Pope Francis has weighed into the debate over freedom of expression in the wake of the murderous attacks in Paris, saying that anyone who insults a religion can expect “a punch in the nose”.
In provocative remarks which may cause consternation in France, the Pope said that freedom of expression had its limits, especially if it involved insulting or ridiculing religion.
He made the forthright comments to journalists on board his official plane as he flew from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, the two stops on his week-long visit to Asia.
Gesturing towards Alberto Gasparri, a Vatican official who organises pontifical trips and who was standing next to him on board the plane, he said: “If my good friend Dr Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch in the nose.”
Throwing a pretend punch, the Pope said: “It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”
His remarks came a week after Islamic extremists stormed into the Paris offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and shot dead 12 members of staff, including some of its best known cartoonists, who for years had poked fun at Islam as well as other religions, including Christianity.
On Wednesday the magazine released a “survivors’ issue” which featured an image of the Prophet Mohammed on its front cover.
The edition also included highly provocative cartoons about the Catholic Church.
The Pope did not refer specifically to the magazine but said that insulting religions was unacceptable and dangerous.
“There are so many people who speak badly about religions or other religions, who make fun of them, who make a game out of the religions of others,” he said.
“They 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.”
The Pope in no way condoned the attack on Charlie Hebdo, insisting that violence carried out in God’s name was “an aberration.”
“One cannot make war [or] kill in the name of one’s own religion, that is, in the name of God.”
But those who ridiculed another religion should expect some sort of reaction, he said.
I actually get what he's saying, and while I might not have phrased it in that manner, there is some sense to it (Despite Bill Maher's overreaction).
Yes, Pope Francis said that you can't make fun of someone's religion without expecting a negative reaction. He even said that someone insulting religion could probably expect a punch in the nose from a follower, much as he'd punch his dear friend if his friend insulted his mother.
Note that he did not say that there should be laws against such speech, or that there was no inherent right to free speech of any sort. Instead, he simply observed that, right or wrong, you could expect a violent reaction if you insulted the beliefs of an especially fervent follower.
This is a fact of life. You can't walk into a bar of mostly black people and start telling racist jokes about them (at least as a white person) without expecting a negative reaction. You can't walk into a JDL meeting and talk approvingly about the "Final Solution" without expecting a physical response. You can't walk into a bar in the heart of Alabama and talk about how Lincoln's only fault was that he didn't immediately order the hangings of Lee and Davis and walk away without a blemish or scratch. And you can't make fun of someone's deeply held religious beliefs without being prepared for a contrasting viewpoint, perhaps one carried on the end of a fist.
This doesn't make the violent reaction right, only predictable as a response to a rude comment.
On the other hand, if you have anything to say about my Unitarian Universalist religion, write it up and I'll submit it to committee, and they'll ask to meet with you to share their thoughts, questions, and concerns in a constructive, holistic, non-confrontational environment.
Thoughts?
Oh, and I should note that any response implying that the Pope suggesting or implying that the Pope somehow stated that religious terrorism was acceptable, or that there should be anti-blasphemy laws, will be met with the same sort of mockery that he was talking about.
You'll realize that a punch would have been gentle in comparison.
