Catholic Church tasks media on truth, ethical digital communication

The Catholic Church in Nigeria has charged the nation’s mass media to always use their platforms to propagate truth, give voice to the voiceless and prioritise ethical digital communication to promote professionalism and ‘unheard faces and voices’.

The new Bishop Chairman of the Directorate \of Communication, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Gerald Mamman Musa, gave the advice on Sunday during a Press Conference marking the closing of the Church’s 2026 Communication Week at the headquarters of Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) Abuja.

Bishop Musa urged media practitioners and all to embrace the positive side of communication that serves the public for common good.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Preserving Human Voices and Faces”, Bishop Musa stressed that while the world is becoming increasingly digitally connected, many people are becoming socially and spiritually disconnected.

He noted that the society becomes unhealthy when only the powerful have microphones while the weak remain silenced or unheard.

He also cautioned against any form of clampdown or persecution of media practitioners for performing their sacred role of deseminating information and propagating truth, exposing ills in the society.

“The poor, the displaced, the vulnerable, victims of violence, abandoned children, persecuted minorities, and suffering communities must not merely be spoken about; they must be given platforms to speak for themselves.

“True justice begins when the voiceless are no longer invisible.At the same time, it is interesting that those who spread hatred, lies, cybercrime, blackmail, terrorism, and digital manipulation often hide behind fake names, false profiles, and anonymous accounts.

“Evil frequently wears a mask because darkness fears the light. Criminals hide their faces because the truth exposes them. As Jesus says in the Gospel of John: “Everyone who does evil hates the light” (John 3:20),” he said.

He, however, noted that there are journalists who speak the truth and enlighten the public and are still being persecuted.

He said, “We have journalists who show their faces, speak the truth and enlighten the public and they are persecuted. We have journalists who have disappeared mysteriously. We have journalists who have been killed.

“And I think on this day, we also have to give honour to journalists who are constantly persecuted, journalists who are often in danger by speaking the truth and propagating the gospel message.”

On his part, the Secretary General of the CSN, Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo said the Church expects the media to play a key role in amplifying citizens voices, reflecting their opinions and interests as it affects the way they are governed.

He said the media have a sacred civic duty: to verify claims before publication, expose falsehood without becoming partisan combatants, resist sensationalism, avoid language that inflames ethnic or religious tension.

According to him, the media should be able to explain the electoral process clearly, and give citizens the information they need to vote wisely and peacefully.

“In an election season, responsible journalism is not merely a profession; it is a service to democracy and to the human face of the nation. This responsibility also requires a credible electoral process.

“Electronic transmission of election results, especially polling-unit results, must not be treated as a mere technical detail; it is a test of whether the people’s voice will truly be heard. In the coming elections, every voter must count, every vote must count, and every result must reflect the true voice of the people,” he added.

Earlier the Director of Department of Social Communication at the CSN, who also celebrated his 58th birthday same day, Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh listed some of the achievements in his six-year journey as the Communications Director of the Church.

“We have revolutionized the digital presence of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, notably through the launch and sustenance of the Nigeria Catholic Network (NCN), the institutionalization of ComWEEK, and the restructuring of our various communication bodies to form a unified, synergistic front.

“We must not fail to note, that all these are still work in progress, as there are still so much that needs to be done,” Umoh said.

Reflecting on his six-year tenure as National Director, Fr. Umoh disclosed that he would conclude his mandate in the coming months.

He also expressed gratitude to the CBCN, his Archbishop, Alfred Adewale Martins, and media professionals for their support throughout his service.

He highlighted achievements recorded during his tenure, including the expansion of the Church’s digital presence, the strengthening of ComWEEK and the restructuring of Catholic communication bodies for improved coordination.

Fr. Umoh urged journalists and media stakeholders to continue supporting the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, stressing that both the Church and the media share the responsibility of promoting truth, accountability and social justice, particularly during periods of national socio-economic challenges.