Verify First, Share Later — Onitsha Archdiocese Tells Christians
By Polycarp Ifeanyi
The Catholic cleric of the Awka Diocese, Rev. Fr. Johnbosco Igwe, has urged Christians to verify the authenticity and source of any information before sharing it with others.
Speaking during the Communication Week organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, Fr. Igwe said truth has been monetized in the digital age, stressing that Christians must carefully check sources and cross-check every claim they encounter on social media before passing it on.
The event, themed “Preserving Human Voices and Faces,” was held at Shanahan Hall, Basilica Square of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Delivering a lecture titled “Truth and Wisdom in the Digital Age,” Fr. Igwe highlighted some of the dangers associated with artificial intelligence, including:
Undermining the development of children’s natural wisdom
Encouraging hasty conclusions without proper verification
Reducing concentration levels among young people
He also outlined several benefits of the digital era, such as faster learning, easier communication with loved ones, wider evangelization and spread of the Gospel, as well as enhanced medical diagnosis and healthcare delivery.
Fr. Igwe further classified online users into three categories: Digital Vagabonds, Digital Tourists, and Digital Pilgrims.
Other speakers at the event included Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Anwusi, who spoke on “Human Dignity: Our Faces and Voices as God’s Gift.” Additional lectures focused on combating fake news and misinformation, as well as safeguarding human voices and identities in the age of artificial intelligence.
In his opening remarks, Rev. Fr. Vincent Chukwuka, speaking on behalf of the Archdiocesan Director of Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. George Adimike, said the Archdiocese organized this year’s Communication Week to equip the faithful with knowledge and skills for the responsible use of digital media.
While closing the event, Fr. Chukwuka, who is also the Editor of Trinitas Newspaper, thanked the speakers and participants, especially parishioners from across the Archdiocese, for their active participation and support.
He noted that the Archdiocese was making significant progress in educating the public on the opportunities and challenges of the digital era and artificial intelligence, expressing optimism that next year’s edition of the programme would be even more impactful.
The Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Pius Onyegbuna, commended Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke and the organizers for what he described as a successful and timely programme. He suggested that the lectures should be compiled and distributed in printed form to participants for future reference.
Hon. Onyegbuna also urged parents to reduce excessive phone use at home and discourage unhealthy phone usage among their children in order to promote better communication and family interaction.
The high point of the event was the question-and-answer session, alongside a comedy performance by Igwe White Entertainment.
