“Pope Francis suggested Tuesday that ‘huge economic interests’ are at work in the digital world, capable of manipulating ‘the democratic process.’” He continued: “The way many platforms work often ends up favouring encounter between persons who think alike, shielding them from debate….These closed circuits facilitate the spread of fake news and false information, fomenting prejudice and hate.”
As subtle as the Pope’s speech may sound, he has has long castigated truth-tellers for resisting open-door immigration due to specific concerns about the Islamization of Western countries, not because of “prejudice,” “hate,” or discrimination. Western countries have been accepting of immigrants.
The Pope uses the same type of language that the European Union has been using against those who try to preserve free societies in the face of open-door immigration. EU chief Guy Verhofstadt — who is also President of an organization called “Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe” — has accused Poland and Hungary of being “illiberal” and working contrary to traditional values. He stated rightly that “the European Union… was built to guarantee our citizens’ freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” but overlooks the fact that Poland and Hungary are trying to preserve those values. It is the EU that has been bullying these countries to surrendering these values to Islamic supremacists.
While the Pope accuses “huge economic interests” at work in the digital world, it is worthwhile to remember that the “US Catholic Bishops received over $95 million from US taxpayers in 2016 for refugee/migrant care.”
It is also the Leftist mainstream media and its allies that shut down open debate about Islam and the threats that Islamic doctrine poses to free societies.
The Pope fails to highlight the “huge economic interests” of jihad groups, because to do so would not suit his interests. An Assyrian group that fled war in Syria once filed a lawsuit in North Carolina against the Turkish-Kuwaiti Bank for funding jihad terrorism and:
It is no secret that major jihad-funding groups disguise themselves as aid groups while bankrolling terror organizations across the Middle East and beyond. Recall the Holy Land Foundation trial, the largest terror funding trial in U.S. history, which unveiled the charity’s material support for Hamas and also a list of approximately 300 “unindicted co-conspirators” that included CAIR and other mainstream Muslim organizations operating in North America.
When the Pope decides to remove his own screening practices of who enters the Vatican, along with his protective walls and security personnel from around the Vatican, as he exhorts Western nations to do, perhaps he would be more convincing.
Pope Francis has received no gratitude from those whom he is enabling. Last year, the Islamic State threatened to assassinate him. The year before that, “another pro-ISIS group depicted a van full of weapons heading towards the Vatican and vowing ‘Christmas blood.'” Meanwhile, Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Cairo’s al-Azhar, has thanked Pope Francis for his “defense of Islam against the accusation of violence and terrorism.”
“Pope Francis Decries ‘Fake News’ Fueling ‘Prejudice and Hate,’” by Thomas D. Williams, Breitbart, April 2, 2019:
Pope Francis suggested Tuesday that “huge economic interests” are at work in the digital world, capable of manipulating “the democratic process.”
“The proliferation of fake news is the expression of a culture that has lost its sense of truth and bends the facts to suit particular interests,” the pope said in a book-length letter bearing the Latin title Christus Vivit (Christ Is Alive).“It should not be forgotten that there are huge economic interests operating in the digital world, capable of exercising forms of control as subtle as they are invasive, creating mechanisms for the manipulation of consciences and of the democratic process,” he said.
Moreover, social media create polarization and ideological ghettos, the pontiff proposed, as people only listen to those who share their particular worldview.
“The way many platforms work often ends up favouring encounter between persons who think alike, shielding them from debate,” he wrote. “These closed circuits facilitate the spread of fake news and false information, fomenting prejudice and hate.”
The internet and social media are powerful instruments capable of destroying a person’s good name, he said, without allowing them any defense.
“The reputation of individuals is put in jeopardy through summary trials conducted online. The Church and her pastors are not exempt from this phenomenon,” he said.
This is not the first time the pope has come out against fake news, a phenomenon he once likened to “excrement.”
