Pope Francis slams ‘deviant forms of religion’ after Charlie Hebdo attack

[DonViejo]

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
12 JAN 2015 AT 06:22 ET

Pope Francis on Monday slammed “deviant forms of religion” following deadly attacks by Islamist militants in France last week which left 17 people dead.

“Losing their freedom, people become enslaved, whether to the latest fads, or to power, money, or even deviant forms of religion,” he said, laying the blame on “a culture of rejection” which leads to “the breakdown of society and spawning violence and death.”

“We see painful evidence of this in the events reported daily in the news, not least the tragic slayings which took place in Paris a few days ago,” he said in his yearly speech to the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/pope-francis-slams-deviant-forms-of-religion-after-charlie-hebdo-attack/

[nichomachus]

1. Says the guy

Whose own religion -- not that long ago -- burned people alive for wanting to read the bible in their native language.

[DonViejo]

2. I'm certain, this particular Pope...

knows well the horrors committed against people of his own by his Church. This man is taking on a highly institutionalized culture and system of beliefs. I don't envy what he is up against.

But in the present context of the news, Francis's comments are important. Especially after Faux Snooze and the nit wit Prez of the Catholic League or whatever it's called championed the blame the victim side of things.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014983618

[trotsky]

3. Ah I see. Deviant forms.

Like those that would deprive women of their reproductive rights and equality, transsexuals of the right to live their lives as they want, and homosexuals of the right to love and marry, right?

Yeah, fuck those deviant forms of religion. All people should have equal rights.

[TygrBright]

5. Wish we could rec response posts... n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

7. How about a religion that deliberately shielded pedophile priests for decades

transferring them from wherever they got outed to a fresh parish to victimize. Is that what he meant?

[trotsky]

9. Pretty damn deviant too.

I would hope that's what he meant!

[bvf]

11. How much do you want to bet

that that's not what he meant?

If this guy was serious about reform, he'd hit the talk show circuit to explain himself. I mean, why not?

[rug]

13. He was talking about extremism but I'm unsurprised how easily you elide

from the Paris murders to child abuse.

[Journeyman]

4. Huh. Isn't that what Charlie Hebdo specializes in satirizing? "Deviant forms" of all persuasions? . . .

[edhopper]

6. Culture of rejection?

Is he still pissed at Martin Luther?

[LiberalAndProud]

8. I guess it depends on who you ask, which forms of religion are deviant.

Protestant churches yesterday reacted with dismay to a new declaration approved by Pope Benedict XVI insisting they were mere "ecclesial communities" and their ministers effectively phonies with no right to give communion.

Coming just four days after the reinstatement of the Latin mass, yesterday's document left no doubt about the Pope's eagerness to back traditional Roman Catholic practices and attitudes, even at the expense of causing offence.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jul/11/catholicism.religion

[trotsky]

10. Aw, that was the old pope.

The new guy is totally different from what I've heard, despite not changing a single thing.

[cbayer]

12. To be fair, that was not this pope.

[LiberalAndProud]

14. True, and I think this pope does have different views in spiritual matters.

But the point stands that you'll find different viewpoints on religious deviance, depending on who you ask.

[cbayer]

16. Agree. One person's deviance is another person's normality.

Still, I like that he is making a distinction here and further marginalizing extremists.

[Act_of_Reparation]

15. Let's keep singing the same refrain over and over again.

"People who do things we do not like are not true followers of religions that have, over both time and geography, become so varied that they can barely be defined in propositional terms."

It's a desultory tune, for certain. But at least it's tolerant.