should tell truth
POPE PAUL appealed to advertisers to tell the truth and to respect human dignity and man's right to make free decisions in his message for the 1 1th World Cornm unications Day.
The Pope's message for Sunday's celebration included a "strong protest" against film advertisements which, he said, "do no honour to our civilisation, but which gravely offend the dignity of man, disturb the peace of consciences, and promote disharmony among men."
Advertising, said the Pope, must be "truthful, prudent, respectful of man and of his essential values, careful in its choices of the circumstances in which it addresses him, and of
the manner in which it makes its presentation."
The Pope warned advertisers to take care in development or the psychological and social means they use to persuade people.
"It is here above all that there is imposed . . . on those within the advertising profession the imperative requirement to respect the human person, his right and duty to make a responsible choice, and his inner freedom."
The Pope asked bishops, priests and laity to "enter into a healthy and open dialogue" with directors of advertising agencies.
Vatican officials said the Pope was appealing especially for more advertising in Catholic newspapers.