Last year, Francis denounced “fake news” as a serious problem in the modern age, while calling on journalists to break oligarchies that present just one version of the story.
“In today’s fast-changing world of communications and digital systems, we are witnessing the spread of what has come to be known as ‘fake news,’” the pontiff said, suggesting that homogeneous news cartels without the necessary competition easily spread disinformation.
“Disinformation thus thrives on the absence of healthy confrontation with other sources of information that could effectively challenge prejudices and generate constructive dialogue,” the pope said. “Instead, it risks turning people into unwilling accomplices in spreading biased and baseless ideas.”
The Vatican itself has not proved immune to the phenomenon of fake news.
A year ago this month, the Vatican was caught doctoring a photograph of a letter from Emeritus Pope Benedict making it look as if he were endorsing a series of books on the theology of Pope Francis…..
somehistory says
recalling that bo criticized the internet and the information it presents….because he didn’t like the Truth getting out. Neither does this guy. He wants to control people…esp Christians and their thinking and puts out his own “fake” stuff in order to do that.
Birds of a feather, flock together. Control the news…hide the Truth…confuse the populace with falsehoods and propaganda.
And just look at his frown. Could caption that as needing Tums or Pepto.
Rufolino says
There are no surprises in the above artical. The Catholic Church of Rome has always been one of the most controlling institutions that has ever existed, controlling human lives, controlling human thoughts.
Jesus said he came so that mankind could “have life, and have it abundantly.”. Not if the Catholic Church has anything to do with it. It wants you in your place and in their power. Doing as they tell you, obeying their authority uncritically.
antonia says
Apparently, the pope has realized that many Catholic clergy are being deplatformed because they speak out against abortion. The Leftards consider themselves *infallible* in all their own opinions, so they have a right to deplatform those whose opinions they hate.
Hopefully, Francis will consider that FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS A SACRED TRUST that we can’t live without. Christians will be rounded up and mistreated if there is no freedom of expression.
Islam and the Leftist-Globalists have made an evil alliance and the pope should be leading the resistance.
His comments are a welcome step in the right direction. Without dissent, complete TOTALITARIANISM is inevitable as night follows day.
Patrick healy says
Antonia, you forgot the sarcasm tag after your final paragraph.
antonia says
Patrick, I’ve asked around. Many who posted comments and pictures about abortion were deplatformed. I have the impression that is part of the pope’s motivation. Opponents of late-term abortion have no where to express their dissent.
No sarcasm intended. The pope is extremely naïve about Islam, but he will eventually become informed.
Jay says
Pope Francis is the traitor within the Vatican! The USA should stop all the $$ aid to catholic social services immediately! This Pope should resign immediately or be removed from his position.
He is beyond a disgrace to the Catholic Church worldwide!
Hopefully someday he will pay for his treason !
StacyGirl says
Exactly. This man has no accomplishments at all. He covers up the evil perversity within his own church and has been a consistent defender of Islamic terror. He profits from the bribe money “migrant” colonizers bring. There is nothing redeeming in his existence- pun intended.
Jinxmim says
The media protects Islam, it doesn’t attack it. The only people who attack it are the people who have studied Islamic doctrine and how it is practiced. Everyone else just relies on the biased explanations Muslims give and their own assumption that Islam is another version of Christianity.
Walter Sieruk says
The real prejudice and hate is spread by the Muslim clerics in the mosques and other places. the Islamic hating of Christians and Jews as well as the Muslim hare of people of other religions and of no religion. This Muslim hate can be seen as how the many Muslims treat Christians in Islamic nations as Pakistan .
The Muslim hate and prejudiced for the Jewish people is so severe that some Muslim call Jews “apes and swine.” Those those Muslims obtain this prejudice from the Quran ,as seen from 2:65; 7:166.; 5:60.
