This is the 50th year that a message on communications has been issued by the Vatican; World Communications Day was celebrated in January this year. For this month of October, I would like to share the message of Pope Francis: “That journalists, in carrying out their work, may always be motivated by respect for the truth and a strong sense of ethics.”
Several years ago, I asked: “Media: Freedom or License?” as I deplored the so-called media freedom as coming dangerously close to license. In fact, another writer had proposed government regulation of broadcast media, citing provisions of Republic Act 7966 to serve as a basis for issuing guidelines for broadcast franchisees, as well as TV networks, since airwaves and readership should address the people’s right to truth with fairness and ethics.
Television and print media have often highlighted the gory results of murders or massacres, and indeed, recently, the killings related to the current drug war. People take such images for granted as being “news”—while adults can process such images (I hope) and would likely be able to realize that such “news” are not acceptable facts of life, young people whose minds are impressionable could record in their subconscious that power is a great thing to have if one can eliminate one’s enemies at will. The media culture of “if it bleeds, it leads” today is a sad indication of how, in the last analysis, media is governed by ratings, and taking that a step further, by revenues.
The Holy Father’s message in January invites us to reflect on the relationship between communications and mercy. Mercy is the distinctive trait of the Church. What we say and how we say it ought to express God’s compassion, tenderness and forgiveness for all. Love, he says, by its nature is communication and leads to openness and sharing. If our hearts and actions are inspired by charity, by divine love, then our communication will be touched by God’s own power.
Communication, moreover, he continues, has the power to build bridges, to enable encounter and inclusion and, thus, enrich society. “How beautiful it is, when people select their words and actions with care, in the effort to avoid misunderstandings, to heal wounded memories and to build peace and harmony.
“Words can build bridges between individuals and within families, social groups and peoples.” He, thus, invites all people of goodwill to rediscover the power of mercy to heal wounded relationships and to restore peace and harmony to families and communities and among peoples. For ancient wounds and lingering resentments can entrap individuals and stand in the way of communication and reconciliation.
Our political and diplomatic language, he says, would do well to be inspired by mercy, and if I may add, our media language, as well. He asks those charged with forming public opinion to remain especially attentive to the way they speak (and write) of those who think or act differently or those who may have made mistakes. Such situations can stoke mistrust, fear and hatred. Instead, courage is needed to guide peoples toward processes of reconciliation, for such positive and creative boldness can offer real solutions to conflicts and the opportunity to build lasting peace.
E-mails, text messages, social networks and chats can also be fully human forms of communication. Such digital networks, just like public media, can facilitate relationships and promote the good of society, rather than lead to further polarization and division. The digital world, as with the press and TV, is similarly a public square, a meeting place where we can either encourage or demean one another, engage in meaningful discussion or unfair attacks.
The Internet can help us to be better citizens. Access to digital networks entails a responsibility for our neighbor whom we do not see but, nevertheless, is real and has a dignity which must be respected. The same is true of public media.
Communication, Pope Francis says, wherever and however it takes place, has opened up broader horizons for many people. This is a gift of God that involves great responsibility. In a broken, fragmented and polarized world, to communicate with mercy means to help create a healthy, free and fraternal closeness between the children of God and all our brothers and sisters in the one human family.
Quoting the Holy Father, “I pray that this Jubilee Year, lived in mercy, ‘may open us to even more fervent dialogue so that we might know and understand one another better; and that it may eliminate every form of closed-mindedness and disrespect, and drive out every form of violence and discrimination.”
merci.suleik@gmail.com
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“Digital networks, just like public media, can facilitate relationships and promote the good of society, rather than lead to further polarization and division.”
This will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.
All nations will hate you because you are my followers.
The time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.
Jesus speaking in Matthew 10:18,22,26,32,33,34