The Vatican asked bishops and key lay Catholic leaders on Monday to moderate their comments on social media, saying some were causing divisions and fueling controversies that harmed the entire church.
The appeal is part of a 20-page document from the Vatican’s communications department entitled “Towards full presence. A pastoral reflection on engagement with social media”.
The document, addressed to all Catholics, warns about the dangers of fake news on social networks and other forms of abuse that have turned people into commodities whose data is often sold without their knowledge or consent.
The message condemned the polarization and extremism that led to “digital tribalism” on social media, saying that individuals often closed themselves in opinion bubbles that hindered dialogue and often led to violence, abuse and misinformation.
“Christian style should be reflective, not reactive, on social media. Therefore, we must all be careful not to fall into digital traps hidden in content that is intentionally designed to sow conflict among users, causing outrage or emotional reactions,” the statement said.
“The problem of controversial and superficial, and therefore divisive, communication is particularly troubling when it comes from church leadership: bishops, pastors and prominent lay leaders,” he said.
Several conservative Catholic bishops and high-profile commentators, mostly in the United States, have criticized Pope Francis on Twitter, with some endorsing vicious, far-right attacks in videos against the pontiff.
Source: CNN Brasil
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