Integrity and Discernment in the Digital Age: An Open Letter to My Fellow Catholics

+JMJ+ Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) clearly outlines the moral responsibility of truthfulness:

CCC 2464: “The eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others.”

CCC 2468: “Truth as uprightness in human action and speech is called truthfulness, sincerity, or candor. Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists in showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and in guarding against duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy.”

Even if a message contains a morally sound principle (like being vigilant against evil), attributing words falsely to a religious leader (especially the pope) is objectively wrong according to Catholic teaching. This is a form of bearing false witness, a sin against the Eighth Commandment.

In our digital world, this has taken on new forms. We live in a time of constant content—quotes, images, and videos fly at us from every direction. Much of it is shared in the name of inspiration, encouragement, or even righteous concern. But as Catholics, we are not called to react like the world. We are called to be discerning, truthful, and formed in the mind of the Church.

A growing concern has taken root online: false or distorted quotes and stories, AI-generated images, and misleading videos attributed to the Holy Father or other Church leaders. These posts often go viral because they “sound right” or confirm a particular narrative. The question we must ask is: Are they true? Truth matters. If the foundation is false, even a seemingly spiritual or inspiring message becomes compromised.

While this issue certainly applies to world leaders and civil authorities as well, it’s especially concerning when misinformation involves the pope or our shepherds. As Catholics, we must commit to practicing due diligence before reposting or reacting to something online.

Let’s explore some important principles in light of our Catholic faith:

1. Good Intentions Are Not Enough

Some content is shared in good faith. It might resonate with us emotionally, stir conviction, and may even seem to affirm Catholic values. However, the ends don’t justify the means. We need to be very careful about prioritizing our feelings rather than doctrinal truth. Knowingly sharing a falsely attributed message (such as a misattributed quote or a fabricated AI-generated video of the pope) even if it aligns with one’s beliefs or seems morally good, is wrong. Truthfulness and integrity must never be sacrificed for the sake of persuasion. It sows confusion and sometimes scandal rather than clarity. Charity demands truth.

On that note, we should also be careful to avoid sharing content simply to provoke a reaction, stir up division, or reinforce our own personal agenda or narrative.

2. Formed Minds, Not Just Good Hearts

Part of the challenge we face is a lack of formation, especially in Church history and doctrine. This makes us more vulnerable to misinformation. When we’re not deeply rooted in the faith, we become more likely to spread half-truths that distort the Faith. Our good hearts must be guided by well-formed minds. Let’s take seriously the responsibility to deepen our knowledge of Scripture, the Catechism, and authentic Church teaching.

3. Be Humble Enough to Accept Correction

When we discover we’ve shared something false or misleading, we should correct it. This might mean deleting something we have shared to avoid further circulation or scandal, issuing a clarification, or acknowledging the error. There’s no shame in being wrong. There is an issue when we refuse to be corrected. Clinging to misinformation because it “supports the bigger picture” or our own narratives is a sin of pride and weakens our credibility as witnesses to the Truth.

4. Encouragement Without Compromise

Some people share content with a sincere desire to encourage or warn others. That desire is noble, but it must be grounded in truth. We cannot build truth on a lie. If there’s a message we feel needs to be shared, we must seek out authentic sources: Scripture, the Catechism, lives of the saints, papal encyclicals, and trustworthy Catholic news (to name a few).

5. What Can You Do?

• Pause before sharing. Avoid scandal by spreading misinformation, especially regarding Church leaders (CCC 2284). Ask: is this verified? Is it from a trustworthy source?

• Use reliable sources. The Vatican’s official site (www.vatican.va), the National Catholic Register, and OSV News are good places to check quotes or claims about Church leaders.

• Be humble enough to correct and to be corrected. Removing a misleading post shows love for the Church and respect for the truth.

• Speak and share truth with charity (Eph 4:15). Offer corrections gently when necessary. Some people will resist, and in some cases, it may be best for you to simply back off and pray. Your witness (especially when delivered in love) matters more than you may ever know, and it pleases Jesus very much.

  
  

Let us not forget: we are called to be light in the darkness, not just noise in the crowd. The digital world offers a powerful opportunity for evangelization, but it demands vigilance, virtue, and prudence.

Let’s strive to be people who value truth over trends, clarity over clicks, and faithfulness over emotional hype. Even the most well-intentioned messages must be rooted in truth, humility, and integrity especially when it comes to matters of faith and leadership.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of online media, may we remain anchored in Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

In Christ and in truth,

Faith