The pope needs as reality check .For example , in Europe in the nation of France the believers in Islam with all their jihad-minded Islamic hate and prejudice engage in murderous jihad violence .As observed in Jihadist/Muslims in those brutal murderous Islamic terror attacks of Charlie Hebdo and then later those jihad ISIS attack in Paris, France, on Bastille Day July 14, 2016 and then that Nice, France jihad murdering jihad attack on July 14, 2016 in an ISIS audio recording broadcasted on September 2014 declared “If you can kill a disbelieving American or European especially the spiteful and filthy French …kill him in any manner or way however it may be.” [1] This alone exposes the vicious and malicious way of thinking of the jihadist who composes ISIS. The result of this wicked mindset where those heinously malice – filled jihad mindset was carried out by those by those Islamic jihadist deadly attacks in Paris and Nice. Furthermore the jihadists of ISIS sure have some gall calling the French “spiteful” since it’s the jihadist ISIS thugs who are so very spiteful that they murder people in many extremely cruel ways. Likewise, the ISIS savages have some gall calling the French “filthy” Since it’s the ISIS jihadist villains who the ones who are so lawless and vile that the kidnap and rape both girls and women.
[1] THE ISIS CRISIS by Charles Dyer Page 44
antonia says
Agree that the pope needs a reality check about Islam, but I wonder if he is realizing since seeing Morocco that Islam is worse than he assumed ! Can we hope that the ‘reality’ of an oppressed Islamic country is entering the pope’s mentality. We’ll find out soon.
Terry Gain says
How is it possible that this Pope does not know who shuts down debate using deplatforming and violence? Is he really this clueless?
Kepha says
Pope Frankie Boogalooogaloo is part of the problem; not a clueless bystander. He was shaped by Latin America’s so-called liberation theology (Marxism baptized), and represents a Gramscian march through the supposed ultimate non-Left institution. His comments on economic interests fueling Islamophobia represents a tired, hackneyed, Marxist economic determinism that has to see some sinister J.P. Moneybags in top hat and striped pants handing out money behind the scenes. He can’t, for the life of him, figure out that there are a lot of people who’ve replied to the experts’ “Who will you believe: credentialed me, or your own lying eyes?” with a resounding “Our own eyes!!!!”
The fact that lots of people are starting to see through so-called “expert” opinion and think for themselves is precisely the reason why Frankie Boogaloogaloooo and other “experts” do not acquiesce in the deplatforming and violence, but actually encourage it.
Walter Sieruk says
When is pope Francis going to condemn the actual hate and prejudice of male Muslim because of Islam against females, both girls and women ? the answer is “.Probably never”.
As taking one example out of many of Male Muslim misogyny. that is murderous misogyny.
As from that harsh brutal oppression of girls and women in this tyrannical Islamic regime of Iran with its heinously cruel ,vicious and deadly abuse of women.
As this following example reveals.
That heinously cruel and murderous Islamic tyranny of Iran is very brutal and vicious to the Iranian people. Especially regarding females. Both girls and women. For example a teenage girl in Iran was talking to her boyfriend on the phone and then the Islamic state “police” walked over to her and shot her dead. They did that wicked and malicious thing to her because she was talking to her boyfriend and they also didn’t like her clothing. [1] That was a clear cut case of murder and vicious Islamic madness by Iran’s Islamic state “ police”, who call themselves the “Revolutionary Guards”, they got away with their hideous and malice –filled evil because the mullahs as well as other villains in power in that tyrannical Islamic regime .
[1] A TIME TO BETRAY by Reza Kahlili page 240
DHazard says
It’s good that pretty much nobody cares about what the Pope says including Roman Catholics. Whatever happened to worship? Isn’t that what Christians do? And what if they, or the other guy, is worshiping the wrong god? It seems that Pope Francis wants Catholics to stop believing in Christianity and adopt Shariah blasphemy laws out pure compassion. His positions are baffling and do nothing but muddy the waters for rational critics of Islam.
FYI says
That’s a bit rich coming from Fraudulent Frankie,the FALSE Jesuit judas “pope”..
