Stuff that ticks me off....

Close to the top of the list .... anti-Catholic condom-throwers:

When Catholic youth around the world converge in Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day, they will be handed condoms in an attempt to protest the Pope’s unwavering opposition to abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

The NoToPope Coalition, a group of abortion, homosexual and atheist activists, including Raelians and the Socialist Alliance, will reportedly number between 1,000 and 5,000 protestors. They plan to distribute condoms to pilgrims en route to the Papal Mass at Randwick Racecourse July 20. (LifeSiteNews)

I remember people doing this at WYD '05 in Germany. I'm not sure if it was the same group, but it's a good thing I never personally saw them in action because I would have given them a piece of my mind - to start.

"Catholic League declares end to Rev. Hagee controversy"

Proof that, yes, apologies can put some things to rest.

Or at least should.

Not like we'll see any apologies on this one, however.

L’Osservatore Romano nails La Sapienza profs for Wikipedia misuse

How. Embarassing.

The Vatican daily L’Osservatore Romano is reporting that 67 professors from La Sapienza University in Rome who wrote a letter opposing a visit by Pope Benedict XVI based their opposition on a quote taken out of context from Wikipedia.org.

The professors portrayed themselves as defenders “of freedom of research and of knowledge.” “In the name of ‘freedom of research and of knowledge,’ they have taken false information to be true, accepting an assertion without checking whether it is factual,” the Vatican newspaper reported. - CWNews

Icing on the proverbial cake:

“That Wikipedia in all likelihood is the source of the quote is evident by the fact that the letter from the 67 professors makes reference to a speech by Cardinal Ratzinger on March 15, 1990 in Parma. The speech was given, but it took place in Rome, at La Sapienza University on exactly that day,” L’ Osservatore continued. “The surprising thing is that whoever took the quote from Feyerabend could not have read the rest of the entry in Wikipedia, as he would have realized that the meaning of Ratzinger’s statement is exactly the opposite of what the 67 claimed the Pope was saying.”

“Each person is free to judge if this way of using reason is correct or if it is an act of disloyalty. The risk of reason folding to the pressure of interests and to the attractiveness of utility is exactly the risk which the Pope would have warned the staff of La Sapienza about had he been able to speak there,” the Vatican newspaper stated in conclusion.

I don't think this discovery can be overplayed as it brings out several important points: 1) This is a scandal to the protesting La Sapienza professors. 2) This ellucidates the anti-catholic and anti-papal bigotry in play here. 3) L'Osservatore Romano should be praised for its original journalism and forthright presentation of the facts.

Public reading of Pope's lecture at La Sapienza results in standing ovation

Zenit reports:

The rector of Rome's Sapienza University announced that he will re-invite Benedict XVI to visit the institution.

Renato Guarini affirmed this after the inauguration ceremony today that was supposed to have included a lecture given by the Pope. The Vatican announced Tuesday that the visit would be postponed, due to what the Pope's secretary of state called a lack of the "prerequisites for a dignified and tranquil welcome."

A small protest that eventually reached the point of several students occupying the rector's offices motivated the Holy See to cancel the visit. The protestors called the Pope "hostile" to science and took issue with a 1990 speech by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the Galileo case.

The 1990 speech in its entirety showed the protestors to have taken Cardinal Ratzinger's words out of context.

Guarini said, "I will offer a new invitation to the Pope, Benedict XVI." He said the invitation would "be in accord with the desire of the majority of Sapienza's academic community."

During the inauguration ceremony, a professor read the discourse the Holy Father had prepared for the occasion. A standing ovation and students' shouts of "Long live the Pope" followed the reading.

Bertone explains Pope's cancellation of appearance (+ full text of address)

CNA fills us in:

Due to this planned disturbance, the Secretary of State wrote to the rector that “the prerequisites for a dignified and tranquil welcome were not present” and that “it was judged opportune to postpone the scheduled visit in order to remove any pretext for demonstrations which would have been unfortunate for everyone concerned".

