Pope Francis has told Catholic media that his annual World Communications Day speech, watched by tens of millions around the world, will be dedicated to addressing “fake news.” Journalists are “fundamental” to democratic society, said the pope, and in doing their job “shouldn’t fall into the ‘sins of communication.’ ” The Scrapbook is flattered, humbled, really, that His Holiness should address our humble craft, but what was that last part?
Francis explains that these “sins of communication” include “disinformation, or giving just one side, calumny that is sensationalized”—does that mean calumny that hasn’t been sensationalized is okay?—“or defamation, looking for things that are old news and have been dealt with and bringing them to light today.” Such actions, he says, constitute “grave sin that hurts the heart of the journalist and hurts others.”
No doubt, fake news is a problem for our times and perhaps even the work of the devil himself (Old Scratch never having been one much for compulsive truth-telling). It’s also no surprise that the Holy Father—whose business, after all, is broadcasting the Good News—should have little patience with the scribblers who specialize in the bad variety. Last year he struck a similar chord, rebuking the “communications industry” for spreading “fear” and “pessimism.”
Still, The Scrapbook would like to see the pope recognize there is a distinction to be made between bearing false witness and being the bearer of bad news.
The Vatican has had to battle fake news several times under this particular pope. Even when Francis is theologically conservative on an issue (not exactly a common occurrence) his rather more casual comments have often left bishops and cardinals nonplused. Earlier this year he joked that “inside the Holy Trinity they’re all arguing behind closed doors, but on the outside they give the picture of unity.” In November, a prominent American priest and theologian was asked to resign after sending a letter to Pope Francis that described his tenure as one of “chronic confusion” and “ambiguity.”
But, sorry, sorry, that’s old news and has been dealt with.
