Arming ourselves with the truth
March 11, 2025 at 12:00 a.m.
From the time we were very young, we learned that lying is wrong. When, as children, we memorized the Ten Commandments, we learn that “bearing false witness” against our neighbors was a sin. As we got older, we have come to understand that there are many different types of lies and they often take a heavy toll on us and others.
As Catholic Christians, our responsibility goes deeper than simply not telling lies. We learn in the Bible: “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Pope John Paul II dedicated an entire encyclical to the concept of truth in 1993 – “Veritatis Splendor” – in which he wrote: “Truth enlightens man’s intelligence and shapes his freedom, leading him to know and love the Lord.”
There can be no question, we are called to seek the truth, to spread the truth and to defend the truth. Truth is a foundation on our journey to holiness; if we turn away from truth, we turn away from God.
But many of us who were brought up respecting the truth have difficulty remembering there being such a pervasive culture of lies and falsehoods as there is right now, when the value of truth goes unrecognized by so many and lies flow freely from the highest positions, often weaponized to achieve some political end.
This is why our search for and embrace of the truth has never been more important. This is why we at The Monitor are working to bring readers in-depth stories on the subjects that seem to be plagued by the worst assaults on the truth. You will find some of those stories in this particular issue and many more on the website, TrentonMonitor.com.
Here are but a few of the reports that we hope you will spend some time with:
- The struggle for survival in Ukraine – Regardless of what is being said, we know that Ukraine did not start the war with Russia and that their President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not a dictator. We have Church leaders in Ukraine and its European neighbors explaining the dangers of this critical moment and the need to support those who stand for Democracy.
- The work of the Church to help others – With the federal government attempting to shut down programs that serve people most in need around the world, the Catholic Church and other charitable groups are calling out the real human toll that these actions are going to have.
- The attempts to politicize the Church – when Pope Francis speaks about treating all human beings with dignity, including migrants and refugees, he is not advancing a political agenda or attacking any office holders involved in mass deportations, etc. He is amplifying the truth of the Gospel, in which we are told to “welcome the stranger.”
Learning the truth is not discretionary. It is essential for us to understand ourselves as people of faith.
Perhaps this was best expressed by Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and head of the nation’s Ukrainian Catholics. Following the disastrous Feb. 28 meeting in the White House, the Archbishop said, “Unity. Dignity. Resilience. Sacrifice. Gratitude. These are the words that are in my heart on this turbulent day.”
He concluded, “God’s truth will prevail.”
As we all continue to pray for Pope Francis’ return to health, may we also emulate his courage and faithfulness in defending those who have been viciously targeted by the endless lies unleashed on the world in recent times.
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Tuesday, March 11, 2025
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From the time we were very young, we learned that lying is wrong. When, as children, we memorized the Ten Commandments, we learn that “bearing false witness” against our neighbors was a sin. As we got older, we have come to understand that there are many different types of lies and they often take a heavy toll on us and others.
As Catholic Christians, our responsibility goes deeper than simply not telling lies. We learn in the Bible: “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Pope John Paul II dedicated an entire encyclical to the concept of truth in 1993 – “Veritatis Splendor” – in which he wrote: “Truth enlightens man’s intelligence and shapes his freedom, leading him to know and love the Lord.”
There can be no question, we are called to seek the truth, to spread the truth and to defend the truth. Truth is a foundation on our journey to holiness; if we turn away from truth, we turn away from God.
But many of us who were brought up respecting the truth have difficulty remembering there being such a pervasive culture of lies and falsehoods as there is right now, when the value of truth goes unrecognized by so many and lies flow freely from the highest positions, often weaponized to achieve some political end.
This is why our search for and embrace of the truth has never been more important. This is why we at The Monitor are working to bring readers in-depth stories on the subjects that seem to be plagued by the worst assaults on the truth. You will find some of those stories in this particular issue and many more on the website, TrentonMonitor.com.
Here are but a few of the reports that we hope you will spend some time with:
- The struggle for survival in Ukraine – Regardless of what is being said, we know that Ukraine did not start the war with Russia and that their President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not a dictator. We have Church leaders in Ukraine and its European neighbors explaining the dangers of this critical moment and the need to support those who stand for Democracy.
- The work of the Church to help others – With the federal government attempting to shut down programs that serve people most in need around the world, the Catholic Church and other charitable groups are calling out the real human toll that these actions are going to have.
- The attempts to politicize the Church – when Pope Francis speaks about treating all human beings with dignity, including migrants and refugees, he is not advancing a political agenda or attacking any office holders involved in mass deportations, etc. He is amplifying the truth of the Gospel, in which we are told to “welcome the stranger.”
Learning the truth is not discretionary. It is essential for us to understand ourselves as people of faith.
Perhaps this was best expressed by Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and head of the nation’s Ukrainian Catholics. Following the disastrous Feb. 28 meeting in the White House, the Archbishop said, “Unity. Dignity. Resilience. Sacrifice. Gratitude. These are the words that are in my heart on this turbulent day.”
He concluded, “God’s truth will prevail.”
As we all continue to pray for Pope Francis’ return to health, may we also emulate his courage and faithfulness in defending those who have been viciously targeted by the endless lies unleashed on the world in recent times.