On social media, a phrase is attributed to the bishop emeritus of Leiria-Fátima. Did Dom António Marto condemn the “immoral ideas” of the “fascist ideological party called Chega”? SIC Verifies.
The phrase shared on social media is being attributed to the bishop emeritus of Leiria-Fátima, according to which Dom António Marto had condemned the “immoral ideas” of a “party with a fascist ideology called Chega” and also stated that it was “a shame for a person who calls himself a Catholic Christian” to defend these ideas.
In an email sent to SIC Verifica (), a viewer questions whether the phrase is true.
D. Antônio Marto made this statement?
No, this phrase was never publicly uttered by the bishop emeritus of Leiria-Fátima.
The allegation has been circulating on social media at different times, including on the eve of theepresidential elections of 2021, almost always accompanied by the image of Cardinal António Marto, suggesting that it is an authentic declaration. However, There is no record of these words being spoken.
The dissemination of the quote led, in the past, to clarify that the alleged statements “were never made” by the bishop. In the same statement, the Diocese also highlighted that D. António Marto “refrains from participating in electoral campaigns and does not comment on any candidate or party”.
At the same time, the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) also warned about the circulation of false content that attributed statements to Church officials. Father Manuel Barbosa, secretary of the CEP, guaranteed that the statements published on social media attributed to cardinals about candidacies for the presidential elections “are false”.
SIC Verifies that it is…
The quote that associates the bishop emeritus of Leiria-Fátima, D. António Marto, with direct criticism of the Chega party has no factual basis. Such statements have never been made publicly.