Cardinal Bertone also explained why the Pope decided to send his address to the university’s rector. In the letter, the cardinal relates that since the majority of professors and students wished to hear "a culturally meaningful word, whence to draw stimuli for their own journey in search of truth, the Holy Father has instructed that the text he prepared for the occasion be sent to you".

CWNews provides us with a copy of the full text.

The Associated Press has decent coverage of this story.

Meanwhile, in related news, the UK has decided to treat anti-Pope Benedict posters as a hate crime.

Finally, a brief letter to the editor published in the NYT notes: "How ironic that those in opposition should resort to threats of violence to suppress, in the putative interest of science, a discussion of religion. Viva Galileo! Viva Benedict XVI!"

At least we're not the only ones who are making the connections.

update 2: LifeSiteNews offers coverage.

Recap: Black eye for La Sapienza, good day for Catholic free speech

The day-after reactions to the news that Pope Benedict would not, after all, attend the inauguration of the academic year at La Sapienza university because of protests have been, on the whole, critical of those in the University who attempted to curtail the Pope's right to free speech.

Zadok, who has been ground zero on this story from the start, has this to report:

The Italian press is reporting that that Cardinal Ruini, the Pope's vicar for the Diocese of Rome, is encouraging the faithful to give a large show of support for the Pope by attending the Papal Angelus at noon on Sunday. Needless to say, there's no way I'm missing that.

Mainstream political opinion in Italy is almost entirely in support of the Pope with reference to the whole Sapienza debacle. Even those who do not agree with him see this as a defeat for the principle of free speech. Amongst ordinary Italians there tends to be an attitude of great embarrassment that the Pope seems to be more welcome in Turkey than he is in the country's largest university. Some of the signatories of the notorious letter which opposed the Pope's attendance are also trying to nuance their position. They claim that the letter should have been private and that it was 'used' by the protesters in a way that was not intended. The rector of the university is speaking of a 'defeat for reason and secularism.'

Catholic students from the Sapienza university were also prominent at today's Papal audience. They were showing that if the Pope couldn't come to them, then they were going to go to the Pope.

They appeared both at his general audience today in the Paul VI hall, as well as the outdoor segment.

AsiaNews reports:

"Freedom, Freedom!": the shout raised by a group of university students of the Communion and Liberation movement, at the beginning of today's general audience, met with warm applause from the six thousand persons present in the Paul VI audience hall, and was an echo of the decision Benedict XVI took yesterday not to go to the La Sapienza university of Rome. The decision was due to opposition from a small group of teachers and students, against the invitation that had been extended to him to participate in the inauguration of the academic year. "So there are three places where the pope cannot go: Moscow, Beijing, and the university of Rome", commented one of the young people present at the audience. "If Benedict does not go to La Sapienza, La Sapienza comes to Benedict", read one of the banners that the young people raised.

The pope did not mention the affair, not even in the greeting that he addressed to the students.

Here are images of the supporters:

Even a Moroccan women's group has voiced public support of the Holy Father's freedom of speech.

Of course, there's still plenty of jerks weighing-in on the situation, such as "infoshop news" which touts itself as an "indipendent news service." They titled their report "Pope Scared off by Threat of Loud Music" and continue:

Students had threatened to blast dance music at the pontiff, and also to dress up as nuns. Pretty scary stuff.

But then as a cardinal, Benedict once attacked rock and pop music as the "work of the devil."

And nuns, well, what Pontiff wouldn't be afraid?

They can have their laugh, from today's events it is clear that this tale is far from finished.

Here's how the LA Times tried to hype it:

It's a big deal when the pope agrees to speak at an event that isn't church-related.

It's an even bigger deal when public protest forces him to cancel.

Veteran Vatican-watchers said they'd never seen anything quite like it. Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday abruptly called off plans to speak at Rome's prestigious La Sapienza university, after students and professors rallied to proclaim him pontiff non grata.

... Italy lives in the shadow of the Vatican, and mainstream politicians rarely challenge or criticize the pope.

But still reports:

Officials in both the government and the opposition were quick to lament the protests that waylaid Benedict.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi expressed "solidarity" with the pope and condemned the "unacceptable attitudes of intolerance."

