WhatsApp-ening to You?

By Fr Francis Gonsalves –

“Are you on WhatsApp”? is an oft-heard query, today. Almost everyone—including myself, a ‘technologically challenged netizen’—dabbles in WhatsApp, though my mobile is overstuffed with unread messages and clips. I must confess that going by what’s happening around on WhatsApp, I’m amazed and alarmed at our technological advances.

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While the Catholic Church celebrated Ascension Sunday (May 13) as ‘World Day of Social Communications’, May 17 is celebrated worldwide as ‘World Telecommunication and Information Society Day’. So, as we prepare for the feast of Pentecost, too, why not reflect upon the information, transformation—and, deformation—that Info-Tech brings?

Recently, His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias was shocked and saddened that a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by him—packed with lies and communal poison—was forwarded to thousands of citizens. In a jiffy, his office was flooded with calls: “Is this true? Why did you write such rubbish? Why create communal tension?” Calls also came from TV channels: “You should apologize! Are you ready for a TV-interview?” The truth was that he never sent this message. It was sheer ‘fake news’ to discredit him and bring the Church to disrepute prior to state elections in Karnataka.

While everyone ought to spread joy, love and peace all around, Christians, in particular, are commissioned by Jesus to spread universal ‘Good News’ of the Parenthood of God and the sisterhood/brotherhood of all peoples, worldwide. Pope Francis published a wonderful exhortation on communications (text available on the Internet) on the theme “The truth will set you free”—Jesus’ teaching to his disciples (John 8:32). In this message, Pope Francis exhorts those committed to communications and the media to desist from peddling fake news and insist on satyagraha: adherence to truth.

Instead of being freed by truth, our Internet is full of webs that entrap us to buy more and enjoy more in the selfie mode—obsessed with pampering already inflated egos, forgetting that true communication comprises of deep communion with God, with others, and with Mother Nature. Worse, our cell-phones sometimes become imprisoning ‘cells’, with wasted hours uselessly chattering or forwarding fear-inducing false messages.

Are you one who mindlessly and mechanically forwards messages that you receive? When receiving or sending messages on mobiles, why don’t we ask: Is my message true? Will it make its receivers happy? Will it build up community? Will it give glory to God? If the answer is “Yes” to all four questions, send it. If not, delete it! That message has probably been sent by an idler to poison people, induce fear and create conflict.

Today, why not switch off your mobile to see what’s happening to you sans WhatsApp? Why not  review the calls made-received-missed to see whether you can do with less? Why not review the websites visited to gauge whether the information received has helped you to progress, digress, perhaps regress, from your goal? And in the glow of Pentecost, why don’t we ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that our communication might be as effective as that of Jesus’ apostles?

Pope Francis suggests a prayer for today (shortened here): “Lord, may my words sow seeds of goodness for the world: where there is shouting, let me practice listening;
where there is confusion, let me inspire harmony;
 where there is exclusion, let me offer solidarity;
where there is sensationalism, let me use sobriety;
 where there is prejudice, let me awaken trust; where there is falsehood, let me bring truth.
Amen.”

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Fr. Francis Gonsalves is a Gujarat Jesuit, former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, and currently Dean of Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies. ​