Cultural activities: their purpose

These cultural activities, conferences, and seminars should always be an occasion to teach good doctrine. They should spread in a very natural way the principles of public ecclesiastical law and of the Church’s social teaching, and also make the participants aware of the rights and duties of Catholics in public, family and professional life.

Seminars

There can also be discussions about subjects of current interest, but you have to be particularly careful then to follow what I have already told you: things are studied, not argued, and only a person who is properly qualified teaches.

To study, not argue

Those who participate in these discussions must study beforehand the subject-matter that is going to be covered, and do so in a responsible fashion, not superficially and not improvising at the last minute. They ought to listen attentively to opinions contrary to their own, respect the freedom of others (in everything that is a matter of opinion) and take great care to be charitable.