Father Spadaro’s latest conspiracy theory

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Oct 03, 2018

When Philip Pullella translated a Twitter post by Father Antonio Spadaro, the veteran Reuters correspondent found it necessary to add an editorial comment: “Don’t shoot the translator! (me)” It’s easy to understand Pullella’s caution, because if you thought these were the journalist’s own words, you might conclude that he had gone… Well, let’s look at the text. This, again, is Father Spadaro’s comment:

It is no longer possible for journalists to keep quiet about the fact that there is a campaign of disinformation against Pope Francis which links American and Russian interests. You don’t have to read only Antonio Spadaro to understand that.

An international conspiracy, uniting the US and Russia in a bid to undermine the Pope: have you seen that theory advanced anywhere else but in the writings of Father Spadaro? Perhaps you have, if you spend your time searching through the online fever swamps. The Jesuit editor, who has become the most vociferous critic of anyone who dares question papal policies, is also apparently a fan of conspiracy theorists, as he demonstrated last year with an eccentric attack on American religious conservatives.

Still it’s alarming to see this sort of wild accusation. Remember, Father Spadaro has the Pope’s ear.