The left-wing minister for family policy, Rosy Bindi, who has clashed with the church on reproductive health and similar issues, said she was "very saddened" by the episode. "This is not a pretty day for our democratic republic," she said.

"You don't have to agree with what he says, but the right to speak must not be denied to anyone," Universities Minister Fabio Mussi said, according to the Italian news agency Ansa.

Pier Ferdinando Casini, head of a main Christian Democratic party, said that with professors like this, "we must fear for the future of our children."

One of the (many) staggering ironies of this whole thing?

La Sapienza was founded 700 years ago by ... Pope Boniface VIII.

I guess this just reveals how far back the tradition of Papal anti-intellectualism can be found.

Uh-huh, sure.

[photo credits: AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, Handout]

update: CNA on Cardinal Ruini's rally cry in support of Pope Benedict this Sunday:

"Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope’s Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, has called on the faithful to gather this Sunday in St. Peter’s Square during the recitation of the Angelus to show their support for Pope Benedict XVI after his visit to La Sapienza University in Rome was cancelled amid protests from students and faculty."

update 2: CNA reports:

"I don't come to impose the faith, but to ask of you the courage for the truth," these were the opening words of Pope Benedict's speech that he was supposed to deliver tomorrow at La Sapienza University in Rome.

Other follow-ups:

• ABC News: Students show support for Pope after protests
• LifeSiteNews: Students Flock to Pope's Wednesday Audience After Speech Cancelled over Protests
• CathNews: Chanting students support Pope after canned visit

Photo: "The Pope is Against the University."

The poster, I believe, reads "The Pope is Against the University."

So against the Univesity, in fact, that he has spent most of his life studying and teaching in them.

[photo credit: AFP/Filippo Monteforte]

Breaking: Pope's visit to Sapienza U. cancelled due to protests!

Zadok in Rome reports:

It seems that as part of the protests, the Rector's offices were occupied by students today.One has to imagine that security concerns and the dignity of the Holy Father were the primary concern here. One suspects that many at the Sapienza University are ashamed what the actions of their colleagues have brought about.The Pope will, however, be sending the text of his proposed address to the Sapienza.

The report comes from Ansa.it (in Italian).

update: the AP has confirmed:

Pope Benedict XVI has canceled his visit to a Rome university following protests by professors and students, the Vatican said Tuesday.

"It was considered opportune to skip the event," the Vatican said in a statement about Benedict's planned visit and speech Thursday at La Sapienza, a public university.

Instead, the pope will send his speech to the university, the Vatican said.

AP full coverage here. Notable: "He said 63 instructors – out of a total of 4,500 – had signed the letter. He had said students would have been allowed to gather in a designated area Thursday during the pope's visit."

I'm guessing this visit was nixed due to security concerns. This AGI report quotes the Rector of the University saying that "Should there be tension, that will be due to infiltrations." Apparently there was some concern that non-students would show up and cause trouble. Earlier today, "About 100 students ... occupied a building at Rome's La Sapienza university", CWNews reported. Yahoo! News has a slideshow of related images.

Reuters reports that instead, the Pope will send the text of his address to the University.

I hope it opens with something along the lines of "Dear beloved blockheads..."

When this story broke, I had just finished writing this previous post on the same topic: "The ugly, ignorant face of anti-papism on display".

It's dissapointing to see these protesters "get their way" and prevent the Pope from visiting. They should really be ashamed of themselves, but I'm not holding my breath to see their actions condemned by tonight's media recounting of the situation. At any rate, if the Pope's safety was in jeopardy, that's another thing entirely.

But really, what does it say about the academic community in Italy if they can't even provide for the safety of one of the most staunch defenders of the free exercise of reason. Doesn't anyone remember Regensburg?!

Picture/Report: The ugly, ignorant face of anti-papism on display

It's not only the intolerance and double-standards that outrages me, it's the laughable and pathetic ignorance of history and what the Church actually teaches and is that these people are demonstrating.

