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
Thanks Max, I apparently am in the super minority on this too. I made the same point the Pope did, I didn’t expand on what he said to include world domination, just the fact that “why just say stuff to piss people off??” Charlie Hebdo makes money just to piss people off. There is plenty of stealthy repression of free speech and control of the press in this country, and I feel that is where the outrage should be. Besides, I’m sure this is way more to that story than we’ll ever know, but just go with the idea of vengeance. It feels good.
George Carlin is my pope. His 3 commandments should be written in stone, especially the last one: ‘Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself’.
Sounds to me like the Pope was condoning the killings. What else does he mean when he says that you cannot mock religion and if you insult his mother, expect a punch?
That’s exactly what it sounds like Kyle.
Manila – Pope Francis warned that he was ready to “punch” anyone who insulted his mother.
The pontiff said this on Thursday in remarks made en route to the Philippines from Sri Lanka, that“ there are limits to freedom of expression and my mother was the limit.
“We have a duty to speak openly, to have this freedom, but without offending others.
“It’s true that you cannot react with violence, but if my aide Doctor Gasbarri, who is a friend, badmouths my mother, a punch would be coming for him,” he added.
The Pope said in relation to recent events in Paris that violence in the name of religion can never be justified, but that there are “limits” to freedom of expression.
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/someone-insults-mother-punch-pope/#sthash.lgAwuJqe.dpuf
Therefore, in that light I suppose if someone badmouths your faith, you can launch a terrorist attack.
I would never attack anyone because they were a Woman or Gay I was just describing my feelings right now which obviously is not okay even though it is okay for others on here to describe theirs and then get Passive aggressive. It gets old that is all.
And I am just saying so. You all speak your minds constantly to each other about what you think and I hold my peace but I don’t pick on people because of their sex or gayness. That is like people saying they are ugly and black. I hear that a lot. And that is stupid too. This is why we have free speech to keep this out in the open and it doesn’t get built up into some brick wall that needs to be blown up like Pink Floyds Wall.
I don’t mean this now as a personal attack. I am just saying.
Der Pope is dachshund.
Dachshund isch Badger Hund. Or in Amerikanzer: a Dachshund is a badger dog.
I personally do badger people quite a bit. It is my God given duty. A dutiful dog is kind of like a badgering spouse. But a dutiful dog badgers to simply give guidance for the better good of mankind and his/her particular pal. Whereas the spouse who badgers does it for his or her own good, despite the reasons given.
https://img0.etsystatic.com/027/0/9564944/il_340x270.639345684_jso3.jpg
The Dogalogue Machine mis-understood my bark. The Vichy French Nazis were just as evil as the Krauts. Evil not even.
Max-1: That may well be true. I am old enough to recall the day when the Parisians were the live-stock of the Germans. No pun intended. The Vichy French Nazis were just as even as the Krauts. When the Germans were driven out the Vichy were not all that happy. Some would say that America should have let things be. Of course my recollection is based on a prior life as a human. I am a dog. Woff.
True enough Max. The video is hilarious! No go zones! Sacre Bleu!
Inga:
Ich bin ein Labrador-Hund , aber ich lebe in Amerika und sprechen Deutsch und Englisch . It is all possible with the Dogalogue Machine. Woff.
We’re the laughing stock of Parisians…
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=28b_1421201170
Anie,
You’re a woman, I’m gay… of course we’re gonna get pushed around.
It’s the same as in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan.
We’re “no-go” zones…
Who cares? Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me
goodness gracious great balls of fire
I have never in my life seen such bs. Really. Give me a break. Who is going to make the rules of what is proper speech people? The pope? Inga? lololololol
You would rather the pope make an announcement that is taken by catholics worldwide as a call to hate islam in god’s name, and which Muslims would see as a call to war, than take his own advice and not give cause for offense to grow between Islam and Catholicism.
Anarchist, exactly.
Clears it right up.
Anarchist, exactly.
Ken – I always thought that Monster song was tongue in cheek about American Exceptionalism or Manifest Destiny or Angel Columbia. Yes Inga you always do lol. 🙂 But understand that Pope Francis is trying to pass out Speech Straightjackets and I am not going to wear one. I won’t go to Church right now because I am mad and I am starting to get calls because they miss my scintillating abrasive personality. My Pastor who normally ignores my e mails is even following my Facebook account. I am mad because they are not interested in hearing about the things we talk about. They want to hear “nice” things. tough. :p
Inga-
““…he didn’t say that the insulting should become illegal.”
That remains unclear.”
It’s not at all unclear. It’s clear from the context of the remarks that he wasn’t talking about law, but about human behavior. He was talking about limitations that we already have applied to our speech by the reaction of others. Those limitations have nothing to do with law.There is nothing outside of your imagination that supports your point of view.
He was just giving what he believed to be folksy advice that amounted to no more than you shouldn’t stir up a wasps nest. No law says you shouldn’t stir up a wasps nest, but it still isn’t something you should do.
However, you’re upset because you just can’t take this out of he false political narrative within which you’ve placed it. It has nothing to do with his views on free speech laws, and more to do with getting out of a tricky situation politically. You would rather the pope make an announcement that is taken by catholics worldwide as a call to hate islam in god’s name, and which Muslims would see as a call to war, than take his own advice and not give cause for offense to grow between Islam and Catholicism.
“Woff”, is that woof with a German accent? 😉
The Pope. On the good side he is a Jesuit. Its kind of like Good Cop/Bad Cop. He is a good cop. But, when you are a Jet you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way. From your first cigarette to your last dying day. Anyone remember that song? That movie? Being in the gang in NYC and being a greaseball was kind of like being a Catholic. This Pope is trying to reform and do a good job. He was not a member of the Hitler Youth. Not like some Pope you might know. Pope Benedict Arnold. Yep, you got it. Alive and well.
There is really only one religion that is real. Not really a religion, but a belief. A belief based on Fact not Faith. That is The 8th Day Dog Adventists. I know, you are all sick of hearing about some Dog religion. But think about it. Why is Dog here on Earth if not to provide guidance to mankind? Some of you with dogs will understand. Most dogs out there understand. You need a President who can give you Guidance. We are on a slippery slope. Hillary may not be that bad. Jeb may not be that bad. But four legs are good. I am not talking a combination of two legs on the President and two on the Vice President.
Think about joining the Waterboard Wing of the Democrat Party. Woff.