1Peter 5's scurrilous fake news about the five questions put to Cardinal Mueller along with some other indignities by His Holiness, Pope Francis, has been refuted by the Vatican and now by Cardinal Mueller himself, who is said to be flabbergasted by the fake news accounts.
Are there any penalties in canon law for libeling a reigning pope, either for a cleric or a layman?
In secular law, does it amount to libel or the intent to libel?
Just wondering! I am sure there are those out there who know.
6 comments:
Libel is a tort in civil law. It is up to the one who considers himself libelled to sue and claim damages.
If you have taste for libel and 'fake news', look at the Renaissance papacy. In the case of Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) and his family the libels stuck.
Alexander admittedly did himself no favours; the same might be said for Francis.
I just searched Twitter for Catholic news. I encountered Steve "Five Questions" Skojec's (1P5) most recent statement related to his fake news story designed to defame and dehumanize His Holiness Pope Francis.
Mr. Skojec remains adamant in his refusal to admit that he trafficked in a fake news story — a hit piece — against Pope Francis. He declared that he supports the credibility of the sources who lied about Pope Francis.
In regard to said "sources" (lairs), Steve Skojec declared: "We intend to stand by them."
Mr. Skojec has reached the point of no return in regard to his refusal to admit the truth.
His denial of reality is so great that he has refused to acknowledge that Cardinal Müller denied the story in question.
-- Of Cardinal Müller's rejection of the fake news story, Mr. Skojec declared, incredibly, the following:
"It's not exactly a statement...We have updated our story with denials both from Cardinal Muellers' secretary and from the Vatican Press Office.
******* "Failing a full statement from Mueller himself, I do not see a reason to update the story again." ************
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Wow! The man is in monumental denial.
But wait. It gets worse.
Incredibly, Mr. Skojec is so determined to pretend that his fake news story is accurate that he even attacked Cardinal Müller...the suggestion is that we cannot trust Cardinal Müller to tell the truth in regard to his (Cardinal Müller's) audience with Pope Francis as Cardinal Müller wishes to obtain from Pope Francis a "role in Rome."
Steve Skojec said:
"You will have to forgive me if I am incredulous about the obfuscations of people who have been covering for a mass apostasy in the Church.
"Mueller himself has told us that Amoris Laetitia presents no danger to the faith. He even attacked the four dubia cardinals publicly.
"And he very much is a man who continues to wish for a role in Rome."
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What an unbelievable, horrific situation that Mr. Skojec has created for himself. Whatever credibility that he may have had is shot.
We need to pray for Mr. Skojec.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Steve Skojec needs our prayers. He has thrown in with Satan. Mister Skojec has attacked His Holiness Pope Francis numerous times. But this time, Mr. Skojec determination to traffic in fake news designed to defame and dehumanize Pope Francis has caught up to Mr. Skojec.
Mister Skojec has thrown in with Satan as Mister Skojec's fake news attack against Pope Francis violated the following Church teachings (from the CCC):
2477: "Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty: of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.
2479: "Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity."
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-- Cardinal Müller has made it clear that Steve Skojec's fake news story in question is just that...fake.
-- Greg Burke declared that Steve Skojec's story in question is fake.
-- Cardinal Müller's personal secretary denounced Steve Skojec's fake news story as false and even damaging to Cardinal Müller (let alone Pope Francis).
Despite the above official denials of the lies put forth on 1P5, including a denial from Cardinal Müller, Steve Skojec has refused to declare that he (Mr. Skojec) promoted lies against Pope Francis.
Steve Skojec requires prayers. He has painted himself into a corner. The only way out for Mr. Skojec is to turn to God...confess, repent...apologize to Pope Francis and Cardinal Müller.
From there, Steve Skojec could employ his blog for the good of the Church...rather than employ his blog as a fake news site to defame and dehumanize His Holiness Pope Francis as well as others.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Canon 220 deals with a person's right to a good reputation.
Can. 220 No one is permitted to harm illegitimately the good reputation which a person possesses nor to injure the right of any person to protect his or her own privacy.
Penalties may apply.
Can. 1369 A person who in a public show or speech, in published writing, or in other uses of the instruments of social communication utters blasphemy, gravely injures good morals, expresses insults, or excites hatred or contempt against religion or the Church is to be punished with a just penalty.
And
Can. 1373 A person who publicly incites among subjects animosities or hatred against the Apostolic See or an ordinary because of some act of power or ecclesiastical ministry or provokes subjects to disobey them is to be punished by an interdict or other just penalties.
The mind-boggling Steve Skojec self-generated, fake news controversy has just turned even more bizarre.
I was just one Twitter...searched for Catholic news...read a Tweet...
...I am not making this up. I am not making this up.
As I noted earlier here, Mr. Skojec is so determined to pretend that his fake news story (lies) is legitimate that he pretended that Cardinal Müller denial of the story is not a statement of denial.
Now, via Twitter, Mr. Skojec has just suggested that any denial offered by Cardinal Müller is not trustworthy as Cardinal Müller is a supposed liar.
How do we know that Cardinal Müller is a liar? Because Cardinal Müller lied about Amoris Laetitia, according to Steve Skojec.
Here is Mr. Skojec's Tweet:
"The most important denial Cardinal Mueller ever made is that Amoris Laetitia poses no danger to the faith. A demonstrable falsehood."
Even more incredible, a Twitter follower of Steve Skojec responded to the above:
"Absolutely. Are the good Cardinal's 'denials' credible? They don't appear to be."
There you have it. To cover himself, Steve Skojec has floated the notion that Cardinal Müller's denials are not credible.
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What a sad situation.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
The pope libels people daily in his homily. He sets the example.
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