A Ghanaian missionary priest, Rev. Fr. Dennis Kormla Senyo Etti, Former Vice Superior of the SMA Ghana Province, has called for intentional, disciplined, and mission-focused engagement of priests on social media after expressing concern over recent developments involving some clergy in digital spaces.
Fr. Etti made the remarks in an opinion shared on his social media platforms following several days of what he described as careful monitoring of emerging trends relating to how some priests engage online. He noted that the digital environment has evolved into a “new world” that requires pastoral wisdom, clarity of purpose, and well-defined boundaries.
According to him, social media is no longer merely a communication tool but a distinct cultural space where priests are equally called to proclaim the Gospel. While the missionary mandate of the priest remains unchanged, he explained that engagement within the digital environment demands thoughtful discernment and responsibility.
Fr. Etti observed that although online platforms offer significant opportunities for evangelisation, allowing priests to reach wider audiences, accompany people beyond geographical limitations, and interact with individuals who may never physically enter a church, the speed, informality, and emotionally charged nature of online communication can easily blur the lines between the personal and the pastoral if engagement is not intentional.
He emphasised that recent developments involving some clergy internationally highlight the need for deeper reflection on how priests participate in digital platforms. Rather than withdrawing from social media, he advised that priests should learn to engage responsibly, recognising that their presence in any space, physical or digital, remains closely tied to their vocation.
To guide healthy engagement, Fr. Etti proposed three key principles: clarity of identity and purpose, disciplined speech, and respect for the sacred nature of pastoral relationships. He noted that priests should approach social media primarily as ordained ministers serving the Church’s pastoral mission rather than as entertainers or influencers, while still allowing room for creativity that supports evangelisation.
He further urged clergy to exercise discernment before posting, stressing that priests’ words carry spiritual and moral significance and should therefore aim to enlighten, heal, and build up the faithful. In addition, he cautioned against oversharing sensitive pastoral experiences, emphasising the need to maintain confidentiality and reverence in order to preserve the dignity of the priesthood and the trust of the faithful.
Fr. Etti concluded that the Church cannot ignore what he described as the “digital continent,” encouraging priests to remain present online as intentional witnesses to the Gospel while engaging with prudence, integrity, and pastoral sensitivity. He stated that the key question is not whether priests should be on social media, but how they should participate in ways that remain faithful to their calling and mission.
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