--- title: Charitable & Christian Online Discussions description: Charitable & Christian Online Discussions --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/06/22/charitable-christian-online-discussions#) # Charitable & Christian Online Discussions Jun 22, 2011 8:00:39 AM  |  by [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) ![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/photo-17-535x400.jpg?width=321&height=240&name=photo-17-535x400.jpg "photo (17)")For my regular radio segment this week on the [Son Rise Morning Show](http://www.sonrisemorningshow.com/), Brian Patrick and I will be discussing ideas and techniques for keeping online conversations charitable and Christian in tone. So often across the blogosphere and now in our social networking arenas, we find folks feeling more free to express themselves with vitriol, anger and downright meanness.  And ironically, this often occurs during conversations centered around faith topics. Radio Producer and author *extraordinaire* [Matt Swaim](http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb_sb_noss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dmatt%2520swaim%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Dstripbooks%23&tag=catholicmomcom&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957) and I were having a conversation this morning about this topic. I shared with him my frequent references to a particular quote from Pope Benedict XVI in [this year's World Communications Day message](http://goo.gl/BV18k): > When people exchange information, they are already sharing themselves, their view of the world, their hopes, their ideals. It follows that there exists a Christian way of being present in the digital world: this takes the form of a communication which is honest and open, responsible and respectful of others. I also shared with him the photo you see here - my personal reminder to always share online using three watchwords: *Respect, Dialogue and Friendship*. These, of course, harken back to the [2009 World Communications Day Message](http://goo.gl/dKPDW) and tend to be my personal test for whether or not to post a thought or idea online. Very often, I find myself not meeting these benchmarks mentally and having to restrain myself in writing. What thoughts, ideas or guidelines would be on your "checklist" for commenting or interacting online? To get you started, here's a suggestion from Matt Swaim: *I often read what I've typed aloud in my charitable voice, and then read it aloud in my snarky voice.  Which voice will others think I mean?* *What's on your checklist? What helps you to remember to interact in a faith-filled way online? * ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcharitable-christian-online-discussions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcharitable-christian-online-discussions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcharitable-christian-online-discussions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Charitable%20%26%20Christian%20Online%20Discussions) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcharitable-christian-online-discussions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcharitable-christian-online-discussions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Lisa%20M%20Hendey%202024.png) ### [Lisa M. Hendey](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/lisa-m-hendey) Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of CatholicMom.com, a bestselling author and an international speaker. A frequent radio and television guest, Hendey travels internationally giving workshops on faith, family, and communications. Visit Lisa at [LisaHendey.com](http://lisahendey.com), on her Substack at [LisaHendey.Substack.com](http://lisahendey.substack.com/), or on social media @LisaHendey for information on her speaking schedule or to invite her to visit your group, parish, school or organization. [Find Lisa’s books on her Amazon author page](https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-M-Hendey/e/B002ZM9FH0). [**](http://facebook.com/lisamhendey) [**](http://twitter.com/lisahendey) ## Related Blog Articles [ Donna-Marie and Teresa to Chat on Monday Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2008/12/13/donna-marie-and-teresa-to-chat-on-monday) [ Children's Book Notes: 'I'm a Saint in the Making' Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/childrens-book-notes-im-a-saint-in-the-making) [ My Jesus by Cheryl Caputo -- Catholic Pinterest Board of the Week Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/04/06/my-jesus-by-cheryl-caputo-catholic-pinterest-board-of-the-week) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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