St. Francis Spirituality & Retreat Center of Easton

COMMUNICATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINE

Purpose

As a Catholic retreat center, the St. Francis Spirituality & Retreat Center of Easton recognizes that all communication—through social media, email, our website, printed materials, and other electronic platforms—is an extension of our ministry and witness to the Gospel.

These guidelines reflect Pope Leo XIV’s call for the Church to use digital communication thoughtfully and effectively in service of the Gospel, while protecting the dignity of every person. They are also intended to align, where applicable, with the Diocese of Allentown Social Media and Electronic Communications Policies, recognizing that the Retreat Center is located within and serves the Catholic community of the Diocese of Allentown.

The Retreat Center is owned and operated by the Monsignor Robert J. Coll Foundation, Inc. and is not a diocesan-owned institution. Nevertheless, we seek to follow the Diocese’s standards and best practices for responsible communication, particularly regarding Christian conduct, privacy, the protection of minors and vulnerable adults, and the appropriate use of social media and electronic communications.

Diocese of Allentown — Social Media & Electronic Communications Policies

Guidelines

1. Communicate Our Mission
All communications should be truthful, charitable, welcoming, professional, and consistent with Catholic teaching and the Retreat Center’s mission of hospitality, prayer, peace, and spiritual renewal.

2. Official Communications
Only individuals authorized by the Executive Director may post, respond, or communicate on behalf of the Retreat Center through official social media, website, email, or other communication channels.

3. Protect Privacy and Confidentiality
Confidential, personal, pastoral, personnel, financial, medical, or other sensitive information must not be shared publicly. Appropriate permission should be obtained before publishing identifiable photographs, videos, or personal information.

4. Protect Minors and Vulnerable Adults
All communications involving minors or vulnerable adults must follow applicable safe-environment, parental-consent, and electronic-communication requirements. Personal social media accounts and unapproved platforms should not be used for private communication with minors.

5. Respect Retreatants and Guests
The prayerful and often personal nature of a retreat should always be respected. Photos or videos of retreatants should not be posted without appropriate permission, with particular care given to school and youth groups.

6. Personal Social Media
Staff and volunteers should clearly distinguish personal opinions from official Retreat Center communications and should not represent themselves as speaking on behalf of the Retreat Center unless authorized.

7. Political Activity
Official Retreat Center communications shall not endorse or oppose political candidates or political parties. Communications should remain focused on our Catholic, religious, charitable, and spiritual mission.

8. Account Security and Oversight
Official accounts must remain under Retreat Center oversight, use appropriate security measures, and have designated administrative access. Inappropriate comments or content may be removed.

9. When in Doubt
If there is uncertainty about whether a post, photograph, message, or other communication is appropriate, it should be reviewed by the Executive Director before publication.

Our Standard

Before posting or communicating on behalf of St. Francis, we should ask:

Is it truthful? Is it charitable? Does it respect the dignity and privacy of others? Does it reflect our Catholic mission? Does it help make St. Francis a place of peace and welcome?

These guidelines supplement applicable policies of the Monsignor Robert J. Coll Foundation, Inc. and, where applicable, the policies and safe-environment requirements of the Diocese of Allentown.