Pope Benedict beatifies clerics of fascist dictator Francisco Franco.

[Selatius]

Fighting broke out outside a church in Rome yesterday after the Pope beatified 498 priests and nuns killed in the Spanish Civil War.

Members of the congregation attacked left-wing protesters carrying a banner that read: “Those who have killed, tortured and exploited cannot be beatified.”

...

In a speech to 30,000 – mainly Spanish – pilgrims in St Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI paid tribute to the “martyrs” of the 1936-39 war and put them on the path to sainthood. “Their words and gestures of forgiveness towards their persecutors should enable us to work towards reconciliation and peaceful coexistence,” he said.

The Roman Catholic Church largely supported Franco during the war and its aftermath. Critics said it was again choosing sides by honouring victims on only one side and that the Pope should have recognised the Church’s role in supporting a fascist dictator who killed untold thousands and overthrew a democratically elected government.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2758581.ece

The Church would have moral credibility if it also honored those who were victimized by the fascists, not just those victimized by the communists in the Republican government of the time.

As it stands, the Catholic Church is a disgrace on this issue.

[rockymountaindem]

1. But, but, the democratically elected government was full of, *gasp*

LEFTISTS!!! Oh noes!!

[HowHasItComeToThis]

2. STOP FASCISM

BOYCOTT CATHOLICISM, THE ROOT OF FASCISM

[Tom Sullivan]

3. I escaped Catholic indoctronation

because it was clear to me even at 7 years old this was a sick and disturbing religion.
Then I got my history book out and found out my instincts were dead on.
The current Pope is a former NAZI and is just doing God's work legitimizing his crew.
Holy Zeig Heil!