As many on this blog know, I am a great fan of Pope Francis who has brought an inspiring leadership to the Church that has drawn millions back to the faith. Given that admiration, I was disheartened to read the Pope’s comment on free speech today. I ran a column last weekend on how world leaders are failing over themselves to “Stand With Charlie” after the massacre of editors and staff at Charlie Hebdo magazine. However, the West has been rolling back on free speech rights, including some of these very leaders. Pope Francis added his view this week to those insisting that free speech must have limits when it comes to insulting people about their religion. It is a disappointing observation, particularly when coupled with a rather poor analogy.
On the papal plane, Pope Francis spoke beside Alberto Gasparri, who organizes papal trips. He used his aide in this analogy: “If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch. It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”
Of course, people can insult the faith of others. It is called free speech and you are not allowed to punch someone (or in the most recent case, massacre people) out of a sense of legitimate outrage. Clearly, Pope Francis was not condoning the massacre. He remains a leading voice for Peace and tolerance. However, the discussion of limits on free speech in the West has spawned a trend toward greater criminalization and prosecution for unpopular writers and speakers, including a crackdown in France after the march in support of free speech.
Pope Francis added that people who make fun of religion “are provocateurs. And what happens to them is what would happen to Dr. Gasparri if he says a curse word against my mother. There is a limit.” Presumably, the victims are Charlie Hebdo would be considered such “provocateurs,” precisely the image advanced by Muslim extremists insisting that they were incited to violence.
I still admire the Pope but he is less inspirational on free speech, particularly anti-religious speech, in making these comments. Ironically, free speech is the greatest protection of the free exercise of religion. It is the right that allows people of faith (as well as people who are agnostic and atheist) to speak out about their values and beliefs. That freedom comes with a certain covenant of faith in free speech: that we all can speak our mind without fear of prosecution or retaliation.
Source: Yahoo
Trooper York-
“Many if not most conservative Catholics are very, very disappointed in this Pope.”
Imagine how disappointed the Pope is in those conservatives.
Now I know how observant Catholics in the 1940’s felt when Pope Pius accommodated the vicious murderous Fascists of his day.
This too will pass.
Chip S-
“How fortunate we are to have among us an expert interpreter of jesuitical expression of Anarchist’s caliber. May I call on you for assistance, kind sir?”
No. I’m a very busy man with no time for tom-foolery or low brow shenanigans. A good day to you, I say.
“In no instance have… the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.”- James Madison
“The Framers [of the Constitution] knew that free speech is the friend of change and revolution. But they also knew that it is always the deadliest enemy of tyranny.” Hugo Black
I like to see the catholic Church getting more muscular.
No more of that pansy turn-the-other-cheek stuff.
I wanna swing that cross around like Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate agin’ all my enemies.
http://coub.com/view/259ta
Groty nails it. His description of this Jesuit Pope is right on the money. The Church will just have to ride out his tenure and hope he doesn’t do to much damage.
Pope Francis’ Handy Revenge Calculator
Insult mommy = 1 slug to the schnozz
Insult my high school = 1 kick to the balls
Insult my country = 1 can of whoop-ass, opened
Insult my religion = kill 12 random others
If you had a child of school age, would you tell the child every day that he can say whatever he wants about the gangs at his school because it’s his legal right- exercising your duties as an informed citizen in a Democracy? Or, would you tell your child to avoid them and don’t give them reason to be upset, as your parental duties would dictate?
You are still missing the distinction between CAN’T and SHOULDN’T.
Of course I would counsel my child to be circumspect in speech and actions and to be aware of the consequences. You should not say anything you want unless you are ready to face the reactions.
However, you CAN say what you want. I would not forbid my child. I would counsel not to be rude, insulting or provocative. I also would not counsel my child to be a spineless wimp and to not take abuse lying down. You stand up for yourself and don’t back down. But….you don’t act stupid either. The choice is hers to make. And she would be smart enough, aware enough, to be able to gauge the situation and act accordingly. (I know this because these situations have arisen in the past)
When it is the government telling you that you CAN NOT speak is where it becomes the issue. When the government says you cannot speak, who you can speak about or when your church dictates what you can and cannot say….you no longer are a free person.
This Pope is extremely liberal so of course he does not support freedom of speech. It is just one of many unfortunate ideas that he has promulgated since he was elected.
I think Nick is on to something when he says that he is reveling in the positive press he is getting in the Main Stream Media. He is indulging in the sin of pride which is very troubling.
Many if not most conservative Catholics are very, very disappointed in this Pope. This is just another straw on the camels back.
Some of you folks may have missed the fact that Charlie Hebdo is STILL making fun of faith, if sometimes subtly: http://business.avn.com/articles/novelty/Since-We-re-In-The-Sex-Industry-We-Didn-t-Want-To-Say-Anything-584451.html (Our site may not be safe for work…)
Remember when Pope John Paul II whipped a .44 magnum from under the dashboard of the popemobile and returned fire against Mehmet Ali Ağca?
That was cool.
I want to know how many punches I am permitted for various insults.
Maybe Pope Francis can clarify with a helpful list.
“While he accurately describes what people will do if insulted enough times,”
Really?
The Pope would actually punch a guy for insulting his mommy?
I must have missed that among Jesus’ sayings.
“…he didn’t say that the insulting should become illegal.”
That remains unclear.
He said:
” You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”
Shouldn’t, or CAN’T.
‘Cannot’ suggest a rule or a law.
As I said, now he has to clarify his stupid off-the-cuffery.
“I doubt he condones murder in retaliation for speech people don’t like.”
Did he say so?
he condones punching.
Did he put a limit on noses and fists?
Details, please.
He’s the pope- so he’s discussing human behavior.
I hereby nominate this as “Non Sequitur of the Month (Non-Inga Bracket)”.
I knew eventually the ‘faithful’ would abandon this Pope. While he accurately describes what people will do if insulted enough times, he didn’t say that the insulting should become illegal. I doubt he condones murder in retaliation for speech people don’t like.
Pope Francis’s statements are frequently (and soon) followed by ‘clarifications.’
He’s like Pope Biden or Pope Quayle.
More and more, I cannot listen to him.
Increasingly, his communist leanings are exposed. I found it interesting the Venezuelan priests were recently condemning how the commies have harmed the country, but hurt the poor most of all.
Dust Bunny-
” Forbidding the expressions of free speech for fear of retaliation is something that we should NEVER countenance. ”
You have to view his comment in context. He’s the pope- so he’s discussing human behavior. His religion, and his role within that religion comes right down to providing rules of behavior that people ought to live their lives by. He’s not discussing law. He’s not calling for legislation. He’s got a different responsibility.
If you had a child of school age, would you tell the child every day that he can say whatever he wants about the gangs at his school because it’s his legal right- exercising your duties as an informed citizen in a Democracy? Or, would you tell your child to avoid them and don’t give them reason to be upset, as your parental duties would dictate?
Besides, having the Catholics oppose disparaging remarks about other religions bodes well for society. At least the Catholics aren’t burning them at the stake anymore.
The Pope is full of poop.
@dust bunny
A rubric is a statement of standards used for judging an item. They are prevalent in areas that count, practical areas–is this car safe enough, or not? Etc. You find the word used most often in education by those who teach to a standard–not all educators do. Modernism in general asserts any rubric are impossible to construct because truth is subjective, and free speech must include all words, all images, all thoughts, everything, because all limitations are slippery slopes. Not true at all. We could not conduct any business or family life without limitations on abusive speech.