Featured

Pope: Fake news is satanic, condemns use in politics

309

Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned fake news as satanic, saying journalists and social media users should shun and unmask manipulative “snake tactics” that foment division to serve political and economic interests.

“Fake news is a sign of intolerant and hypersensitive attitudes, and leads only to the spread of arrogance and hatred. That is the end result of untruth,” Francis said in the first document by a pope on the subject.

 The document was issued after months of debate on how much fake news may have influenced the 2016 US presidential campaign and the election of President Donald Trump.

“Spreading fake news can serve to advance specific goals, influence political decisions, and serve economic interests,” the pope wrote, condemning the “manipulative use of social networks” and other forms of communication.

False stories, the Pope said, spread so quickly that even authoritative denials often could not contain the damage done and many people run the risk of becoming “unwilling accomplices in spreading biased and baseless ideas”.

He called for “education for truth” that would help people discern, evaluate and understand news in order to recognise the “sly and dangerous form of seduction that worms its way into the heart with false and alluring arguments”.

Francis compared the use of fake news to the Bible story of the devil, who, disguised as a serpent, persuaded Eve to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.

He said she was fed wrong information by Satan, who told her the fruit would make her and Adam as all-knowing as God.

“We need to unmask what could be called the ‘snake-tactics’ used by those (purveyors of fake news) who disguise themselves in order to strike at any time and place.”

Leave a comment

Related Articles

#EndBadGovernance protests: AGF to Police: Transfer casefiles of 72 defendants to my office

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince...

Morocco 2025: Ekong, Aina, Simon, Ndidi, 19 others to battle Benin Republic, Rwanda

Captain William Ekong, wingback Olaoluwa Aina, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo...

Unleash the Creativity Within! [PRT 2]

So here I am with more ideas of DIY crafts for you...

Career Advancement Tips for Men

The truth that most career people avoid accepting is that advancing in...

Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce inagurates Atelly as 18th President, unveils programmes

Ray Atelly has been sworn in as the 18th President of the...

Kano guber poll ‘clerical error’: An Appeal Court judgment in a mire of controversy

The past few months have been characterized with legal tussles over the...

Why I did not walk out of Super Falcons before FIFA female World Cup – Waldrum

In a recent podcast interview with ‘On The Whistle’ podcast. Randy Waldrum,...

Niger’s ousted president is being denied food and electricity, says European Union

The European Union Friday said it had “deep concern” about the treatment...

Breaking: Ex-Kaduna Gov. El rufai might reject ministerial appointment 

The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El rufai is...

President Tinubu appoints Ajuri Ngelale as special adviser media & publicity

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the appointment of Chief Ajuri...

Are ‘balloons’ the new drug epidemic in Nigeria?

They may look like the normal balloons you see at children’s birthday...

From Fame to Penury: The Despicable Tales of Nigerian Veteran Thespians

The entertainment industry, particularly the movie circle, has been in the eye...

Content creation is the new oil, says Broda Shaggi in an exclusive interview with PSN

There are not many in the class of Samuel Animashaun Perry otherwise...

Hubby’s watery sperm, erectile dysfunction crash two-month-old marriage

A husband’s watery sperm has forced his wife to urge the court...

Max Air Acquires 16 Year Old Boeing 777-200

Kano based Max Air Limited has taken delivery of its first Boeing...

From waste collection to classroom: Story of Adamu’s pursuit of education

Coming from the background of a family of seven children and parents...

Fuel Subsidy: Need for Labour to tread softly, Softly 

The Labour Movement in Nigeria is up in arms against the Federal...

Between the dialectics and the benefits of petroleum subsidy removal

By Paul Njowusi For many years, successive administrations in Nigeria had embraced...