A society built on fake news is doomed to fail - Derry Bishop

“We do not need to constantly be purchasing expensive entertainment from outside,” Bishop McKeown said. Recalling the struggle of Adam and Eve, he added: “Real freedom is based on deliberately choosing the good, the true and beautiful even if that means depriving myself of some immediate pleasure.

“I read a report during the week about the horrific levels of sexual violence suffered by many third levels students. Would it be unwelcome if a prophetic voice pointed out that this shocking trend in violence seems to be correlated with the widespread availability of pornography in our digital society, to which our young people are especially exposed?

“The Gospel message is that we grow as great human beings by allowing our lives to be shaped by God’s dream and not by a depressing nightmare of embarrassing behaviour and hidden regret.”

Bishop McKeown said that a society built on the sand of merely subjective truth and fake news will be the author of its own downfall. “Poor leaders are afraid to speak the uncomfortable truth. We need wise leaders who are concerned about where we are going, and not just preoccupied about where they are going,” he said.

The Bishop, speaking at St Eugene’s Cathedral, said that as many areas of society – including places of worship – begin re-opening this week, this will present challenges for us all.

“I hope that we have learned lessons about life since we were locked down in March. This is a time to cherish those lessons and not to allow the insights to be lost in a tsunami of going back to the future. We have seen what has happened in those places where there has been a stampede to forget we escaped from worse consequences through self-discipline.

“It will take many people time to overcome the fear of mixing again. We want our churches to be places where people can share the infectious good news of the Gospel – but avoid being Corona-infected through selfishness and carelessness. We have to begin cautiously. In all areas of human life, short term gain can lead to long-term pain.

“The opening of our church buildings is about letting people in – so that God’s grace can pour out again over our hurting community and over those who thirst to hear the prophetic voice that speaks of God’s audacious dream for us.”