But the 1929 Lateran Treaty still stands.

Ironically, she often makes fun of Berlusconi, and never had any problems – so according to the Lateran Treaty, that would mean that there would be no penalty for making fun of the Pope as well.

But the 1929 Lateran Treaty still stands.

I like the way he also speaks out for persecuted Christian communities in various parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. He may not always be able to quell anti-Christian violence but at least he raises the issue.

who said Italy was a liberal western democracy? bunch of conservatives.

What? Conservatives ARE a part of any liberal western democracy. And Italy has hundreds of parties that cater from extreme left to extreme right.

She’s in trouble with the Pope

No, she isn’t. The case was closed 10 days ago.

“I agree with Douglas, we need to defend freedom of speech without exception. But at least the poor lady has the consolation of not having had to go in to hiding for fear of vengeful Catholic maniacs.”

They dont need to because they have the state do it for them. Likewise bombing. Christian extremists who want to kill unbelievers simply vote in Bush and he does it for them. Muslim extremists have to do it themselves

Number 1 its canonize not ordain, number 2 only the Church can make someone a saint and number 3 you have to be dead. Your worse than Sunny.

Sounds like an invitation to explore how deep that capacity can be.

Oh, and let’s not forget that the Lateran Treaty was signed by Benito Mussolini.

medieval, yes, but the rest? doesn’t look it from where i’m sitting

But for the wrong reasons. The Minister for Justice decided not to proceed “knowing the depth of the Pope’s capacity for forgiveness”.

boyo, the poor lady is most certainly under fire from vengeful Catholic maniacs but she is also under the delusion that she lives in a “liberal democratic state” which will protect her from them.

Would we forgive Italy if it accepted to itself and others that it is not a modern liberal secular state but a medieval theocratic princedom?

What can be said of a “liberal western democracy” where jokes about religious figureheads are illegal or democratically elected politicians play the religious-nutter card and its religious leaders condemn them for their religious fundamentalism?

Not a lot.

But are we not heading into that cultural cul-de-sac too? We – or at least some of us -already consider religion ‘off limits’ for humour. The Muhammad cartoons for instance.

So what if a stupid MP had this to say:

How about Mario Borghezio? European MP for Northern League (an Italian anti-immigration party), who has vowed to “defend Christianity against profanation by Islam” in a speech made in a church in the northern port town of Genoa.

He is clearly an idiot.

Free speech, sir, works both for our ideals and against them. The point is to rid ourselves of troublesome priests of whatever race, nationality, religion or – in this case – political party, is it not?

I understand your dyspepsia, but freedom of speech is important too, I think. Whatever stops it must be smashed to bits.