topics will not be debated on official sites. Others provide guidance on how to engage in dialogue around these topics. (See “Rules of the Road” below for examples.)
- Include examples of Codes of Conduct that should be posted on social networking sites. Codes of Conduct are for visitors to the site. These codes should always be brief and immediately apparent to visitors. Visitors should also be made aware of the consequences of violations of the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct on the USCCB’s Facebook site is as follows: “All posts and comments should be marked by Christian charity and respect for the truth. They should be on topic and presume the good will of other posters. Discussion should take place primarily from a faith perspective. No ads please.” Always block anyone who does not abide by the Code of Conduct.
- Define instructions. Include instructions on how to report, block, etc., on the more popular social networking sites such as Facebook and X/Twitter. This provides guidance for those church personnel who may be entering into social media for the first time.
- Provide recommendations on how to deal with difficult “followers.” Give church personnel permission to trust their instincts on blocking repeat offenders of a site’s Code of Conduct. Argumentative participants can easily change the tone of every post. A good way to determine if they should be blocked is to go to their profiles and browse through the pages that they have liked or followed. Do not allow those unwilling to dialogue to hold your site and its other members hostage. In particular situations, the moderator might determine it is best to ask a member to take a conversation “offline.” These offline conversations can be conducted in person, over the telephone, or through private e-mail. The site moderators should be able to refer to the appropriate resources, such as the pastor, program director, diocesan communication office, etc.
- Provide trusted sites for reference and recommend that site administrators have a thorough knowledge of these sites. Often a link to the parish, diocesan, USCCB, or Vatican site can provide necessary information, thereby helping redirect the tone and substance of an online conversation.
- Remind site administrators they are posting for a broad audience. Social media are global platforms. Online content is visible to anyone in the world who comes to their sites.
Establishing a Site
Websites or social networking profile pages are the centerpiece of any social media activity. The following guidelines are recommended for the establishment of an account on social media.
- Site administrators should be adults.
- There should be at least two site administrators (preferably more) for each site, to allow rapid response and continuous monitoring of the site.
- Do not use personal sites for diocesan or parish programs. Create separate sites for these. This includes Facebook.
- Passwords and names of sites should be registered in a central location, and more than one adult should have access to this information.
- Be sure those responsible for social media know these key "Rules of the Road".
- Abide by diocesan/parish guidelines
- Know that even personal communication by church personnel reflects the Church. Practice what you preach.
- Write in first-person. Do not claim to represent the official position of the organization or the teachings of the Church, unless authorized to do so
- Identify yourself. Do not use pseudonyms or the name of the parish, program, etc., as your identity, unless authorized to do so
- Abide by copyright, fair use, and IRS financial disclosure regulation
- Do not divulge confidential information about others. Nothing posted on the Internet is private.
- Don't cite others, post photos or videos of them, link to their material, etc., without their approval.
- Practice Christian charity.
Social Networking with Minors
Make all Church personnel aware of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which is federal legislation that oversees how websites interact with children under age 13, and any comparable state law.
In addition to basic privacy protection, Church personnel should be aware of the dangers of online child exploitation. Online child exploitation threatens the safety and well-being of our young people and destroys families and communities. Online child exploitation occurs in many forms, from the creation and distribution of child pornography to the inducement to engage in dangerous and self-destructive activities. Often, children are targeted due to their immaturity, using their precious innocence to manipulate and harm them. But children are also exploited simply because the Internet contains a multitude of materials that are not intended for child consumption but are nevertheless easily available (See USCCB Letter to Congress on Principles for Protecting Children Online, June 6, 2023). All care must be taken to ensure that children are protected online and when using social networking tools.
Parents must have access to everything provided to their children. For example, parents should be made aware of how social media is being used, be told how to access the sites, and be included on any material sent to their children via social networking sites.
Church personnel must adhere to their diocese’s child and youth protection policy. This policy should include guidance on how adults should interact with youth in person as well as through digital platforms, including text messaging. At no time should Church personnel interact with youth on a one-on-one basis through Facebook Messenger, X/Twitter direct messages, WhatsApp, web conference platforms, or in any other form. All communication between adults and youth should take place in a public forum (e.g. the Facebook wall) and include the youth’s parents/guardians on the message or message thread.
Be sure to have permission from a minor’s parent or guardian before contacting the minor via social media and before posting pictures, video, or other information that may identify that minor. An exception to seeking advance permission of a minor’s parent or guardian before engaging in communications with a minor via social media, or to copying the parent or guardian on such communications, may arise when the minor or another person has alleged or suggested abuse, neglect, or other criminal conduct by the parent or guardian. In any such case, or anytime there is a reasonable suspicion of actual or threatened violence, neglect, abuse, suicidal ideation, trafficking, or harm to a minor or any other person, church personnel should contact the appropriate civil authorities.
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
Artificial intelligence can be considered a manifestation of human ingenuity and creativity and has greatly impacted communications technology in recent years. As Pope Francis stated in his Address to the Participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life in 2020, emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), is, “at the very heart of the epochal change we are experiencing.”
In his message to the Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Pope Leo XIV stated, “AI, especially Generative AI, has opened new horizons on many different levels, including enhancing research in healthcare and scientific discovery, but also raises troubling questions on its possible repercussions on humanity’s openness to truth and beauty, on our distinctive ability to grasp and process reality." The U.S. bishops have called on Congressional leadership to help ensure that AI is developed with responsibility and discernment to serve humanity.
As AI technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace and its applications affect nearly every facet of daily life, Church personnel must use AI with prudence. For example, matters requiring judgment about complex issues require knowledge, competence, and experience and they are best left to humans as moral agents. Another important consideration is that the work product of “chatbots” such as ChatGPT may infringe copyright laws. Church organizations that permit use of AI should provide guidelines to their personnel on the situations in which use of AI is appropriate when engaging with others on social media.
Personal Sites
Personal sites of church personnel should also reflect Catholic values. Businesses are cautioning their employees that, while employees have a right to privacy and confidentiality regarding what their employers know about them, an employee’s use of social networking—because of its very nature—means he or she relinquishes some privacy and might be construed as representing the company’s ethics and values. Likewise, church personnel should be encouraged to understand that they are witnessing to the faith through all of their social networking, whether “public” or “private.”
Many employers and church organizations ask their personnel to consider including a disclaimer on their personal sites, especially if employees/church personnel are highly visible in the community and/or post material related to church work/ministry on their personal sites. One example: “The views expressed on this site are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.”
How to Report and Monitor
Ask church personnel to report unofficial sites that carry the diocesan or parish logo to the diocesan communication office or pastor. It is important that the owner (the diocese or the parish) is able to protect its brand and identity.
Inform church personnel whom to contact on the diocesan level (most likely the communication office) if they find misinformation on a site. This is especially important when responding to incorrect information, such as on Wikipedia or Masstimes.org
Have a clear policy on whether diocesan personnel should be expected to respond to defamatory, libelous, or slanderous comments—not original postings, but comments—on social media. Some policies indicate that the diocesan communication office will provide a response to a major news outlet or a popular blogger, but not to every comment on those blogs or to other bloggers. Consider posting these and similar policies and notices on your organization’s social networks
Consider posting these and similar policies and notices on your organization’s social networks.