Pope on Charlie Hebdo: There are limits to free expression
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 15 January 2015
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Pope Francis discussed the boundaries of free expression in light of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. He condemned violence but emphasized that free speech should not insult faith.Summary
Pope Francis said Thursday there are limits to freedom of speech, especially when it insults or ridicules someone's faith.
Francis spoke about the Paris terror attacks while en route to the Philippines, defending free speech as not only a fundamental human right but a duty to speak one's mind for the sake of the common good. But he said there were limits.
By way of example, he referred to Alberto Gasparri, who organizes papal trips and was standing by his side aboard the papal plane.
"If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch," Francis said half-jokingly, throwing a mock punch his way. "It's normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others."
His pretend punch aside, Francis by no means said the violent attack on Charlie Hebdo was justified. Quite the opposite: He said such horrific violence in God's name couldn't be justified and was an "aberration." But he said a reaction of some sort was to be expected. - AP
Key Points
- Pope Francis calls for limits on free expression.
- He condemns the violence of the Charlie Hebdo attack.
- Francis highlights the duty to speak responsibly.
- He refers to personal boundaries in discussion of faith.
- Mockingly illustrates his point with a joke about his friend.
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