In an interview with Britain's Sunday Telegraph, the archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, expressed concerns over social networking Web sites such as Facebook and My Space:

"I think there's a worry that an excessive use or an almost exclusive use of text and emails means that as a society we're losing some of the ability to build interpersonal communication that's necessary for living together and building a community."We're losing social skills, the human interaction skills, how to read a person's mood, to read their body language, how to be patient until the moment is right to make or press a point."Too much exclusive use of electronic information dehumanises what is a very, very important part of community life and living together."The archbishop blamed social network sites for leaving children with impoverished friendships.

Pope Benedict XVI expressed similar concerns in his remarks for World Communications Day in May. I should note that with much coaching from my daughter and the encouragement of my book editor, I reluctantly started a Facebook page a few months ago. I've come to enjoy it because it provides a link to many people I don't see as often as I'd like. But even so, I think the archbishop is on to something. Do social networking sites build social capital, or do they just give the illusion of social interaction? I guess I will have to consider Facebook a guilty pleasure.