Posted on 06/02/2009 1:24:36 PM PDT by bronxville
On March 22, a number of the world’s media outlets reported something along the lines of “ Far-right youths carrying placards reading ‘leave my Pope alone’ clashed with left-wing activists outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris after the latter had thrown condoms on the square as worshippers were leaving Sunday mass.”
The Associated Press, AFP and Reuters were among the news-wires which used the term “far right” to describe the young people protesting in favour of the Pope.
A group of about 30 demonstrators belonging to a group called Act Up had chosen a major Sunday Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral as an opportunity to hand out condoms in protest over the Pope’s remarks during his trip to Africa.
A couple of Catholic youngsters had got wind of the protest and started to stage a counter demonstration which involved singing the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Marys. It came to blows and the police got involved. Eleven people were arrested.
But the use of the term “far right” was puzzling. Although there are certain groups of the far right in France associated with fringe Catholic movements, these just looked like normal kids who were losing their temper in the face of provocation. I’ve been trying to find out more about them. Were they really “far right” youths or just normal practicing Catholics who were fed up with having their Pope attacked from almost every corner?
Maylis Guillier, a reporter from the French Catholic newspaper, La Famile Chretienne says that they were just a bunch of practicing Catholics who were fed up with hearing the Pope viciously attacked from every corner.
Touche pas a mon Pape—don’t touch my Pope--read the white and gold badges, shaped like a hand giving the peace sign. Groups of French youngsters—maybe not in their hundred-of-thousands but certainly in their thousands—have decided that they’ve had enough of the battering Pope Benedict has been getting and have taken to the streets.
Le Monde calls them the Pope’s new hussars ---they populate Facebook groups which range from “Generation Benoit XVI” which has 3,212 members to the Papal support group which has about 15,366 members. They sign petitions in support of him, one group has launched a new website (which has yet to be developed), and another plans peaceful prayer sessions in protest.
Last weekend, Miss Guillier says, a number of young Catholics decided to pray outside the closest Cathedral to show their support for the Pope. At Notre Dame, she says approximately 300 people showed up to big-up BXVI on Palm Sunday, not huge, but still a good effort, nevertheless.
“Groups of French youngsters—maybe not in their hundred-of-thousands but certainly in their thousands—have decided that they’ve had enough of the battering Pope Benedict has been getting and have taken to the streets.
Le Monde calls them the Pope’s new hussars.”
Enough already - good for them!
How vile. Shame on you.
Tasteless and not funny.
Wrong Pope, too.
But hey, why let those things get in the way of somehow using one of the most courageous men of the 20th Century from being the butt of your clumsy attempt at humor?
Why? Showing the Pope as having human feelings isn’t a bad thing, is it? Or don’t you think of him as a human?
Mocking a man dying of Parkinson’s is NOT FUNNY, period.
Sorry, I didn’t realize that was what was happening. I apologize.
***Touche pas a mon Pape (Don’t touch my Pope)***
Nice work, Alex. I really like your style.
Now, if you could just photoshop the face of JPII onto a common garden slug, you’d surpass yourself. Or given the Parkinson’s, perhaps a bowl of Jello.
Completely tasteless and I would say a violation of the posting rules of the Religion Forum.
Thanks for letting us know about this great group of young people.
I am not getting the point of these pictures.
These pictures are offensive. Have some respect.
Wonderful to see young people standing up for the Church! God bless these kids.
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The point appears, at the least, irreverent, very possibly insulting. I hope I err in that judgment. Alex, can you help clear up the intent and meaning of your post?
I don’t understand.
Thanks for the ping.
I think I’ll just ignore the tasteless and stupid diversion and say that it’s good to hear that the Pope now has some youthful “hussars” in France.
I trust that the reports that Catholicism is dead in Europe are premature.
Why would you do a post like this??
tasteless and unkind
Oh look, Joy Bihar posted some pictures!
There is no far right. The center has been dragged so far to the left that the furthest you can get is center right.
It really is okay to mock the Catholic Church on this site, isn’t it.
Apparently not - I've already been tried, convicted, and sentenced to Hell by most Catholics on Free Republic before you even asked the question. What good would it possibly do to spell out the intent and meaning now? Which of your fellow Catholics have given me the benefit of doubt? Which do you think would honestly take my explanation at face value?
Bonus question (50 points): Who's to blame for a seemingly irreverent/insulting photograph - the photographer, or the subject?
“What good would it possibly do to spell out the intent and meaning now?”
You tell us, you posted them. What was your intent?
Stay classy, Alex.
Your query begs the real question: Who is to blame for posting irreverent/insulting photos? (Hint: that would be the poster him/herself. As concerns this thread, that would be you)
I'm arriving late to the party, as usual. Oh, well...
“Bonus question (50 points): Who’s to blame for a seemingly irreverent/insulting photograph - the photographer, or the subject?”
Pope John Paul (RIP) had Parkinson’s Disease with such side effects as uncontrollable shaking, speech impediment - vocal cord paralysis, difficulty swallowing/breathing and very painful spasms which can last for hours. If you’ve ever had a ‘charlie horse’ then you’ll have an idea of what someone with Parkinson’s suffer. The picture you posted may have been one of those times. I’m guessing you didn’t know - at least I hope so.
That recent picture is one of my favorites.
Pope John Paul (RIP) had Parkinson’s Disease with such side effects as uncontrollable shaking, speech impediment - vocal cord paralysis, difficulty swallowing/breathing and very painful spasms which can last for hours. If you’ve ever had a ‘charlie horse’ then you’ll have an idea of what someone with Parkinson’s suffer. The picture you posted may have been one of those times. I’m guessing you didn’t know - at least I hope so.
I'm not sure, but I think the second photo of Pope John Paul II in the deleted post #3 was one of those times when the Pope struggled mightily to speak and could not because of the advanced stage of his disease. He was so very frustrated near the end because he had lost (he thought; we knew better) his great gift of communication.
When all is said and done, I think most thinking persons know who's to blame for insensitive blunders and some of them even own up to it and admit the insensitivity. Doesn't happen often, though.
Please pray for me that I may be humbled and pride can be overcome.
I can’t find the post that you pinged me about, so I am assuming that it was removed.
I am sure that it was pretty offensive if you had to address it.
What exactly did these wonderful pictures posted by Alex depict?
in case you missed this
Seriously, such hatred and continuing ridicule of Catholics could be a sign of mental illness. You should have it checked out.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
It is good that people get fed up with this. Also, there is nothing wrong with being called “far right”.
Be right wing, be Catholic, be proud.
I don’t believe I did.
Thanks.
***What good would it possibly do to spell out the intent and meaning now? ***
Try the Jello photoshop. It’ll make your posts famous.
Well said annalex why let an idiot hijack this thread when we should be concentrating on the good news of these fantastic young Catholic people. Don’t let the devil steal our joy!
Mel
Catholics can’t sentence you to Hell.
Did you know that Catholics who pray the daily Rosary include this prayer 5 times?
The Fatima Prayer: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy”.
(Our Lady at Fatima, 13th July 1917)
These little children who saw The Blessed Mother were exposed to the sights of Hell and prayed desperately to save anyone from going there.
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.”
(The Angel to three children of Fatima, spring 1916)
http://www.theholyrosary.org/prayros.html
Only a person’s willful disdain of God and lack of following His Commandments in this life will sentence himself to hell.
That doesn’t mean that Catholics cannot make “judgments” based on The Commandments and Catholic Tradition regarding what is good and what is evil.
Catholics believe that Heaven is to be in complete union with Divine Love.
Something sorely missing in “This veil of Tears.”
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