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That's not really what he said, though, is it?
I originally thought I was being hyperbolic, but now I'm not sure.
Asked about the attack that killed 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo – targeted because it had printed depictions of the prophet Muhammad – he said: “One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith.
“There is a limit. Every religion has its dignity … in freedom of expression there are limits.”
He gestured to Alberto Gasparri, who organises papal trips and was standing by his side, and added: “If my good friend Dr Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch. It’s normal. It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”
So in the context of the Charlie Hebdo murders, he has said that insults to faith should expect a violent response, and in the face of insults he would be prone to use violence himself. It's not really a stretch to infer 'these Kouachi's went a bit far, but the scribblers brought it on themselves' from that. An appropriate answer from a holy Christ type would have been more along the lines of forgiveness and turning the other cheek.
It would be nice if everyone's dignity was respected. Problem is, some ludicrous people have ludicrous ideas of the dignity they deserve, and of how they should react when it's not granted.
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kl
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That's not really what he said, though, is it?
He doesn't say violence is "appropriate," but it is often to be expected. It's a "natural" response - that doesn't mean it's necessarily a good thing. Shitting's natural too.
What he said (according to the report): "the pope said freedom of speech was a fundamental human right but “every religion has its dignity”."
His point, as I see it, is if you act like a dick there are two things going on. One, you're being a dick (why be a dick?). Two, you very well may get a slap in the face (why would you do something that's likely going to get you a slap in the face?).
Of course, you can. It's your, as he said, fundamental human right. But maybe you shouldn't. "Cautioning against provocation he said the right to liberty of expression came with the obligation to speak for “the common good”." I.e., with great power comes great responsibility.
This is something that's actually very much entrenched in Western thought. J.S. Mill made this point in the 19th century when discussing bread riots (Ideas "ought to be unmolested when simply circulated through the press, but may justly incur punishment when delivered orally to an excited mob assembled before the house of a corn dealer, or when handed about among the same mob in the form of a placard"). Similar ideas have emerged in the US: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shouting_fire_in_a_crowded_theater
On the other hand: I don't really like his metaphor, and I also don't think it's a good excuse for punching his pal (just as it's a fucking shit reason to kill people). Further, I don't think religions should be treated differently (special dignity). However, I think it'd be nice if everyone's dignity was respected.