Posted on 06/02/2009 1:24:36 PM PDT by bronxville
On March 22, a number of the world’s media outlets reported something along the lines of “ Far-right youths carrying placards reading ‘leave my Pope alone’ clashed with left-wing activists outside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris after the latter had thrown condoms on the square as worshippers were leaving Sunday mass.”
The Associated Press, AFP and Reuters were among the news-wires which used the term “far right” to describe the young people protesting in favour of the Pope.
A group of about 30 demonstrators belonging to a group called Act Up had chosen a major Sunday Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral as an opportunity to hand out condoms in protest over the Pope’s remarks during his trip to Africa.
A couple of Catholic youngsters had got wind of the protest and started to stage a counter demonstration which involved singing the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Marys. It came to blows and the police got involved. Eleven people were arrested.
But the use of the term “far right” was puzzling. Although there are certain groups of the far right in France associated with fringe Catholic movements, these just looked like normal kids who were losing their temper in the face of provocation. I’ve been trying to find out more about them. Were they really “far right” youths or just normal practicing Catholics who were fed up with having their Pope attacked from almost every corner?
Maylis Guillier, a reporter from the French Catholic newspaper, La Famile Chretienne says that they were just a bunch of practicing Catholics who were fed up with hearing the Pope viciously attacked from every corner.
Touche pas a mon Pape—don’t touch my Pope--read the white and gold badges, shaped like a hand giving the peace sign. Groups of French youngsters—maybe not in their hundred-of-thousands but certainly in their thousands—have decided that they’ve had enough of the battering Pope Benedict has been getting and have taken to the streets.
Le Monde calls them the Pope’s new hussars ---they populate Facebook groups which range from “Generation Benoit XVI” which has 3,212 members to the Papal support group which has about 15,366 members. They sign petitions in support of him, one group has launched a new website (which has yet to be developed), and another plans peaceful prayer sessions in protest.
Last weekend, Miss Guillier says, a number of young Catholics decided to pray outside the closest Cathedral to show their support for the Pope. At Notre Dame, she says approximately 300 people showed up to big-up BXVI on Palm Sunday, not huge, but still a good effort, nevertheless.
“Groups of French youngsters—maybe not in their hundred-of-thousands but certainly in their thousands—have decided that they’ve had enough of the battering Pope Benedict has been getting and have taken to the streets.
Le Monde calls them the Pope’s new hussars.”
Enough already - good for them!
How vile. Shame on you.
Tasteless and not funny.
Wrong Pope, too.
But hey, why let those things get in the way of somehow using one of the most courageous men of the 20th Century from being the butt of your clumsy attempt at humor?
Why? Showing the Pope as having human feelings isn’t a bad thing, is it? Or don’t you think of him as a human?
Mocking a man dying of Parkinson’s is NOT FUNNY, period.
Sorry, I didn’t realize that was what was happening. I apologize.
***Touche pas a mon Pape (Don’t touch my Pope)***
Nice work, Alex. I really like your style.
Now, if you could just photoshop the face of JPII onto a common garden slug, you’d surpass yourself. Or given the Parkinson’s, perhaps a bowl of Jello.
Completely tasteless and I would say a violation of the posting rules of the Religion Forum.
Thanks for letting us know about this great group of young people.
I am not getting the point of these pictures.
These pictures are offensive. Have some respect.
Wonderful to see young people standing up for the Church! God bless these kids.
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The point appears, at the least, irreverent, very possibly insulting. I hope I err in that judgment. Alex, can you help clear up the intent and meaning of your post?
I don’t understand.
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