GOUSA stands for freedom of expression. In his annual speech to ambassadors to the Holy See, Pope Francis specifically denounced cancel culture as a threat to our humanity.
GOUSA opposes cancel culture in its many forms. We oppose government censorship. That’s part of personal opportunity. We believe in civil rights and respect for others. That’s part of social opportunity. And we believe in free expression on campus. That’s part of educational opportunity.
Important news from the Vatican. Pope Francis came out against those who seek to silence others in his annual address to the Vatican diplomatic corp.
The full transcript of Francis’s speech is available at the Vatican website. The section on cancel culture appears below:
“As a result, agendas are increasingly dictated by a mindset that rejects the natural foundations of humanity and the cultural roots that constitute the identity of many peoples. As I have stated on other occasions, I consider this a form of ideological colonization, one that leaves no room for freedom of expression and is now taking the form of the “cancel culture” invading many circles and public institutions. Under the guise of defending diversity, it ends up cancelling all sense of identity, with the risk of silencing positions that defend a respectful and balanced understanding of various sensibilities. A kind of dangerous “one-track thinking” [pensée unique] is taking shape, one constrained to deny history or, worse yet, to rewrite it in terms of present-day categories, whereas any historical situation must be interpreted in the light of a hermeneutics of that particular time, not that of today.“
Pope Francis also warned of the harmful effects on young people of isolation from the lockdowns and social media:
“The pandemic prevented many young people from attending school, to the detriment of their personal and social development. Modern technology enabled many young people to take refuge in virtual realities that create strong psychological and emotional links but isolate them from others and the world around them, radically modifying social relationships. In making this point, I in no way intend to deny the usefulness of technology and its products, which make it possible for us to connect with one another easily and quickly, but I do appeal urgently that we be watchful lest these instruments substitute for true human relationships at the interpersonal, familial, social and international levels. If we learn to isolate ourselves at an early age, it will later prove more difficult to build bridges of fraternity and peace. In a world where there is just ‘me’, it is difficult to make room for ‘us’“.
This is definitely not in line with the woke vision of big tech, corporate media and academia today. We are glad that Francis has taken this stand and hope that others continue to stand up for freedom of expression and individuality in the face of the woke mob.