Friday Internet Fast

In the post earlier today, I said, “the next time God’s Word seems sour, you’re probably allowing your pride to sour it.” Well, I ran into that this morning. On one of the social network sites I frequent, someone linked to these rules for engagement for Catholics on the Internet. The post is a little over a year old, but is worth reviewing due to the encouragement by the bishops and the Pope to evangelize via the new media.

Anyone who is actively discerning God’s will knows that He speaks through Scripture and Tradition, but also through others. In this case, I feel that God was speaking right to me through rule #6: Take at least one day off a week from the Internet.

“Preferably Sunday. Remember that man was not made for the Internet, but the Internet for man. If you feel you need to be on the Internet every day, then you are showing signs of a dangerous addiction. This is unhealthy, even if the sites you go to are not harmful themselves.”

That sat with me wrong. I remembered the night before when someone called just as I was about to spend an hour playing an Internet-based game. Instead of welcoming the call and enjoying the visit, I became annoyed because he had interrupted the time I planned for this game. I had that sour feeling that comes when encountering an unpleasant aspect of God’s will. My spiritual life and my intellectual development were suffering because of too much time on the Internet. Something has to change.

Something will change, effective today. I’m pledging here and now to fast from using the Internet for social and entertainment purposes on Friday, and offering this very small sacrifice for the end of abortion, euthanasia, and respect of all human life. This doesn’t mean a complete cut-off, as the Internet is still a tool which I do use daily as part of my ministry. Blog posts will continue on Friday, as I email them through Posterous. Email will be used as needed for priestly duties and responsibilities. Also, research, looking up addresses and phone numbers, and so on will continue as needed. What won’t be happening is visiting comic websites, social networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), online games, or any other social and entertainment uses.

I’m posting this for two reasons. First, accountability. If you see me on social networking sites on Friday, yell at me! Second, as a challenge. I’m challenging more Catholics to do the same. Pick a day and fast from the Internet for the respect of all human life, peace in the world, or whatever you feel is something worth offering the sacrifice.

“What should I do instead?”, you might ask. Spend time in prayer, especially at your local parish (if it’s not locked all the time) in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Find some good spiritual reading and sit down with a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and read it. If you can, visit someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, especially if they’re homebound, or pick up the phone and call a friend or family member. If the weather’s nice, go for a walk or a leisurely bike or car ride. There truly is lots to do that doesn’t involve “http://www” addresses, and I’d like to hear how you’d spend an Internet-less Friday. Of course, I won’t see them until Saturday, but I still want to hear them.