The new document is a noble effort. Culling pertinent insights from the Vatican II and postconciliar documents, Popes Paul VI's and John Paul II's messages, speeches and encyclicals, and previous documents of the Pontifical Council, this document focuses Church reflection on advertising. Keep in mind that the Church, too, engages in advertising. Bingos and festivals benefit by being trumpeted in ads. Catholic newspapers and some magazines like this one take advertising as a service to readers and may depend on it as a revenue source, which lowers the subscription price.
Advertising often sponsors religious programs and productions on TV and radio.
Advertising informs people about the availability of desirable new products and services and improvements in existing ones. It helps consumers make informed decisions, lowers prices, stimulates economic progress and contributes to a better life. The Harm Advertising Can Do After sketching out the potential for good, the working draft spends more than twice the wordage on the harm that advertising can do and does do. That is unfortunate. Then this document provides some ethical and moral principles.