Catholics join Muslims in cartoon offense

[Jack]

A German cartoon mocking the Catholic Church has sparked holy outrage among believers here who say it incites hatred against the Pope and the Catholic faith.

The caricature, published in the Good Friday edition of satire magazine Titanic, shows a priest apparently having oral sex with a crucifix of Jesus on the cross.

The crucifix cartoon is a barbed commentary on recent revelations that 250 people in Germany were sexual abused at Church-run schools in the past decades. The scandal has shaken the German Church. A recent poll said Germans' trust in the Catholic Church had fallen to 17% from 29% in late January and approval ratings for Pope Benedict have dropped from 38% to 24%.

The German Press Council reported that some 100 formal complaints have been filed since the magazine came out, a level of protest not seen since 2006, when German newspaper Die Welt reprinted the infamous Danish Mohammed cartoons.

Two criminal complaints have also been filed against the cartoonist and the editors of Titanic, claiming the picture slanders their religion. The state prosecutors office in Frankfurt, where Titanic is based, said it would decide next week whether to begin an investigation against the magazine.

"We were shocked -- shocked! -- By the reaction to the cartoon," Titanic editor-in-chief Leo Fischer told THR, his tongue firmly in cheek. "It shows a priest cleaning the crucifix. ... I find it strange that Catholics immediately think of sex when they see it."

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Anti-blasphemy laws are coming, I have little doubt. And they won't be used to only protect Muslims from offense. Defenders of religious belief seem to think they are exempt from satire and criticism. One day soon they'll have international law on their side and freedom of speech (where protected) will have to step aside to permit imprisonment or death for those who dare disagree with the church.

[mbc85]

Oh come on, "just cleaning" the crucifix? Lol riiiight.


Aren't you going a little over board with the "anti-blasphemy" laws?

Shouldn't the church be above the law?

[Jack]

Aren't you going a little over board with the "anti-blasphemy" laws?

I'm not the one proposing their establishment. That would be the Muslims and Irish, and most likely soon the Catholics. Binding international anti-blasphemy law advances, proponent warns of rise in terrorism if resisted

Shouldn't the church be above the law?

No, I don't believe it should. Why should it be? Should all churches be exempt from the law? Churches are groups of people. Should people be above the law anytime they act in the name of a church?

[mbc85]

"No, I don't believe it should. Why should it be? Should all churches be exempt from the law? Churches are groups of people. Should people be above the law anytime they act in the name of a church?"


Not people, but the leaders of the churches and their minions (priests imams pastors etc)

[mbc85]

I know it's wrong and that some of the "leaders" did wrong, but I think it will hurt the church more if we let them loose (above the law).

If they keep doing the stuff they are doing without prosecution, the people will eventually see thru what they are and start leaving the church. (Hopefully) or they will stop what they r doing and behave as they preach.

[Trojan_Ripper]

Defenders of religious belief seem to think they are exempt from satire and criticism. One day soon they'll have international law on their side and freedom of speech (where protected) will have to step aside to permit imprisonment or death for those who dare disagree with the church.

What church? From what you're saying this would have to be a very powerfull belief.

[Jack]

"The church" is the collective identity of believers who follow a particular religious doctrine or dogma. The leaders establish the doctrines and the followers accept them as absolute truth. The leaders hold positions of power and influence both within their religious community and within the greater society. "The church" does not define any specific denomination in my OP. It represents any organized group of religious believers who attempt to impose their beliefs on those who do not share them.

I expanded the OP on my off-site blog. Perhaps the examples and links I provide there better illustrate my position.

[Thanatos]

Surprise surprise, we're all pretty much the same. Who knew that people other than Muslims could be anti-freedom idiots?

[Georgia]

Click to view cover

Anti-blasphemy laws are coming, I have little doubt. And they won't be used to only protect Muslims from offense. (Snip) One day soon they'll have international law on their side and freedom of speech (where protected) will have to step aside to permit imprisonment or death for those who dare disagree with the church.

We are protected by current law:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"
.... But then again some people consider the BOR and Constitution a "Living breathing document subject to change" and "An old, antiquated document that shouldn't apply today". A lot of people don't consider it law of the land - especially those who rule us so you may have a point after all.

Defenders of religious belief seem to think they are exempt from satire and criticism.

May I suggest a more accurate statement if your sentance began with the descriptive "Some" instead of broad categorization of believers across all religions.

The biggest difference is here:

The German Press Council reported that some 100 formal complaints have been filed since the magazine came out, a level of protest not seen since 2006, when German newspaper Die Welt reprinted the infamous Danish Mohammed cartoons.

Muslim cartoon fury claims lives
Jihad Against Danish Newspaper
Sweden's Muslim Cartoon Crisis

It is absurd the author compares "formal complaints" with riot, destruction and murder of dozens of people.

[mandad]

well .. this 'blasphemy law' will start with the Obamah admin LONG BEFORE the Catholics .. if you criticize the Lord-n-chief Omamah (pbuh) amen . . . you are branded a racist / anti-government / hateful terrorist ( mizz Madow ) . . . descent is the highest form of patriotism ?? . . only when the Dems are not in charge

[notthecheatr]

Blasphemy laws are just the latest attack on free expression from the religious right. While I find some of this stuff distasteful (I don't see any need to go out of your way to mock a religion, even if their beliefs are the most ridiculous and absurd beliefs imaginable), I wouldn't go so far as to attack their right to express themselves.

That said, the European mindset seems a bit different and this must be understood: they don't seem like religion being seen in the public sphere (i.e. burqas, minarets, etc.) and likewise, they probably don't like anti-religious material in the public circle (even if they themselves are not religious).

well .. this 'blasphemy law' will start with the Obamah admin LONG BEFORE the Catholics .. if you criticize the Lord-n-chief Omamah (pbuh) amen . . . you are branded a racist / anti-government / hateful terrorist ( mizz Madow ) . . . descent is the highest form of patriotism ?? . . only when the Dems are not in charge

If there is ever a law against criticizing Obama, I will personally use a kitchen knife to remove my genitalia and send them to you as a prize (and believe me, that is one big prize).

Also,

"Obama" not "Obamah"
"dissent" not "descent"

and please don't use so many abbreviations. Your misuse of punctuation and your lack of capitalization are just icing on the nasty cake. Please keep on topic.

[Grogybear]

I'm not the one proposing their establishment. That would be the Muslims and Irish

Oi! I take offence to that. The reason we implemented a new blasphemy law was because we had a constitutional requirement to do so. Its a pain in the arse but that's sometimes the case with silly laws.

It was unfortunate that the scumbag fascist theocracies in the muslim world saw and seized their opportunity to gain some sort of credibility and simultaneously drag us through the mud.
Apparently Dermot Aherne (justice minister) has said there will be a referendum fairly soon which will basically be designed to remove it from the constitution and spare our blushes.

Surprise surprise, we're all pretty much the same. Who knew that people other than Muslims could be anti-freedom idiots?

I think the difference is that muslim's are based in countries where they're not used to freedom and personal liberty. We all think its a bit funny when a western religion tries to pull a stunt like this.

Anti-blasphemy laws are coming, I have little doubt. And they won't be used to only protect Muslims from offense.

I think america's pretty safe (strong constitution made mostly by athiests/deists) but the sissy leftist "can't we all get along brigade" hold larger sway in europe unfortunately.