| The Cartoons |
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| Wednesday, 01 March 2006 10:10 | |||
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Somehow, political and social commentary cartoonists seem to enjoy greater latitude in expressing their opinions than editorial writers do. But they often transgress recognized thresholds of good taste, or ignore protocols of prudence and sensitivity. The principle of freedom of speech is usually summoned in defense of alleged abuses. Freedom of speech is, of course, a key component of a free society; America’s Founding Fathers fought, suffered and died for this principle. So did their children, as well as their children, all the way to the present hour. But freedom of religion is also a defining element of a just society. And freedom of religion in a civilized world does not entail a "right" to disrespect religion or to offend religious sentiments or symbols. On the contrary, a solid society rests upon God and country; the guiding axiom, pro Deo et patria, has always been honored by great civilizations. To ridicule Mohammed is indefensible. According to one ranking Church spokesman in Europe, "the entire Christian world is very saddened and pained by satire of this type, aimed at the brothers of another religion." In fact, he added, the cartoons could be seen as a kind of vulgarity undermining human rights. "We shouldn’t diminish the love and respect Muslims have for their prophet Mohammed," one Archbishop argued on Vatican Radio. As Christians we ought to acknowledge and respect anything that is true or good in any religion. And while we defend the unicity of Christ’s true Church, we hold that wherever salvation occurs (which is everywhere), there the Church necessarily and mysteriously is present. At the same time, violence in response to the cartoons is not justifiable. In the words of the Vatican Press Office on 4 February: "A reading of history shows that wounds existing in the life of a people are not healed in this way." Indeed, such wounds can readily threaten peace among men and nations.
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