AmericanPapist Comments
Meanwhile, religious opponents of the parade were holding what they have called a "March of Beasts" on Thursday afternoon.
The protesters were leading cows and horses along the route plotted for the gay parade....
To drop appropriate and reflective offerings along the way I'm sure.
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Well put by the Chief Rabbi also.
I think it's sad that the Vatican has to refer to the feelings and sentiments of believers to make its point.
"The Holy See has reiterated on many occasions that the right to freedom of expression, sanctioned by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is subject to just limits, in particular when the exercise of this right would offend the religious sentiments of believers."
I'm the last person to weep over the cancellation of a gay pride parade, but I worry about the above--for instance, was the publication of those cartoons in Scandinavia that caused so much fuss among Muslims not the same thing as is being referred to above? Yet many Christians were behind this example of freedom of expression. I honestly can't remember (my memory is truly terrible these days) what the chat was here on AP about that incident, nor can I recall clearly the Vatican's own reaction. What's the deal? Thomas, can you clear me up here? Or anyone else?
Mme S., seems to me (and I could be wrong) that the Vatican officially disapproved of both the cartoons and the reaction. I don't recall whether there was any outright blanket condemnation of the cartoons from the Holy See.
I wasn't reading AmP back in February, so I can't speak to that. My reaction to the cartoons was that they were within the bounds of Danish law, but not within the bounds of good taste, and were commissioned with an eye to seeing how far the envelope could be pushed. So while I obviously was digusted with the reaction, I was less than sympathetic to Jyllands-Post as well.
As far as this particular event goes, I dunno. Gay pride parades aren't quite on a par with malicious satirization, I suppose, but I don't like to think of anyone glorifying behavior that the Church deems objectively sinful. Particularly outside of, say, the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. I can't say I'm sorry it's cancelled.
Kasia, I think you're right--this seems to be what I recall about the Vatican's response, but I couldn't be sure. And I am of the same opinion as you re. the cartoons and the motivation behind them.
I'm not really comparing the two incidents per se--I'm just saying that the Vatican's statement seems to me to apply equally to both.
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