Posted on 05/08/2006 6:37:28 AM PDT by steve-b
As we get closer to the release of The Da Vinci Code in theatres worldwide we are beginning to see more and more reasons why we need to make sure a firm line between government and religion is drawn .. and stays drawn.
Catholic Cardinal Francis Arinze was considered to be a leading candidate for pope in last year's papal election. Now Cardinal Arinze is making waves in another way ... he's suggesting that Catholics around the world file lawsuits against the movie. And just what does Cardinal Arinze see as the basis for a cause of action? Why, he is offended by the movie! Cardinal Arinze is taking the position that other religions (Islam?) won't stand still for any offenses against their faith, and neither should Christians. It's time, he says, for Christians go get tough. Get tough and file lawsuits.
Well ... so much for the concept of freedom ... especially freedom of expression. Here we have a book that has sold 40 million copies worldwide, and is now ready to debut on the silver screen, and we have this leading Roman Catholic talking about lawsuits ... lawsuits because he is and other Catholics should be (gasp!) offended!
Bear in mind, now, that for me to say one single negative word about Cardinal Arinze and his call for lawsuits by easily-offended Catholics is nothing less than "Christian bashing" and is all the proof the world needs that Neal Boortz is a godless atheist.
Well .. I hate to disappoint, but an atheist I am not. I am also not a theocrat. I acknowledge and fear the huge numbers of people, both abroad and here at home, who are driven by a desire to gain control of the government's exclusivity on the use of force in order to promote their own religious ideals. These are people who are not merely satisfied to live their lives in accordance with their deeply held beliefs; they feel compelled to see that you live your life as a testament to their religious viewpoints as well. It was these very people Ambrose Bierce had in mind when he defined a Christian as: "Someone who believes that the Bible is a divinely inspired book, admirably suited for the needs of his neighbor."
The very act of a highly respected Cardinal suggesting that people attempt to use legal processes to prevent the distribution of a move that he finds offensive has placed a stain on the Catholic church. Let's all watch carefully now to see if anyone in the Vatican actually steps forward to praise the concept of freedom and to defend our rights to express ourselves in our words and our writing.
I, for one, am not holding my breath.
Before we move on .... let's acknowledge the fact that Cardinal Arinze's words have the effect of giving aid and comfort to the world's Islamic terrorists. The Muslim riots around Europe and the world over those silly Mohammed cartoons in a Danish newspaper have now been somewhat legitimized by Cardinal Arinze's words. Hey .. if Muslims can get upset and attack the principles of free speech and free expression, then why can't Catholics? Today ... lawsuits. Tomorrow ...... ?
This is pretty dumb logic.
This is all just too silly! It's a work of fiction. Let the priests and preachers talk about it to their flocks.
I forgot Neal Boortz is right when he says that Catholics cannot speak out against this film as they do not have freedom of expression like eveyone else. When Catholics speak they immediately cross the Church-State line and are barred from speaking their opinions. -sarc
If I were the judge, the producers would get rich from all the awards I'd be handing out for the other side filing frivolous lawsuits.
You can sue a ham sandwich........and the ham sandwich can sue you, too..........
Get a grip. It's not like he's calling for the movie makers and stars to be beheaded. He's advocating a lawful response. Quit whining.
This flick will sink like a stone at the box office.
Where does he say that?
Speaking out is one thing, lawsuits are something else.
Isn't that obvious?
on pumpernickel, please........
Funny how the Catholics don't respond to things of this nature like the muslims -- if this was a movie about that monkey religion there would be looting, burning and beheadings galore!
For what it's worth, you cannpt libel or slander a dead person, even one who was resurrected (and later departed again). The only ones that might have some kind of standing would be Jesus's descendants -- although if he had any, which he doesn't, that would undermine their own standing about their existence -- or possibly Opus Dei, which I know only a little about and nothing about their usage in the book or film.
TS
As a card-carrying Catholic I think I am accurate in saying sometimes you get the ham sandwich, and sometimes the ham sandwich gets you!
The cardinal is wrong.
Catholics need to start rioting and beheading people...then the world will give them special considerations.
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