Fake news?Does he mean like all the Fake news coming from the vatican?
POT-KETTLE-BLACK
{Ampulla-Cortina-Ater:perhaps they might get the Latin better…}
CogitoErgoSum says
This again is muddled thinking. Is he calling for greater restriction to be placed on corporations or is he calling for restrictions to be placed on freedom of speech? Just what is he saying? Yes, spreading gossip and lies are bad. Prejudice and hate are bad. Okay. Christians have known that for a long, long time. What is his recommendation for changing what is bad into good? Did he say?
somehistory says
CogitoErgoSum
I could be wrong, but it seems he is still targeting Christians. He is accusing some people of being influenced by economics to the point that they don’t wish to share their wealth with others, but esp with those against whom they have a prejudice or bias…ie: moslims
These ones form these feelings by reading “biased” reports on the internet.
It also sounds like he was thinking of his clergy people who have been accused/convicted of crimes in recent months.
To my mind, he doesn’t want people making so much use of the internet because the Truth gets out and even though there is “fake news”…some people are intelligent enough to sort it all out and come to the right conclusion.
Rarely says
Be generous folks. He’s busy trying to eradicate sexual abuse inside Vatican City. Of course it took a huge outcry from around the World to make that tiny and mostly symbolic dint in the overall problem inside the Catholic Church.
Someone should remind him that “it is better to be thought a fool and keep your mouth shut than to open it and remove all doubt”.
Wellington says
Query: Has there ever been in history a more influential and well financed dhimmi apologist for Islam, easily the worst religion of all time, than the current pontifex maximus?
The harm this exceedingly foolish man has done (and will even continue to due beyond his death because of all the like-minded bishops and cardinals he has appointed) is approaching the incalculable.
Roman Catholics (those still around) must address the enormous damage this Pope has done. Not to do so is dispositive of ignorance or cowardice or both.
David M says
Look at his face in that picture, that is not the face of a holy man who is filled with love for the world.
That is more the face of someone who has gone to the evil side and is only pretending to be a Pope.
Westman says
Whatever one thinks of Pope Francis, it’s hard to deny that he is emptying the Catholic churches in democratic nations as people believe their eyes.
The beauty of modern communications is the stripping away of the insulating property of education and authoritative spin that creates “experts”. Information is open to anyone willing to research. Incompetence and preverication can be quickly discovered – like AOC declaring the 22nd ammendment to the Constitution, in 1947(ratified in 1951), was created to prevent FDR, who died in 1945, from running for another term. Then the equally clueless talking head interviewer bobbleheads in agreement. Chakrabarti must still have a red forehead from slapping it in disbelief – after all that briefing……
Paul J says
The old tactic of accusing others of being that which you are yourself. How can conservatives be guilty of not hearing opposing views when we are constantly being bombarded with them on most news outlets. The only ones living in an echo chamber are the left and this clown knows it. He is one of the greatest decievers and spreaders of fake news/doctrine alive today.
gravenimage says
+1
antonia says
Pope Francis is in favor of FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION NOW? It’s sad he only discovered freedom of expression after he gave comfort and much ammunition to those who want to destroy REAL DEBATE
by deplatforming all dissent. The pope has been COMPLICIT in creating the ECHO CHAMBERS by forbidding his followers from criticizing Islam … the medieval death cult.
“The way many platforms work often ends up favouring encounter between persons who think alike, shielding them from debate….”
The pope has favored this sort of deplatforming by discouraging criticism of Islam. Many ex-Muslims want to criticize Islam, because in the West they find they can criticize it for the first time in their lives.
Pope Francis, MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
gravenimage says
Actually, he is condemning freedom of expression here.
Lydia Church says
Ironically this sums up the problem with Left wing biased media and news spin! (Albeit unintentionally.)
The godfather strikes again… in the wrong direction.
gravenimage says
Pope Francis condemns “huge economic interests” and “fake news fueling prejudice and hate”
………………………….
