VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) – Pope Francis has stated that online media sites have become filled with “hate speech and fake news,” a warning which the Pontifical Academy for Life used to defend itself over controversy regarding its recent publication.
In a message published by the Vatican on July 18, Pope Francis addressed the upcoming SIGNIS World Congress – a meeting of the World Catholic Association for Communication, due to be held in South Korea in mid-August.
The 85-year-old pontiff at first praised online forms of communication, saying that “during the months of lockdown due to the pandemic, we saw clearly how digital media could bring us together, not only by disseminating essential information, but also by bridging the loneliness of isolation and, in many cases, uniting whole families and ecclesial communities in prayer and worship.”
However, he warned that “in some places, media sites have become places of toxicity, hate speech and fake news.”
“Listening is likewise essential to the synodal journey that the whole Church has undertaken in these years,” he said, urging SIGNIS to encourage Catholics “to listen to one another, to the Lord’s will and to grow in the awareness that we participate in a communion that precedes and includes us.”
Following the Pope’s message, the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV) welcomed his message, and used it to defend themselves amidst controversy following the publication of a new book promoting contraception.
PAV wrote that it had been the recipient of “many unwarranted, violent attacks, from many Catholics or supposedly so, all expert theologians.” The Pope’s message “supports all of us who seek to communicate a Church of mercy and dialogue.
Last days and even today @PontAcadLife received many unwarranted, violent attacks, from many Catholics or supposedly so, all expert theologians. Then comes this Message from @Pontifex which supports all of us who seek to communicate a Church of mercy and dialogue. @SIGNIS pic.twitter.com/QDt5ygQddI
— Pontifical Academy Life (@PontAcadLife) July 18, 2022
Dissident, pro-LGBT group New Ways Ministry echoed the PAV’s comments, saying that “When it comes to LGBTQ+ issues, “our commitment to listen to one another” must guide us as Catholics.”
The PAV has come under widespread criticism from faithful Catholics online, following the sharing of a LifeSiteNews article reporting on its recently published book, Theological Ethics of Life. Scripture, Tradition, Practical Challenges. The work is a collection of essays taken from a three-day interdisciplinary seminar sponsored by the PAV.
READ: Two Pontifical Academy for Life members rebuked for publicly supporting assisted suicide
The article noted how the book advocates for contraception and artificial insemination as if the topics are open topics for discussion, instead of having already been condemned by the Church.
Strongly disagreeing with critics of the book and the Academy itself, the PAV wrote in response that “what is dissent today, can change.”
“It is not relativism, it is the dynamics of the understanding of phenomena and science: the Sun does not rotate around the Earth,” continued the Academy, in defence of the book. “Otherwise there would be no progress and everything would stand still. Even in theology. Think about it.”
At that time, senior editor for the National Catholic Register Jonathan Liedl slated the PAV, writing: “A Vatican organ lazily comparing Humane Vitae to geocentricism in order to undermine decades of post-conciliar teaching on sexual ethics.”
LifeSiteNews first alerted you that Opus Dei expelled African priest, Fr. JesusMary, for faithfully speaking the truth against Pope Francis’ harmful errors about same-sex civil unions.
Then on July 4th, Pope Francis RETALIATED and BANNED Fr. JesusMary from celebrating HOLY MASS – even privately – for as long as he dares criticize Pope Francis!
LifeSiteNews exposed Pope Francis’ suspension of Fr. JesusMary:
"The African priest is now barred from any active ministry, including celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass in public. He is permitted to say Mass privately on the condition that he refrains from writing criticism of the Roman pontiff."
Now, as you can see below, Twitter is joining Pope Francis and Opus Dei by CENSORING Fr. JesusMary and BLOCKING his posts from reaching faithful Catholics with the truth about God’s plan for marriage and the family!
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Our Lord promises that “the Truth will set you free” (John 8:31), and we need to free Fr. JesusMary to continue speaking the truth in the face of error and globalist intimidation.
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Fr. JesusMary has shown us the way into a new battle for the Holy Mass and Catholic orthodoxy against a modernist and worldly narrative infecting the Church today – the same narrative that promotes Pachamama, communist China, and issues a joyless statement after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
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Following the PAV’s later tweet, decrying the “violent attacks” against it, Liedl re-affirmed his earlier comments, writing: “Ok, this has to be parody at this point.”
U.K. author and catechist deacon Nick Donnelly also criticized the PAV its response to “online criticism following its publication of a book proposing a paradigm shift regarding IVF & contraception.”
“What do they expect to happen when they propose changing doctrines that have convinced countless couples to accept life-changing sacrifices?” he wrote.
The @PontAcadLife objects to online criticism following its publication of a book proposing a paradigm shift regarding IVF & contraception
What do they expect to happen when they propose changing doctrines that have convinced countless couples to accept life-changing sacrifices https://t.co/oSKFpC3jl6
— Nick Donnelly (@ProtecttheFaith) July 18, 2022
The PAV has been described as being permeated by “heretical gnosticism” after it was overhauled by Pope Francis beginning in 2016. The Pope released new statutes for the PAV in November 2016, in which members were no longer required to sign a declaration that they uphold the Church’s pro-life teachings, while also expanding the PAV’s mandate to include a focus on the environment.
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