ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Cardinal Advincula to young people: seek the truth following the example of Titus Brandsma

Wednesday, 8 June 2022 mass media   social network   youth   local churches   politics  

Manila (Agenzia Fides) - Helping to fight disinformation and always continue to seek the truth: this is the invitation addressed to young people by Cardinal Jose Advincula, Archbishop of Manila while the Philippines is experiencing what observers define as a "crisis of truth" in the Country.
The Cardinal asks Catholics to use social media "as a pulpit to evangelize and defend the truth". "If there are forces that use social media to deceive and spread lies, let's fight against them by flooding them with the truth of God's word", said the Archbishop addressing young people in recent days, during a thanksgiving mass celebrated in the Cathedral of Cubao, in Quezon City, to commemorate and celebrate the canonization of Saint Titus Brandsma and draw the attention of the faithful to his figure. Although he recognized that the task is not easy, the Archbishop stressed that "when the truth is at stake, remaining apathetic and silent is a sin".
Recalling the figure of Titus Brandsma, the "20th century martyr-journalist", whom Pope Francis declared a saint on May 15, Cardinal Advíncula urged the faithful to be inspired by him in his "tireless search for truth". "Let us imitate St. Titus in his unwavering courage to proclaim the truth that can never be changed", he said . Disinformation and fake news are a cause for concern at this historical moment in the country: Bishops, scholars and media experts have repeatedly stated that "disinformation has a negative impact on democracy", particularly during the recent general elections held on May 9th. In this context, the Filipino Church refers to and proposes to the faithful the life and history of the new saint who has been proclaimed "Patron" of the Carmelite Order in the Philippines.
Born in 1881, this Dutch Carmelite priest, theologian, journalist and writer spoke out against the Nazi laws and anti-Jewish propaganda. In January 1942 he was arrested after trying to convince Dutch Catholic newspapers not to print Nazi propaganda. When Brandsma refused to do so, he was transferred to the Dachau concentration camp in February 1942, where he died of a lethal injection in July of that year at the age of 61. (SD/PA) (Agenzia Fides, 8/6/2022)


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