Social media 'not good for my soul' - bishop

A church leader has criticised social media and spoken about the importance of kindness, urging people to "cut each other a bit more slack".

In his Christmas message, the Bishop of Hereford Richard Jackson spoke about the Christmas story and described Joseph's kindness to Mary as a vulnerable young woman, and their preparedness to live with the "whispers and accusations of illegitimacy".

"Today, it feels like such kindness is in short supply," he said, "not just in brutal wars around the world, but closer to home in the way we speak to each other through social media and print".

He called for people to recognise most were trying to do their best.

In his last weekly message of the year, Bishop Jackson said in the nativity story, Mary was at risk of public disgrace and rejection by her family who would have "most likely thrown her out to avoid family shame".

He said Joseph showed "profound kindness" and was "not a child of the social media age".

The bishop revealed he looked at Facebook occasionally, but found "it isn't very good for my soul".

He also abandoned X, formerly Twitter, some time ago for the same reason.

The bishop warned the social media giants promoted "visceral responses to issues without rational thought".

He said the "wise response that there are always two sides to every story" was not encouraged on the online platforms.

Meanwhile, the acting Bishop of Worcester Martin Gorick said it had been "a hard year for many and a hard year for our world" as he asked people what brought them joy.

He described his joy in children's excitement over Christmas, carol singing and walking home in the early morning after Midnight Mass.

The new Bishop of Worcester was announced as Hugh Nelson earlier this year and he will be installed in January, marking his official start in the diocese.

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