Posted on 04/29/2005 8:44:59 PM PDT by Pyro7480
Italians Seek to Close Website Showing Pope as Nazi
ROME (Reuters) - Rome judicial authorities sought a temporary injunction Friday against an Internet site which carried doctored photographs of Pope Benedict dressed in a Nazi uniform.
The crude photomontages of the head of former German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the body of a man wearing a swastika armband and standing in front of a Nazi flag were posted 10 days ago on the Italian branch of the international news and opinion site, Independent Media Center (www.indymedia.org).
Rome investigating magistrate Salavtore Vitello said in a statement the pictures violated a national law prohibiting defamation of the Catholic Church. Vitello said he was also considering taking action against the owners of the site for insulting the authority and honor of the Pope himself.
Ratzinger served in the Hitler Youth, a Nazi paramilitary organization, in World War II when membership was compulsory for young Germans.
He was soon released to study for the priesthood and his biographers have said he was never a member of the Nazi Party and his family opposed Hitler's regime.
Jewish leaders and human rights groups have welcomed his election as Pope and his anti-Nazi roots.
Judicial sources in Rome said the Indymedia site was registered in Brazil and it was not immediately clear how the injunction, if granted, would be put into effect.
The Italian arm of the Independent Media Center, whose site is a forum for hundreds of contributors around the world on issues ranging from anti-globalization to gay rights, could not be reached for comment.
The Nazi site just shows how scared the Pope-haters are. That he is German always adds to it. We have such an anti-German attitude in this country. Not surprising the website exists. I'm just surprised that it's NOT here. I guess the Italian website is peopled by some of those folks OVER THERE.
You mean they montaged a Nazi flag, Henry Windsor, and Ratzi all together? Those demons!
I thought this new fellow was more of a "sticks and stones may break my bones; but names will never hurt me"-kind of guy(?).
This is why I love the Italians!
Thank you once again for the pings, your wondeful photosand your great efforts in keeping us up to date on news related to the Pontiff.
Unfortunately, I don't know that we can ever completely wipe out websites like this. When one is taken out, another pops up in its place.
We just have to continually refute the lies and distortions as much as we can.
Thorin: I knew there was a reason I liked Italians!
GipperGal: This is why I love the Italians!
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As a person of half-Italian descent (and proud of it), I thank you. :)
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