Posted on 01/15/2015 12:47:30 PM PST by Thistooshallpass9
Pope Francis suggested there are limits to freedom of expression, saying in response to the Charlie Hebdo terror attack that "one cannot make fun of faith" and that anyone who throws insults can expect a "punch."
The pontiff said that both freedom of faith and freedom of speech were fundamental human rights and that "every religion has its dignity."
"One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people's faith, one cannot make fun of faith," he said. "There is a limit. Every religion has its dignity ... in freedom of expression there are limits."
The pope was speaking to reporters on a plane as he flew from Sri Lanka to the Philippines on his tour of Asia.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
>> He’s a menace.
I think that from now on I’ll call him Pope Dennis.
Yes, he needs some serious prayer.
>> I think the Pope has just told me the next time someone cracks a Catholic joke I should go and belt him
What kind of meat do priests eat on Friday?
He’s speaking as a pastor telling me that it’s not my place to publish obscene cartoons of anyone much less someone revered by others as part of their religion. He’s not speaking ex cathedra and for me in my line of work (i.e., if I were a journalist) it might be necessary to republish them. Since it is not my job, I choose not to, not because I’m afraid but because my spiritual leader suggests that I not do so. If I were a soldier I know that because of my faith, I can kill in a war but I cannot seek out those to kill nor can I relish it and let it control who I am. I’m glad that Mr. Mercat who is a Vietnam vet, did not have to kill anyone over there. Its one less mark on his soul. He says he would punch someone in the face if he insulted his mother (I assume that would include the Blessed Virgin). He would then, I’m reasonably certain, go and confess acting on his anger against the offender. I guess I don’t understand your anger at him.
“and that anyone who throws insults can expect a “punch.””
Interesting. Wonder if he realizes that HE insults a lot of people? DO they have a right to attack him?
probably mistranslated again huh?
I am of the opinion that if one is offended by some statement that a none believer makes, then you either have a weak faith or a weak god.
I understand the wishful thinking in the beginning, but it seems pretty clear now he is a radical leftist, who is pushing a radical anti-american, anti-capitalism agenda in every possible way except where is explicitly conflicts with scripture.
I have a lot of respect for american catholics, many are on the vanguard of conservatism. But is there any defense for the pope at this point?
On those RARE occasions when someone has bombed an abortion clinic or shot an abortionist, the press does not tolerate any mentions by clergymen or pro-lifers of the babies who are being murdered. They DEMAND an unqualified, unconditional condemnation of the bombing or shooting.
The Pope should be held to the same standard. The murders are to be condemned, WITHOUT ANY REFERENCE to what was published in Charlie Hebdo.
Furthermore, the Pope should be condemned for even suggesting that “blasphemy” which is NOT OBJECTIVELY blasphemy should be outlawed. And “blasphemy” against Mohammed is NOT OBJECTIVELY BLASPHEMY, since Mohammed is not actually a prophet, and he was actually a mass murderer, rapist, pedophile, etc. That is, IF HE EVER EXISTED, which he almost certainly did not.
“Blasphemy” laws are a major component of Sharia Law. No matter how they are written, they will be used against Christians, and not against Moslems. They will be used to silence Christians, and they will be used to shield Moslems even from the murder laws.
This shows ignorance of the bible. As Christians we know the unbelieving world will hate and mock us. Only in heaven is there theocratic governance not on earth.
I generally leave religions alone, most often riles people up to no good effect. HOWEVER, when they get silly enough, I feel duty bound to mock, belittle, sneer at and otherwise point out that some religious points are simply idiotic.
the POPE is a commie who expresses his own personal opinion and is entitled to. However people think he is always speaking representing the church... and he is not. He only represents the church on maters of faith and religious doctrine...
If the pope gets agitated because someone insulted his mother or something, and throws a knockdown punch that results in the recipient falling, hitting his head, and dying, will the pope be arrested for manslaughter?
Will the defense be that what he did was “normal”?
He has jumped the shark and he’s a joke. He has to know that he’s fulfilling end times prophecy.
A punch is not the same thing as chopping off the heads of little children. I don’t think Islam is a real religion anymore now that I’ve seen it in action these last few years.
What’s “normal” about mass murder?
You lost me... The Pope has, in a practical sense, given the green light to extremists who would punish blasphemers. Yes, blasphemy must be protected. Hard speech is the only speech that requires protection. No protection is needed anywhere in the world for freely expressing your affection for kittens. It is only ever needed when it offends. The fact that this Pope cannot comprehend this basis idea should terrify all Catholics.
How would the Crusades indicate anything. I mean how old is this guy. Is he 1,000 years old. I will say this, he locks real good for a guy ten centuries old.
Pope Francis: Thanks for the question, that is smart, it is good. I think that both are fundamental human rights, religious liberty and liberty of expression. You can't … Let's think, are you French? Let's go to Paris. Let's speak clearly. You cannot hide a truth. Everyone has the right to practice their religion, their own religion without offending, freely. And that's what we do, what we all want to do. Secondly, you cannot offend or make war, kill in the name of your religion, in the name of God. What has happened now astonishes us. But always, let's think to our history, how many religious wars we have had. Think of St Bartholomew's night (when Catholics massacred Huguenots during the French wars of religion in 1572, editors note). How can we understand this? Also we were sinners in this. But you cannot kill in the name of God, this is an aberration. Killing in the name of God is an aberration against God. I think this is the main thing with freedom of religion. You can practice with freedom without offending but without imposing or killing.The freedom of expression… Every one of us has not just the freedom, the right, but also the obligation to say what he thinks to help build the common good. The obligation. If we think of a congressman, a senator, if he doesn't say what he thinks is the true path, he doesn't collaborate in the common good. We have the obligation to freely have this liberty, but without offending. It's true that you cannot react violently. But, if Dr. Gasbarri, my great friend, says something against my mother, he can expect a punch. It's normal. It's normal. You cannot provoke, you cannot insult the faith of others, you cannot make fun of the faith. Pope Benedict, in a speech, I don't remember which, he spoke of this post-positivist mentality, of the post-positivist metaphysics that brought people to believe that religions or religious expressions are a type of lower culture: that they are tolerated but that there's not much to them, that they are in not part of an enlightened culture. And this is a lecacy of the Enlightenment. So many people speak against others' religions. They make fun of them. Let's say they "giocatalizzano" (make a playng out of) the religion of others. But they are provoking, and what can happen is what I said about Dr. Gasbarri if he says something about my mother. There is a limit. Every religion has dignity; I cannot mock a religion that respects human life and the human person. And this is a limit. I've used this example of the limit to say that in the freedom of expression there are limits, like the example I gave of my mother. I don't know if I was able to respond to the question. Thanks.
By saying "Let's go to Paris," the Pope made it clear that his comments were meant to apply to the Charlie Hebdo massacre.
The Pope believes that murdering 17 people is analogous to throwing a "punch" in response to a personal insult.
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