The Jesuit-run Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan in the southern Philippines reminded its employees to uphold the truth and spurn all forms of lies being used to malign political candidates.
In a March 31, 2022, memorandum, university president Father Mars Tan, SJ, appealed to the university community to discern and believe only what is truthful and to separate facts from falsehood.
The priest noted that many university staff members and students have fallen prey to false information being posted on social media platforms.
“We as educators and members of an academic institution must reject all forms of lies and deceit as these have no place in our university and in our lives, minds, and hearts as Xavier Ateneans,” said Father Tan.
He added that “fake news, historical revisionism, blatant lies, slander, and dishonesty proliferate in social media and are consumed by some of our colleagues and students.”
The priest said it is the moral responsibility of the university and its members to correct those who are spreading this false information.
“As a university, we value the rigors of systematic investigation and fact-checking in all areas of learning, such as instruction, research, social engagement, and formation,” he said.
Father Tan said the spread of unverifiable information is “wrong not just in our standard as an academic institution but also in terms of morality.”
“Thus, it is an insult to our institution, to our values, and to our profession as educators and students to permit any form of indolence in fact checking,” he said.
The priest reminded the school’s employees and students to uphold excellent research based on reliable information found in court cases, news, history, various studies from pillars of academic research from reputable universities, and the very experience of people who have witnessed these truths.
“We look also to ourselves as we make our decisions for the upcoming elections,” he said.
“We do not only look for truth, justice, and integrity in the candidates in front of us. Rather, we are invited to live out these same values in our own lives. Are we upholding these values of truth, justice, and integrity? Are we still searching for truth?” said the Jesuit priest.
He said that as a Filipino, Catholic, and a Jesuit institution, the Xavier University community is reminded that discernment is not a choice between good and evil but a choice made between two goods to see which is better that all Ateneo students know as the “Magis.”
“Confronted with lies and truth, truth is the obvious choice,” said Father Tan.
“Christian values such as truth, justice, and integrity once prayed over, pondered upon, and applied to options in front of us will help us sift through our choices and shed light which among the options clearly conform to the gospel values we hold dear,” he said.
“Let our discourses reflect our identity as Christians and members of an educational institution,” said the priest. “Let it be a shining example to our students and friends that indeed political discourses can be, as Pope Francis mentioned, one of the greatest forms of Christian charity.”
“We are reminded that our choice in the upcoming election is not only a choice that will benefit us and our families, but a choice that can be a matter of life and death for those who are most vulnerable – the poor, the helpless, and the powerless,” he added.
Father Tan said respectful and informed political discourses are encourage as long as these are grounded on truth, justice, and integrity.
He said it “will move us to consider things bigger than the four comfortable walls that we have built for ourselves.”
“Politics, informed with the gospel values can and will transform our world and our nation, and it may even transform our hearts,” said the Jesuit.