Just give this EuroNews report a read (also features video):

"A planned visit by Pope Benedict to Rome's most prestigious university has unleashed a wave of protest. The Pontiff is due to speak at La Sapienza on Thursday at a ceremony launching the 2008 academic year. But defending science as secular, some students and members of staff want his invitation withdrawn. More than 60 professors have written to the university rector, saying they are offended and humiliated by the Pope's views.

At the forefront of the protest, Professor Marcello Cini said: "As teachers of this university, we all have different backgrounds and cultures and we cannot accept an outside authority coming here to tell us what is right and wrong."

[AmP: This statement sounds like the plaintive whinings of a 2-yr-old. And I'd really like to see Prof. Cini explain what he means by the Pope telling folks what is right and wrong. Does that means he forces them? (He can't) Does that mean he claims unique scientific knowledge (He doesn't) ... really, what a sloppy nonsensical statement from this brave defender of human reason and academic pursuit!]

A speech made by the Pope nearly two decades ago has sparked anger among academics. They say it shows the then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger favoured the Church's heresy trial against Galileo in the seventeenth century, for teaching that the Earth revolved around the sun."

[AmP: Let's pause for a moment here. Are these folks actually protesting the Pope's visit because they believe Pope Benedict ... is a modern geocentrist?! Is that the most sophisticated objection the entire posse can latch upon? A 20-yr-old lecture where the Pope could be construed as supporting .... my goodness, it's not even worth completing the sentence. I'm sure it's not so simple.]

Anyway, the mind boggles at this type of public farce.

And to return briefly to the Galileo charge, I find it recurrently illuminating about the nature of the anti-Catholic project that they always must go back hundreds of years and exhume the ghost of Galileo's trial controversy whenever they try to caste the Church as "anti-reason." Really, is that the best they have?

I think it's revealing that the ultimate answer to my question is - yes, that's really the best they have.

[photo: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia]

Report: "Pope set to face 'sonic siege' during visit to Rome university"

Anti-Catholic proponents of tolerance act ... not just intolerantly, but positively bestially:

Students at Rome's main La Sapienza university plan to disrupt Pope Benedict XVI's planned visit to their campus later this week with blasts of loud rock music.

The group of left-wing physics students on Monday launched an 'Anti-Clerical Week' of events ahead of Benedict's scheduled arrival on campus on Thursday.

'In a university which should be ... a place of cultural growth, research and conscientious and secular criticism, La Sapienza Rector Renato Guarini has instead decided to invite Pope Joseph Ratzinger to inaugurate the academic year,' the students said on their website, referring to Benedict's name before his 2005 election.

Benedict as pontiff 'condemns centuries of scientific and cultural growth by affirming anachronistic dogmas such as Creationism, while attacking scientific free-thought and promoting mandatory heterosexuality', the students, who use the name, Physics Collective, said.

Featured events included screenings of a film on the life of Galileo Galilei - the Italian Renaissance scientist whose theories on astronomy provoked the ire of the Catholic Church - as well as debates on topics such as evolution and homosexuality.

The protests are set to culminate with a 'sonic siege' involving music played from loudspeakers mounted on a truck in the campus' main square during Benedict's main address, students said.

[Read the whole story.]

Update: And sadly, you can't even count on the academic "adults" to set a good example:

• TimesOnline: "Scientists protest against Pope"
• John Allen: "The pope, modern science, and a canary in the coal mine"
• Commentary from Jeff Miller.

Roland Martin is making a fool of himself, and CNN isn't helping

Earlier in the week I read up briefly on the controversy concerning Roland Martin's screed against Pope Benedict and the issuing of the CDF document clarifying what Lumen Gentium says about the nature of the Church.

Today NewsBusters does an excellent job of revealing Martin's offensive double-standards, and is right to peg CNN along with him:

Martin's column, as described by CNN, "are part of an occasional series of commentaries on CNN.com that offers a broad range of perspectives, thoughts, and points of view." CNN's own past indicates that they probably aren't going to make the "range of perspectives" very broad. When controversy erupted over the Danish Mohammed cartoons in 2006, they took the following stance: "CNN has chosen to not show the cartoons in respect for Islam." Apparently, the same kind of respect won't be shown to Catholics who might be offended by Roland Martin's column. In their own descriptive for the column, CNN summarizes Martin's viewpoint with the following: "This is evidence of [Pope Benedict's] ego being more important than work of Christ, columnist says."

