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Pope Francis: There Are Limits To Freedom of Expression
hcs_$reboot writes Pope Francis spoke about the Paris terror attacks, defending free speech as not only a fundamental human right but a duty to speak one's mind for the sake of the common good. But he added there were limits. While Francis insisted that it was an "aberration" to kill in the name of God and said religion can never be used to justify violence, he said there was a limit to free speech when it concerned offending someone's religious beliefs. By way of example, he referred to a friend: "if someone says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch". "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."
What happens if scientific results insult religion? In the past the church found the the speech of scientists like Galileo and others insulting to their beliefs, was it right what they did to them?
That sums it up nicely. Ironically, it's liberals (which most atheists are) who most adamantly keep defending Islam and willfully ignoring the fact that it has a cancer that should be addressed more aggressively by their own leaders. At best, Shariah law is inconsistent with democratic principles. And now, Duke University is allowing the muslim morning call to prayer from it's bell tower. Hello atheists, where are you now? We all know if they'd said the lord's prayer was to be played from the tower instead, leftists and atheists would be howling for blood and freaking out. They shouldn't be doing either of them, University should be totally secular. (Yay, and now after probably pissing off lefties, I've just pissed off righties.. such is the curse of the moderate)
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I'm amused by those who think they will just punch someone out and that'll be the end of it. It depends on who you punch. It might just be the start of it. Today, there's right many people who can fight. Punch one of them and you can expect quite a few punches in return.
Wansu, th' chinese sailor
Well let's get things straight here. When we do that to Christianity, it is an important exercise of free speech. When we do that to Muslims, suddenly religion should be off limits for mockery or criticism without realising it's almost the most deserving thing of both!
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
It seems that Pope Francis is on the wrong side of history.
"Somebody has to do something. It's just incredibly pathetic it has to be us."
--- Jerry Garcia