Credentials Cannot Do the Work of Evidence

In the age of the Internet, when we are bombarded with information of all kinds from countless sources, finding trustworthy news is important. We often turn to “experts” to give us the facts we need to know what is going on in the world around us and to help us stay informed.

But what happens when the so-called experts are wrong? What are we supposed to do when the people we trust due to their credentials fail spectacularly to give us an accurate picture of what is taking place? These questions raced through my mind as I read the latest piece published by Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat, entitled “Pro-Russian Ukrainian Orthodox Church Opts to Retain Russian Ties.”

The article features a host of errors, misrepresentations, and misleading language, which I will touch on. This is not necessarily surprising in an era of misinformation and slop apologetics. But Democracy in Ireland touts its professional expertise, and offers to “host various seminars, webinars, discussion panels, training events and provide consulting to the diplomatic community and allied professionals.” This is supposed to be a serious outlet. Its editor-in-chief, who wrote the article in question, is Miceál O’Hurley, J.D., Ph.D. His CV on the website is an impressive description of an award-winning journalist, complete with a dizzying list of certificates and honors. Yet his bona fides only make the errors in this article so much more confusing.