Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Pope on Charlie Hebdo: Don’t kill in God’s name but don’t insult faith

Pope on Charlie Hebdo: Don’t kill in God’s name but don’t insult faith

Last updated on: January 15, 2015 at 12:37 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope on Charlie Hebdo: Don’t kill in God’s name but don’t insult faith 2015-01-15T12:37:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Aboard the papal plane, Jan 15, 2015 / 05:37 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During an in-flight press conference Pope Francis spoke on the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, saying that freedom of expression has limits but no one has the right to kill in the name of God.

"Let's go to Paris. Let's speak clearly," said Pope Francis in reference to the Charlie Hebdo killings. He was asked by a French journalist if he saw freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.

"You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith," Pope Francis said during a Jan. 15 press conference held en-route to the Philippines. If you do, he said, you "can expect a punch."

On Jan.7 Muslim extremists entered the headquarters of French newspaper Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people. They claimed the attacks avenged the cartoons printed in the publication that depicted offensive images of the Prophet Mohammed.

The Pope said that while the Paris attack "astonishes us," in world history wars and atrocities like the Catholic-led massacre "St. Bartholomew's night" incident in France have also come from those who profess religions.

"Also we were sinners in this," he added. "But you cannot kill in the name of God, This is an aberration. Killing in the name of God is an aberration against God. I think this is the main thing with freedom of religion. You can practice with freedom but without imposing or killing."

He said that every person has not just the freedom or right, but also an obligation "to say what he thinks" to build the common good. "We have the obligation to freely have this liberty, but without offending."

Just yesterday at Mass in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Pope Francis categorized the freedom of religion as a fundamental human right. During the airborne press conference called both freedom of religion and expression "fundamental human rights," but said there are limits to the freedoms.

"You cannot offend or make war, kill in the name of your religion, that is in the name of God," the Pope told journalists.

But if the freedom of expression is used to offend, he said, one can expect a reaction.

He used the example of Dr. Alberto Gasbarri, the organizer of papal trips, who was standing beside him during the in-flight press conference.

"It's true that you cannot react violently. But, if Dr. Gasbarri, my great friend, says something against my mother, he can expect a punch. It's normal."

Those who "giocatalizzano," or "make a plaything out of the religion of others … are provoking," he went on. "And, what can happen is what I said about Dr. Gasbarri if he says something about my mother. There's a limit.”

"Every religion has dignity, every religion that respects human life and the human person and I cannot make fun of it. And this is a limit," he added.

About freedom of religion, he said "You cannot hide the truth. Everyone has the right to practice their religion, their own religion without offending, freely. And that's what we do, what we all want to do."

Referencing rumors that the terrorist group ISIS might be planning a targeted attack on him, Pope Francis answered by saying that he’s not worried, and that the best way to react is always with a “meek (and) humble” attitude “without making aggression. I am feeling that there are some who do not understand this.”

“This worries me, no? It worries me enough. I have fear but I have an effect, a good dose of unawareness. I am unaware of these things.”

However the Pope did express concern for the faithful who might be present if an attack did occur, and said that he has already spoken with the Vatican’s security, who are “charged with solving this.”

Vatican

Previous Post

January 15, 2015

Pope Francis to canonize evangelizer of the Wild West

Next Post

January 15, 2015 Archbishop Gomez: OneLife LA event affirms life near Roe v. Wade anniversary

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What holiday celebrates Jesus’ birth?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Good Friday Easter Ascension Day Christmas