Another religious leader demands respect

The Bishop of Rome's ambassador to the UN addressed its Human Rights Council on Thursday, calling for religious belief to be respected.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi asked the Council to protect:

[F]reedom of religion, of expression, of conscience, of worship in private and in public and respect of religious convictions for believers of all faiths and for non-believers alike.

So far, so reasonable. He also demanded remedy, although he did not specify what action he wanted taken, for:

Abuse of rights of believers, even outright violence against them, state restrictions, undue impositions and persecution...

What reasonable person could argue with that?

[and] public insult to religious feelings.

Hang on a minute, Bish, you've crossed a line there.

One cannot consider the ridicule of the sacred as a right of freedom.

Oh yes one can. And I do.

The Bishop went on to say that democracies:

[S]et aside the respect of concrete religions...[in the interest of] rights of religious freedom and freedom of expression.

What the hell is a "concrete religion"?  Presumably one that has been around long enough to gather a critical mass of followers. Obviously the Archbishop would define Catholicism as a concrete religion. I guess he would include Islam too but what about the Mormons or some of the smaller, more recently founded protestant sects?

He doesn't say but he probably doesn't care that much either. As long as some new UN backed laws are passed to protect his own religion, that is all that matters.

I find the suggestion that I should be compelled to respect someone else's religion abhorrent. I am happy to respect their right to follow that religion but that's as far as it goes.

Why should I respect the belief that some old man in Rome is God's representative on Earth, or that a few Latin words mumbled over a bottle of Cotes Du Rhone turn it into the blood of Christ, or that a book written by the followers of a desert warlord is the Almighty's final word?

I would never try to stop people from believing this stuff, or from conducting any of the rituals that go along with it but , in return, I expect the followers of these religions to allow me to express my opinions. 

Religious leaders keep campaigning for laws to force us to respect their faiths.  If they really have God on their side, why are they worried about a bit of criticism and ridicule?

Hat Tip: MediaWatchWatch

Comments

[Andrew J]

Absolutely, utterly, dead right. Respect for their right to believe; no respect for their beliefs - unless you wish to give respect, of course, and I respect your right to respect someone in respect of his beliefs if you so wish to respect in that particular respect.

[Steve]

You wouldn't be taking the piss now, would you, Andrew?

[Ian Grey]

No, not respect- tolerance. No-one is entitled to respect, no matter how much the leftys try to hijack the language. Respect is an inner view, tolerance an outer one.

I tolerate the BNP but I don't respect them.

[G. Tingey]

How about a nice warm, well-greased crucifix shoved up Ratzi's .......

[Rastaman]

Damn right you should respect religions. Particularly Rastafarianism and if you don't we have the Rastafarian Firebombing Society to deal with your recalcitrant ass.

Muwahahahahaha

Rastaman
www.islamanazi.com

PS: Message from Hellpig: "Nuke Mecca".