Most likely this is a call to shut down any speech from those who don’t want to be oppressed or murdered by Muslims.
Halal Bacon says
meh, his score card is how many people can I convince to become Catholic by pissing them off
Georg says
Guy should step down as Pope and join Code Pink or Al Qaeda.
Peter WF says
Let him lead by example and settle refugees in the Vatican.
Halal Bacon says
if the pope was providing the booze…
UNCLE VLADDI says
Re: “huge economic interests” – What a libocrite!
The Vatican Bank owns HALF the world’s wealth.
patriotliz says
It’s devastating for me to see a Pope actively working on behalf of the Leftist-Islamic Axis of Evil to wipe out Christianity and Western Civilization. I knew from the beginning there would be trouble for the Roman Catholic Church when a Jesuit SJW was chosen to be Pope. But, to see the harm he is doing to Christianity world-wide due to his dhimmitude and Islamopandering is unforgivable and irredeemable.
I don’t think God can even have mercy on his soul.
J D.S says
Any country that does not do their utmost to protect the values of its citizens and it’s policy and adheres to the open door / open borders policy is doomed to utter destruction .
Peter WF says
Pollys are desperate to grow their economy. They grow their economy because economists have a certain growth rate that is a good figure. Therefore to be seen as good economic managers (and get elected or re-elected) the pollys grow their economy by the best way they know how – import people. Anybody will do.
Solution – in most countries, don’t vote for the major parties. Look what the Americans did, Neither the democrats nor the republicans liked Trump. And he got the presidency.
Different point-
The media is terrible to him. So if you think he is a buffoon or similar as one of my friends used to, watch his State of the Union address 2019 start to finish. Does that speech match what you hear in the media? Get your info first hand or have a good look at the source of your info. I find that most journalists’ reports are laced with opinion and not facts. Why would they take that approach? Does it increase their work load, or the owners increase their costs?
gravenimage says
Peter, your belief that importing people automatically grows the economy is mistaken–especially when the immigrants in question are Muslims committing crimes, waging Jihad, and living on the dole.
Besides everything else, this is a terrible *drain* on our economies.
Troy Laarman says
Even if ISIS had taken Rome they wouldn’t have spilled a single drop of Christian blood. The Roman Catholic Church is completely apostate from biblical Christianity. They bow down to idols, they call this man “Holy Father” they changed the sabith to the first day of the week on the authority of their false church, they have the blood of the saints on their hands, they pray to Mary and other dead saints, their celebant leaders molest children, and now they..the beast power, are forming an alliance with the false prophet (Mohammed). All that’s left is for the “Antichrist” to come.
somehistory says
Troy Laarman
When comparing “teachings’ with God’s Word, it is clear that the teachings are in conflict with The Word.
gravenimage says
What ugly claptrap from Troy Laarman.
He appears to have no problem with Muslims conquering the West and murdering innocent people, so long as they are what he considers to be the “wrong” kinds of Christians. *Ugh*.
somehistory says
Rufolino
Yes, He did say that He “is the Way” to abundant life. He did not say that about any sinful human.
Jesus said, “All authority has been given me, on earth and in heaven (Matthew 28:18).” He never gave that authority to anyone. Many humans have tried to take it upon themselves, and have tried to be the “master” of other humans souls. Even the Apostle Paul said that he and the others are not the “master of your (our) souls.”
abad says
Pope Francis must be referring to the following fake news being spewed by the MSM:
Islam is a Religion of Peace(TM)
Moslems are victims of the non-Moslem world
Islamic terrorism has nothing to do with Islam
Jihad has nothing to do with Islam
ad nauseum.
Bacherbazistan says
Cardinal Sara for next pope.
https://www.infowars.com/vatican-cardinal-warns-west-will-disappear-because-of-mass-migration/
Tom W Harris says
Is that an antisemitic dog whistle from the Pope? Just wondering….