Martin became a CNN contributor earlier this year, and besides his regular appearances on "American Morning," has written a couple of columns on religion and politics on CNN's website. In the first article on the subject, he criticized Christian conservatives' focus on abortion and homosexuality. In the second, he continued his criticism of pro-life Christians. In both of these articles, Martin identifies himself as a Christian.

I guess my bigger problem than Martin's own vituperation is CNN's endorsement of him. Crazies abound, but it's when news agencies like CNN give such folks a popular platform that things get bad.

Around St. Blog's, Carl Olson of Ignatius Press finds this "shameful and pathetic" (Go Carl) and Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers is seeing about writing a response editorial. Go Jimmy. I hope he does. Martin's comments go far beyond stating a difference of opinion and he should answer both for his false statements and accusations.

Also, I think Jordan Potter in Jimmy's combox makes a good point when he says:

"Another sign that Roland Martin is an anti-Catholic bigot is that he obviously did not read the new CDF document that he is mocking and derisively dismissing. Either that, or he read it and has chosen to deliberately lie about what it says. Take your pick -- but either way, he's a bigot, and lacking in intellectual honesty."

Martin has a blog and I'm happy to see that some Papists are making their voices heard. Maybe with a little charity and intellectual challenge Martin will reconsider his words.

Vatican uses the "T(errorism)" word to describe anti-papal attacks

Reuters has coverage:

The Vatican's official newspaper accused an Italian comedian on Wednesday of "terrorism" for criticizing the Pope and warned his rhetoric could fuel a return to 1970s-style political violence.

In an unusually strongly worded editorial, L'Osservatore Romano said a presenter of a televised May Day rock concert, which is sponsored by Italy's labor unions, had launched "vile attacks" on Pope Benedict in front of an "excitable crowd."

"This, too, is terrorism. It's terrorism to launch attacks on the Church," it said. "It's terrorism to stoke blind and irrational rage against someone who always speaks in the name of love, love for life and love for man."

At the concert, held every year in front of the Saint John in Lateran basilica -- Rome's cathedral where Pope Benedict sits as bishop -- one of the presenters, Andrea Rivera, spoke out against the Pontiff's stand on a number of issues.

"The Pope says he doesn't believe in evolution. I agree, in fact the Church has never evolved," he said.

The surprising thing here is how vitriolic the OR's editorial was worded. I'd like to see the text myself. It should be remembered that there is a great deal of tension between the Catholic Church and Italian society these days for a variety of reasons mentioned in the coverage linked above/below.

CWNews has its coverage here.

Dom asks the interesting question about the source of funding/sponsorship for the concert, considering it was held right outside the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Still, "terrorism" I think was a poor choice of word for the editorial. "Terrorism" is one of those attention-grabbing words nowadays that can denote prettmuch anything one wishes to claim is "really bad." Heck, wikipedia has a whole page arguing about its strict definition. See Also: tragedy (anything really sad). And for the inverse usage: heroism (anything really good).

How about let's just say the guy was being a jerk and leave it at that?

Right on: the double standard of liberals re: PBA decision

Rob Dreher, (the fellow behind Crunchy Cons and one of the regular bloggers at BeliefNet) who I had the pleasure of meeting at a recent conference, hit this one on the head today:

Diogenes at the Catholic World News blogsite observes that when religious believers bring their faith to the public square and reach conclusions that liberals dislike -- in this case, the Catholic justices on SCOTUS and their upholding the partial-birth abortion ban -- we have to furrow our brows and worry about the separation of church and state being breached. But when religious believers do the same thing and reach, or are likely to reach, conclusions approved of by liberals -- as is the case with Barack Obama -- well, the media's got no real problem with that. [More...]