Brazil's Indians offended by Pope comments

[piedmont]

Source: Reuters

By Raymond Colitt

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Outraged Indian leaders in Brazil said on Monday they were offended by Pope Benedict's "arrogant and disrespectful" comments that the Roman Catholic Church had purified them and a revival of their religions would be a backward step.

In a speech to Latin American and Caribbean bishops at the end of a visit to Brazil, the Pope said the Church had not imposed itself on the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

They had welcomed the arrival of European priests at the time of the conquest as they were "silently longing" for Christianity, he said.

...

Even the Catholic Church's own Indian advocacy group in Brazil, known as Cimi, distanced itself from the Pope. "The Pope doesn't understand the reality of the Indians here, his statement was wrong and indefensible," Cimi advisor Father Paulo Suess told Reuters. "I too was upset."




Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN1428799220070514?feedType=RSS&rpc=22

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It was evident from the start that this guy isn't of John Paul II's caliber.

[RethugAssKicker]

1. What an asshole this "Poop" is !!

also very racist comment as well

[IndianaGreen]

16. Asshole, racist, and historically ignorant!

This is the Papal version of Vietnam's infamous and racist "inside every gook there is an American struggling to come out."

[AX10]

2. The Catholic Church is a "step backwards".

[Judi Lynn]

3. He has shown the forces which drove the Church hundreds of years ago

operate in undiluted form within it, still, as if there has been almost no progress whatsoever all these years, and so many million human losses later.

The vital, worthy members of that church are involved in dealing wih people in REAL ways which heal and help. The others serve another master.

You'd think they would at least take the time to read history before they reach that level and become the ultimate spokesmen for their church, wouldn't you?

[truedelphi]

4. "evident from the start that this guy isn't of John Paul II's caliber"

Thirty years ago yesterday, Pope John Paul was shot and serioulsy injured by a gunman.

He went on to visit the gunner and offer his forgiveness.

Wish we had a pope like that now.

[IndianaGreen]

17. John Paul II helped the victims of Holocaust, not joined the victimizers

This Pope is a throwback to the Dark Ages!

[arewenotdemo]

5. Silently longing to be German, too

So imagines Herr Ratzinger.

[Hayabusa]

6. I'd Hate To See...

what his opinion of what's "imposing" is...

[azndndude]

7. As an Native American {Navajo} doesn't surprise me

Once again the head of the so called civilized dominant religion tries to justify the murder of millions of Indigenous peoples since 1492 on behalf of converting the "heathens" and saving their souls.

[Ian David]

9. They weren't murdered. They were "Posthumously Liberated."

Do I need a sarcasm tag, or is it obvious enough?

[Ian David]

8. Well, Der Popenfuhrer Ratso sure knows how to win Hearts and Minds in real Bush-like style.

This is worse than when Bush (finally) went to Vietnam and proudly told the Vietnamese people and their government that the lesson he learned from his visit is that if we had stayed longer and killed more of them, we would have won.

[shenmue]

10. He put his foot in his mouth, all right

Nothing justifies that kind of condescension. The Church may have lost members in recent years, but that won't win them back.

[damntexdem]

11. Just speaking out for the Inquisition.

It's exactly what should be expected from the chief inquisitor become Pope.

At least back when the Inquisition couldn't get it's hand on the Indians until they had been forced to "convert." But Benny seeks a more-direct role for the "Holy Office."

[MasonJar]

12. All the settlers, Catholic or Protestant, were cruel to the indigenous

people of the Americas, destroying their civilizations simply by having superior weapons. And as to immigrants from Mexico, how do we know that they were not in what is now the US first? And even if they were not, we stole their land; we call it Texas today. In addition, US policies have been equally cruel and unspeakable in the 20th century, including the policies of the oft-idolized Reagan...with his Iranian/Sandinista illegal activity.

[xchrom]

13. like all conservatives -- this pope is willfully ignorant.

and trying to rewrite history to the conservative liking.

[frankieT]

14. Shocking

This pope is not stupid. He made this statement on purpose.

[saigon68]

21. He has to divert attention

From the pedophiles rummaging through the choir lofts.

[frankieT]

27. Maybe but i don't think so

This historically incredible statement is meant to re-ignite the western-white-christian pride. It is typical rightist propaganda from neo-cons likes all around the world.
Here in France, the new president Sarkozy claimed that France has committed no major crime and that we should stop apologizing (how ironic).
These are major declarations against "inferior" civilizations or cultures to straighten the western conquest spirit in the clash of civilizations of their dreams.

[saigon68]

29. Another valid point

Thank you

[arewenotdemo]

30. True dat!

and that's not as easily accomplished as it used to be.

[frebrd]

15. Why are the opinions of...

this arrogant old fart considered "news"? Can't they just be published in the Catholic press/periodicals so the rest of us can be spared the annoyance of having to hear about them?

I'm sure he'd be shocked to know how many people there are in the world who don't give a flying fuck what he thinks!

Edited for spelling.

[JVS]

18. Ummm Pope fails to endorse other religions? What a shocker!

[Igel]

20. "I think I'm right and everybody else is wrong" is a surprise?

Like "I think everybody else is right and I'm wrong" is a tenable view to hold?

And "I think we're all equally right" doesn't lead to finding the easiest set of beliefs?

And yet, people are shocked.

[David Zephyr]

19. K&R! Please kick this story up and recommend it for other DU'ers.

:kick:

[Chovexani]

22. Heh

I'm (not so) silently longing for this fucker to shut up.

[FloridaJudy]

23. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, our Benedict

And completely ignorant of history.

They had welcomed the arrival of European priests at the time of the conquest as they were "silently longing" for Christianity, he said.

Hmmm...who else does this remind me of? Someone who claims his invaders were greeted with open-arms as liberators...

[David__77]

24. Ratzenberger is a backwards apologist of colonialism.

And colonialism, rather than really being about "evangelism," was always about economic exploitation.

[Forkboy]

25. It's things like this that make me want to believe in end times prophecy

...that he's the next to last Pope.

We should all be so lucky.

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. The arrogance.

At least, at one time, Christianity had the good intention of improving things for the poor by putting the moral burden on the rich. But no more. Now it's become an old aunt who has overstayed her welcome.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

28. Has Pope Palpatine I ever picked up a fuckin' history book in his life?

[ProudDad]

31. The poop

is a bigoted, misogynist, irrelevant anachronism.