Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Karachi (Agenzia Fides) – The great day has come: for Christmas 2009, the Archdiocese of Karachi has launched its "Good News TV" Satellite, owned and managed entirely by the Catholic Church.
The path to reaching satellite transmission has been long and gradual. For several years, the diocese has been convinced of the urgency of using "new Areopagus for evangelization," and has been working to acquire the technologies needed for mass communication. A year ago, the first Catholic TV station in Pakistan, "Good News TV," was begun via satellite.
The Christian community of Pakistan thus has an important tool to communicate with everyone, to reveal the true face of the Church, and entered into the small circle of Asian communities that provide this service. The broadcasts will begin on Christmas Eve 2009 and will be visible not only in Pakistan, but also in several nations of Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. There will be programs devoted to social issues, political religious, music and entertainment, all with the aim of carrying a message focused on the values of brotherhood, justice, peace, love.
"This is a very important moment, we are delighted. Our Good News TV will give special emphasis to Christian values and show programs not available on other channels in Pakistan. We are getting not only the Christian community involved, but the entire civil society in Pakistan and personalities from the world media," Fr. Arthur Charles, Vicar of the Archdiocese, tells Fides. Fr. Charles is the priest who, from the beginning, started the adventure and has watched this dream come true. It is now crowned by Good News TV, where he holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Archbishop Evarist Pinto of Karachi told Fides: "It is a crucial step in starting a new way to communicate in Pakistan. Good News TV will promote family values, human dignity, and the common good. It will hopefully have a beneficial influence on Pakistani society, combating fundamentalism and the culture of violence." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2009)
