Catholic Promotions Go Tokyo Pop-culture Style

It seems more and more of the world is turning to youth oriented cultural icons in an attempt to get their attention, the Catholic church is no different. Recently, they announced a campaign that utilizes the youth generation's love of anime to draw them to the religion. This comes as a the World Day of Prayer for Vocations approaches, and the Catholic church is hoping to catch budding priests and those interested in faith while they can.

Friar Paul Embery the Director of the National Office for Vocation stated that "We have chosen the Manga cartoons for the 2007 campaign, because we hope it will appeal to young people under twenty as well as people in their thirties" (Indian Catholic, 2007). Campaign posters have already been sent out to churches in mass numbers, and a website has been launched on Calledtoday.com detailing the stories of five different people meant to inform and inspire.

While the art is being called "manga" styled, manga fans are critical, especially after viewing the actual artwork itself on the Calledtoday website. However, what there is no doubt of is the use of animation whether manga fans are able to accept and utilize the term "manga" for it or not. Still, as the Anime News Network notes, this isn't the first time religion and manga have meshed. "Osamu Tezuka himself created a classic manga series on Buddha and consulted with the Vatican on In the Beginning: The Bible Stories anime series." (Anime News Network, 2007). Additionally, such series as Hellsing and Trinity Blood have dealt, although in a very alternative and unique manner, the issue of religion, churches, and the people involved with them.

At this point the use of "manga-styled" art is being used solely by the British, however, with the widespread publicity, and the latest statistics by the British Bishops on applicant priests rising (Indian Catholic, 2007), one has to wonder what countries are next. This question is especially prominent with the extensive rise in popularity of anime in the U.S in recent years. This potential could possibly work to the Catholic churches benefit. It seems it's only a matter of time now before other branches of the Catholic church follow suit in adopting youth related cultural promotional methods. Perhaps it will be the failure or success of the British Bishops campaign that will decide the fate of this unconventional method in other Catholic diocese.

Indian Catholic. (2007). Japanese Manga Promoting Vocations in the U.K. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from Indian Catholic Global Church News Website: http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=7288

Anime News Network. (2007). British Bishops Use "
Manga-Styled" Art to Attract Youth. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from Anime News Network Website: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-04-26/british-bishops-use-manga-styled-art-to-attract-youth

Called Today: The Churches Promotional Website: http://www.calledtoday.com/