Bishop Damaschin on journalistic accountability: Fake news can stain human dignity

In an interview with Doxologia, His Grace Bishop Damaschin of Dorna pointed to the need and the importance of responsible journalism.

Himself a former Radio Trinitas news editor (2001-2004), the current Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți stressed that ‘a fake news can stain a person’s human dignity’, thus having damaging consequences, because ‘it can shatter dreams, plans, families, lives.’

‘You can imagine, one word of ours can raise up, but also it can harm or even destroy, almost irremediably,’ Bishop Damaschin said.

The Romanian hierarch said that journalists represent ‘a high-calling guild’ because they are all called to be ‘messengers of good news’.

‘Good means honest, unblemished, unexaggerated, without deceit, without marketing interest, not as an unworthy response to the orders of dishonest people.’

Referring to journalists who do their job properly, Bp Damaschin said they have the duty ‘to convert others, or if impossible, even to deny those who are not honourable.’

‘I also strongly believe that according to the good cultivated, the souls they bring joy to, the light they shine forth (and when I say light I also say the truth, even though its revelation is hurtful for some), they will receive a good word from Him Who is the Word.’

‘I am afraid, however, that those who will not work so will hardly see the face of God.’

‘But let us believe that the honest will be triumphant; for them, all my consideration, on behalf of a humble former colleague of the guild,’ the bishop said.

Bishop Damaschin of Dorna (37) is an assistant bishop to the Romanian Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți. He was ordained to the Episcopate on July 23, 2017.

Photo: Doxologia

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