As if the they needed more exposure, in the latest Civilita Cattolica a Jesuit argues for the SJs to set up shop in the online virtual-world game Second Life--a game not exactly known for its spiritual depth.

Father Antonio Spadaro, the literary critic of "Civilta' Cattolica" andan expert on new technologies, writes: "This virtual Second Life isbecoming populated with churches, mosques, temples, cathedrals.synagogues, places of prayer of all kinds. And behind an avatar thereis a man or a woman, perhaps searching for God and faith, perhaps withvery strong spiritual needs."

(...)

"Second Life is not simply a 'closed' phenomenon," he writes. "It is areal living environment that every day extends its frontiers andincreases the number of residents. We cannot close our eyes to it. Itmust be understood, and this is especially true for people witheducational responsibilities. There are young people, fragile people,facing the seductions of simulated life. The best way to understand itis to enter into it. Therefore any initiative which can help the soulsof residents should be considered positive."

Which reminds me: the New York Times recently ran a fascinating, if intermittently creepy, series of photos of people who play so-called massively multiplayer online role-playing games (say that ten times fast) and their alter-egos. Here's one:

Actually, maybe some of these folks could use a priest.

Grant Gallicho joined Commonweal as an intern and was an associate editor for the magazine until 2015. 

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