Thursday, January 15, 2015
Pope missteps on freedom of expression
The Guardian reports on a speech by Pope Francis in which he defended freedom of expression as not only a fundamental human right but a duty to speak one’s mind for the sake of the common good. However, he believes that there are limits, especially when it insults or ridicules someone’s faith.
Of course he does not attempt to define precisely where that limit is or who should police it. That is because he is talking nonsense.
As I wrote back in 2008 about another controversy, 'freedom of speech is the freedom to offend. Once people are allowed to apply their own subjective values to others then we are on a slippery slope to dictatorship.'
Of course he does not attempt to define precisely where that limit is or who should police it. That is because he is talking nonsense.
As I wrote back in 2008 about another controversy, 'freedom of speech is the freedom to offend. Once people are allowed to apply their own subjective values to others then we are on a slippery slope to dictatorship.'
