Translate

Monday, May 18, 2026

MY DIOCESE HAS ESTABLISHED NEW RULES FOR DIOCESAN PERSONNEL TO INCLUDE PRIEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA—THUS THESE GO INTO EFFECT TODAY ON MY BLOG

While I will certainly abide by this new policy from the Diocese of Savannah, I ask that those commenting do the same, especially by not disparaging anyone who comments here. I will be quite diligent not to post those comments. Please cooperative! 

 Priest personnel should not:

Post anything on social media that wouldn't be said to someone in person
Use platforms/features that automatically delete content without any record
Discredit the Diocese or any of its personnel
 Post anything that is or could be construed as:
- Inappropriate, lewd, obscene, or sexual (and do not reply to communication of this nature from
anyone; rather, notify your supervisor)
- Libel, slander, defamation, discrimination, harassment, threats, obscenity, etc.
- Promoting violence or illegality, including alcohol, drugs, vandalism, stalking, etc.
- Blasphemous, sacrilegious, demonic, etc.
- Inconsistent with or offensive to Church teachings and values

CLERGY AND PARTISAN POLITICS

Clergy shall refrain from partisan politics in all posts, comments, and links.
According to canon law, clerics “are not to have an active part in political parties” (c. 287 §2).
Although the IRS has taken steps to loosen the restrictions on political activities by 501(c)(3)
organizations, the spokesperson for the USCCB, in a statement dated July 8, 2025, reiterated that “The
Catholic Church maintains its stance of not endorsing or opposing political candidates.”4
“The Church is involved in the political process but is not partisan,” reads the USCCB’s 2023 document
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. “[Bishops] do not tell the laity to vote for particular
candidates.”

COMMENTS

Inappropriate comments should be blocked or deleted as necessary, and rules of conduct should be posted
in the following or similar words:
Comments left by others on this account do not necessarily reflect the views of the Catholic Church, the
Diocese of Savannah, or their entities.
All comments should be marked by Christian charity and respect for truth; they should be on-topic and
assume the goodwill of other posters. Inappropriate comments may be deleted. No ads, please

4 comments:

James said...

Blimey, how many priest bloggers are there in the diocese of Savannah? Has there been a problem?

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

Social media in general, to include Facebook and other public platforms.

James said...

Have you got a link to the new policy: I couldn't find it on the diocese website?

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

It is a PDF attachment in an email sent from the Bishop’s office. Not public yet. We received it on Sunday, Communication Sunday. We also had/have to sign disclaimers.