Truth

Below is the 17^th in the August Catholic Social Teaching series: Truth

We usually think of the first sin being the disobedience of Adam and Eve when they ate the fruit in the Genesis Story.  Actually, their first misstep was listening to a liar, an unworthy spokesperson. Justice begins with Truth.  When we sidestep truth with a lie, we are already on the wrong path even before we act or if we do not act ourselves but condone the actions of others acting on the lie. Our minds seek patterns and when we do not use intellectual virtues well, we create conspiracy theories to substitute for truth. –

Teresita Scully, MTS

The Catholic Church as been extremely concerned how the truth is shared. Be it religious, secular, or cultural, there is one truth. With the growth of media through print, then radio, then television and now social media, that concern has increased.

On October 13, 1962, Pope John XXIII spoke on the media of media.

“Pope St. John XXIII was well aware of the role and the power of the media and had already set in motion a series of innovations to help the press tell the story.”

“The Pope reminded those present of their duty to always be “at the service of truth,” and reflecting on how the message conveyed by different media was able to reach and ultimately “guide the thoughts, feelings and passions of a large part of mankind,” he warned against the  distortion of the truth by the media, which he said, “can have incalculable consequences.””

“He warned against prejudices that can flourish when “loyal and objective information cannot get through” and  “which sustain in people's minds roots of mistrust, suspicion and misunderstanding, the consequences of which are deplorable for the progress of harmony among men and among peoples.”

These prejudices, he said, are often based on inaccurate or incomplete information.”

 You can read more here

Catechism of the Catholic Church - THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT:

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16 and Deut. 5:20

2464 The eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others. This moral prescription flows from the vocation of the holy people to bear witness to their God who is the truth and wills the truth. Offenses against the truth express by word or deed a refusal to commit oneself to moral uprightness: they are fundamental infidelities to God and, in this sense, they undermine the foundations of the covenant.

1994 - Message of the Holy Father John Paul II for the 28^th  World Communications Day

Television:

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16 and Deut. 5:20

In recent decades, television has spearheaded a communications revolution which has profoundly affected family life. Today television is a primary source of news, information and entertainment for countless families, shaping their attitudes and opinions, their values and patterns of behavior.“

“To guarantee that the television industry will safeguard the rights of the family, parents should express their legitimate concerns to media managers and producers. Sometimes they will find it useful to join with others in associations which represent their interests in relation to the media, to sponsors and advertisers, and to public authorities.” Read more here

I encourage you to watch the video here