“If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch. It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others”
–
Pope Francis, on the Charlie Hebdo attack and the ‘limits to free expression,’
Pope Francis’ quote is being heard around the world now thanks to a red-linked top placement on the Drudge Report today. The Associated Press’ Nicole Winfield first reported the Pontiff’s words early Thursday morning.
The Pope went on to state more for the record on those ‘limits’ to lampooning religions:
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. 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.
I am worried, but you know I have a defect: a good dose of carelessness. I’m careless about these things”
He said,
it doesn’t hurt, because I’m not very courageous when it comes to pain. I’m very timid. I’m in God’s hands.
Pope Francis may be infallible on Church doctrine. But when it comes to freedom of speech or being critical of religions, it may be very fallible to suggest limits..
