Diversity of opinion cannot be tolerated amongst the enlightened

You have to love this.

The Pope was scheduled to give a speech at a prestigious Roman University, La Sapienza but pulled out after 67 professors wrote a letter objecting followed up by student protests.

Apparently they think the Pope is a "backward theologian who puts religion before science" and cited a twenty year old speech  as proof. 

Incidently La Sapienza was founded by a predecessor of Pope Benedict, Pope Boniface VIII way back in 1303 and the academics and students who have succeeded in preventing the Pope giving his address are heirs to this legacy. Not that they will ever acknowledge this, least of all to themselves.

But here's the real point, why is it that the "progressive" elements are so keen not to allow those who disagree with them voice?  Its most strange.

I like to hear other peoples views and don't mind  having my ideas challenged at all. Thats why we allow comments on this blog of course, diversity of opinion is welcome here.

The real reason these people wanted the Pope shut down has nothing to do with a twenty year old speech, if you believe that I have a bridge for sale.

Rather it is evidence that these people are insecure in their own belief systems.

I wonder why that is?

Comments

[AVG]

Perhaps they were right. First of all religion does not a place in science. Second, and far more important, is that the Pope carries such a weight of authority in the minds of many. He IS 'Word of God'. So for him to speak at the university would have been an unspoken admission that he, and his thoughts,are 'more correct' than those of scientific research. No, I side with the university.

[Andrew Davies]

"So for him to speak at the university would have been an unspoken admission that he, and his thoughts,are 'more correct' than those of scientific research."

Absolute bollocks.

[peter]

This was not the forum for the Pope really, was it.

Roman Catholics are generally not too keen on having Protestants, Agnostics and Atheists speaking in their churches are they?

[Ozymandias]

Of course religion has a place in science - unless you believe that science IS a religion.
Of course they are insecure in their own beliefs. It is a little ironic that at a university , a place of learning/ debate etc, that the views of an important world figure is not accepted.

A case of attacking the messenger because of the message I think.

[Ryan Sproull]

Was he going to be lecturing on science? No? Then who cares what he says. Fucken students.

[usabikes]

I'm afraid they sound like a bunch of bigots.

Peter: you place Universities on the same level as churches - places where people have already made up their minds on some issues & are not open to debate. It seems this proves you right.

If these professors were at Columbia I wonder if they would have thought Ahmadinejad's visit was also a bad idea? Probably not. Probably rather a chance to showcase their openness to other viewpoints, even those of a genuinely backward oppressive religious barbarian.

Sorry its just a double-standard.

"Dario Fo, a Nobel prize winner, defended the Pope's right to speak" - well somebody who's not afraid of ideas. Good for him!

[servant]

So for him to speak at the university would have been an unspoken admission that he, and his thoughts,are 'more correct' than those of scientific research.

Since when does allowing someone to express a view in ones 'space' equate with agreement with those thoughts or an admission that those views are 'more correct' than ones own?

If I could, I would gladly have the Pope write a post on my blog (imagine what that would do for my traffic stats!), it doesn't mean I'm going to agree with everything he says.

I've had a homosexual activist write a guest post for my blog and also a liberal Christian I wouldn't agree with on everything.... why, because I value different perspectives and what they can bring to any discussion.

To assume that any of my readers would take that as me agreeing with the writer or thinking their opinion is more correct than my own, is to assume that my readers are ignorant.

Clearly said university thinks their students are ignorant...

[Psycho Milt]

Dario Fo's an OK bloke - unlike the tosser academics and students involved. Not much Sapienza to be seen in this story.

Still, I hope Benedict keeps his gob shut and lets others do the talking. The sight of a Pope whinging about being denied a platform to spread his message would really be unintentionally funny.

[Peter]

If the Pope came to a NZ university, I would see nothing wrong with putting him in front of a lunch hour Student Association meeting - where one can witness all manner of political and religious presentations.

But where else? As part of a lecture series? At a graduation ceremony?

This octagenarian or near-octagenarian is not an academic with recent research under his belt.

Ratzinger's current role is symbolic - he absorbs much of the high level ritual that goes on. He role is similar to that of Queen Elizabeth. His domain is the Roman Catholic Church, the Queen's domain is the British Commonwealth.

