In a recent address to Italy’s National Council of the Order of Journalists, Pope Francis said: “Respecting human dignity is important in any profession … because even behind the simple account of an event there are sentiments, emotions, and ultimately, people’s lives.
“I have spoken about gossip as ‘terrorism’, of how it is possible to kill someone with the tongue. This applies to individual people, in the family or at work, but more so to journalists, because their voice can reach everyone, and this is a very powerful weapon. Journalism must always respect the dignity of the person.
“Certainly, criticism is legitimate and, I would add, necessary, as is the denouncement of wrongdoing, but this must always be done with respect for the other, his life, and his affections. Journalism cannot be a weapon for the destruction of people or even populations.
“I hope that increasingly and everywhere, journalism may be a tool for construction, a factor for the common good and for the acceleration of processes of reconciliation; that it may be able to resist the temptation to foment confrontation, with a language that stokes the flames of division, instead favouring a culture of encounter.”
Bishops criticise government
Zambia’s Catholic bishops and Protestant Church leaders have criticised the setting up of the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs in their country. “In view of the various financial and economic challenges our country is currently facing, we neither see the creation of the said ministry as a top priority nor a prudent decision. After all, we believe that Zambians want their country to be a democracy rather than a theocracy,” they said.
Pope backs opposition to same-sex marriage
During the Angelus address last Sunday Pope Francis expressed his support for Mexican bishops and citizens opposing the government’s push to legalise same-sex marriage.
The Pope’s comments follow the large demonstration by tens of thousands of people who marched through Mexico City the day before to protest President Enrique Pena Nieto’s proposal on marriage.
Pope Francis also offered prayers for slain Mexican priests. The Pope said: “I assure my prayer for the dear Mexican people, that the violence, which has in recent days reached even several priests, might cease.”
Two priests were abducted and murdered in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, and a third priest was found dead later last Sunday. Since Pena Nieto took office in 2012, 14 priests have been killed and there have been scores of thousands of kidnappings and homicides.
Catholics and Orthodox churches reach agreement
A commission of theologians from the Catholic and Orthodox churches have reached agreement on the primacy in Church history. This is important as the question of primacy in the Church is relevant to the question of papal primacy, one of the dividing issues in Catholic-Orthodox ecumenical discussions.
The statement acknowledged that the Bishop of Rome enjoyed primacy, while noting that synods set directions for the Church. The document says that the Pope did not exercise canonical authority over the Eastern churches, but acted as “first among equals”.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)