Holy See: Youth have the right to truth and respect from media

Vatican City, Mar 20, 2007 / 17:53 pm

“Youth have the right to ask the media to inform with truth, respecting the dignity due to every human,” so said the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop John Foley, at a meeting regarding “Information and protection of children’s rights” held in Messina, Italy yesterday.

Echoing Pope Benedict XVI’s recent message on World Day for Social Communications, the archbishop noted the duty of the media to treat all people, but especially the young, with the dignity they deserve.

Foley noted that “it is never too early to be involved in the media, not just as users but also as participants,” but warned that much of the content in modern media, “especially on the Internet, TV and movies – can contribute to corruption, instead of a healthy development.”

“The media have a duty to tell the truth, and only the truth,” the archbishop said.  And, he added, turning to the youth, “you have a right to ask this of the media!”

“You have a right to your dignity. The media have a duty to treat you with respect, and you have a right to ask this. They should never try to take advantage of you, to offer you temptation instead of healthy intellectual and spiritual nourishment.”

“You have the right to ask the media for what it takes to protect the common good,” the archbishop continued, “the right to ask for justice, to fight violence, to condemn corruption.”

Foley also expressed the importance of forming “media professionals that have the highest ideals and the best possible training.”