[andrei]

Still, I hope Benedict keeps his gob shut and lets others do the talking. The sight of a Pope whinging about being denied a platform to spread his message would really be unintentionally funny.

I don't think you have any worries on that score Milt. Pope Benedict is way ahead of these people.

What is unintentionally funny is the reaction of the fellow who spearheaded the campaign against the Pope speaking on campus, one Marcello Cini, a professor emeritus of La Sapienza.

Cini said of Benedict on Thursday: "By cancelling, he is playing the victim, which is very intelligent. It will be a pretext for accusing us of refusing dialogue."

Which is not only very funny but also revealing of the mindset of those behind the protests.

[Mimg]

Peter - why don't you have a life?

[servant]

This octagenarian or near-octagenarian is not an academic with recent research under his belt.

Ratzinger's current role is symbolic - he absorbs much of the high level ritual that goes on. He role is similar to that of Queen Elizabeth.

Is that a serious comment?

Theology is an academic pursuit (those some may disagree) and the Pope (whilst I don't agree with all his thoughts) is one of the leading theologians in the world, this current Pope is especially fitting of that description.

His position is nothing like that of the queen. If, because of his theological studies and consultations with councils around was to determine that something needed to be confirmed as true and then dogmatically declare said thing to be true, millions of adherents around the world would then need to fall in line and adhere to said statement. That's a little more authority than that of the symbolic figurehead that is the British monarchy.

Having read some of his work I would gladly state that I believe Pope Benedict XVI is one of the leading academics in his field. You don't get to be Pope these days without being pretty clued up.

[Sean]

Well said servant. Peter is somewhat off the mark. As I understand theology is an area of expertise for Pope Benedict XVI. An 'academic' is a pretty apt term I would have thought.

Still, I hope Benedict keeps his gob shut and lets others do the talking. The sight of a Pope whinging about being denied a platform to spread his message would really be unintentionally funny.

I agree with andrei's response to this. Pope Benedict is way above this sort of response as history will show. Seriously doubt he he considering hoping on a blog to vent his frustration!!!

Roman Catholics are generally not too keen on having Protestants, Agnostics and Atheists speaking in their churches are they?

Peter, oh dear. Mass is not the forum for debate you fool, learn something please. However there are many other opportunities to discuss and debate Catholic teachings, and with Catholics. Internet for starters, and of course there are many Catholic universities around the world.

[Sean]

Well said servant. Peter is somewhat off the mark. As I understand theology is an area of expertise for Pope Benedict XVI. An 'academic' is a pretty apt term I would have thought.

Still, I hope Benedict keeps his gob shut and lets others do the talking. The sight of a Pope whinging about being denied a platform to spread his message would really be unintentionally funny.

I agree with andrei's response to this. Pope Benedict is way above this sort of response as history will show. Seriously doubt if he considering hopping on a blog to vent his frustration!!!

Roman Catholics are generally not too keen on having Protestants, Agnostics and Atheists speaking in their churches are they?

Peter, oh dear. Mass is not the forum for debate you fool, learn something please. However there are many other opportunities to discuss and debate Catholic teachings, and with Catholics. Internet for starters, and of course there are many Catholic universities around the world.

[Psycho Milt]

Close italics

[Psycho Milt]

It will be a pretext for accusing us of refusing dialogue.

Yes, that one's priceless, Andrei.

[James]

Much like parents inviting a pedophile to address them on "raising good kids"....no,.. this fantasist has no place in disscusions of fact and reason...

[Sean]

I know Psycho, I had a shocker. I tried to fix the first one and the second was a complete abortion.

[dad4justice]

What a sick comment James , even to suggest such a thing is something I find totally repulsive .

[peter]

Wow - left-footers swarming in, in numbers!

For example Sean says:

"there are many other opportunities to discuss and debate Catholic teachings, and with Catholics. Internet for starters, and of course there are many Catholic universities around the world."

And those are the forums where Ratzinger would be quite at home.

Sean alsos says:

"I would gladly state that I believe Pope Benedict XVI is one of the leading academics in his field. You don't get to be Pope these days without being pretty clued up."

But he has a huge retinue of younger guys doing the leg work these days - performing the same service as he did during at least one previous papacy.

But investigating the philosophical topic of theology is one thing. Being a promoter of slowly evolving Roman Catholic theology is something quite different.

Limbo has been vacated. What is next - Heaven and Hell?