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June 19, 2007
More Special Pleading Against "Insults to Religion"
Two cases to consider:
The film version of the Da Vinci Code film is to be investigated for allegedly breaking Italian obscenity laws more than a year after its release.The state prosecutor's office in Civitavecchia, 40 miles north of Rome, said yesterday it was opening a criminal investigation into the adaptation of the Dan Brown bestseller, which was a huge commercial hit last year, following a complaint from a group of Catholic clergy earlier this year.
The complaint claims the Da Vinci Code, which suggests Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene were married and had children, breaks article 528 of Italy's penal code, which centres on obscenity on religious grounds. It names ten people, including Brown and director Ron Howard. The move means the film will have its day in court, in the seaside village of Civitavecchia, which is close to where the complaint was filed.
If found guilty, the defendants face up to three years in jail and an unlimited fine. [Guardian United]
Since when did any modern prosecutor's office take on the role of Inquisitor Generalis? The Da Vinca Code was filled with errors and just plain bad history, but why does anyone think its makers should be fined and jailed. If this isn't special pleading, I don't know what is.
And then there's the "row" about Salman Rushdie's knighthood. Several dangerous reactions have come from some parts of the Muslim world. Here's a particularly grievous example.
"If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Muhammad, his act is justified," [Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul-Haqr] said, according to Reuters news agency. [BBC]
Why would any modern government have a Ministry of Religious Affairs? Oh, I forgot about The Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives.
For a bad movie, you might go to jail; for a couple of good books, you or those who honor you might die. I guess jail and fines are better than death but only by degree when both aim at denying what I think is a basic human right. A human right I eagerly desire for Muslims, the Italian clergy and oh yes, Dan Brown, Ron Howard, Salman Rushdie and whoever might be in some bomber's path.
Posted by Duane Smith at June 19, 2007 8:10 PM | Read more on Current Events |
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Comments
Why would any modern government have chaplains' offices in its congress?
http://chaplain.house.gov/
http://www.senate.gov/reference/office/chaplain.htm
Posted by: Aydin at June 20, 2007 5:41 AM
Duane, I heartily agree with your main point. I have spiritual ancestors (if you will allow the concept) who died for this cause.
Though, as an aside, I can see good reasons why a sensible state (though perhaps not a "modern" one ;-) might have a ministry concerned with a significant segment (to put it at its least and in its most secular way) of the lives of a majority or large minority of its citizens. I think that even when I may deplore the actions of said ministry.
Posted by: tim bulkeley at June 20, 2007 3:05 PM
Tim,
You are correct that it is not unreasonable for a government "to have a ministry concerned with a significant segment . . . of the lives of a majority or large minority of its citizens." But the fact that a significant segment of a population has such concerns doesn't exactly give me the warm fuzzies. :-)
Posted by: Duane at June 20, 2007 3:44 PM
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