Vatican defends Pope after punch remark

[Warren Stupidity]

(CNN)—Pope Francis used a punch to make a point about the limits of free expression, but he ended up on the defensive because of it -- with a Vatican spokesman saying it was "in no way intended to be interpreted as justification for the violence and terror that took place in Paris last week."

The Pope made the gesture and accompanying remarks while flying from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, where he started a five-day visit Thursday.

He didn't mention Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine that was targeted by terrorists after it depicted the Prophet Mohammed in cartoons, something that many Muslims find offensive. The Paris magazine became a terrorist target after publishing one such cartoon years ago, and after last week's attack, it placed Mohammed on its cover, this time showing him crying and holding a sign with the rallying cry "Je suis Charlie," French for "I am Charlie."

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/15/world/pope-francis-punch/

See when he said that if you disrespect me you should expect to get punched, that in no way refers to the recent massacre of the editorial staff of Charlie Hedbo for disrespecting Islam. No way. Why would anyone think that?

[MohRokTah]

1. HE lost sight of his charge to be Christlike.

Had he used the moment to promote the values of Christ, he would have blessed those that mock and curse religion, then he would have prayed for them.

So said the Christ in the Sermon on the Mount.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Well I'll have to disagree that anyone actually said anything in any sermon on the mount

but I do agree that the pope totally fucked up.

[MohRokTah]

3. Well, I was approaching it from the Christian viewpoint

Matthew 5:44

The Pope should be flogging himself for his fuckup right about now. Christ admonished his followers to "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" in the Sermon on the Mount.

[4139]

4. 'Turn the other cheek'? Hmm, too much holy wine!! !

'Call me names and I'll kick your ass' isn't exactly turning the other cheek

[4now]

5. It was good to see the pope and the Paris murderers on the same page

Maybe someone explained the sermon on the mount to him.

[TexasProgresive]

6. Actually he did not say "if you disrespect me"

It was if someone, "says a swear word against my mother" Not at all the same thing.