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Insults against religion in Italy can get you jail time: Just ask Italian comedienne
I just heard about the Italian comedienne who is facing jail time in Italy for insulting the pope. In Italy, there are laws against insulting religion. If you tell a joke that is against the pope, it can land you in hot water.
According to the story, Italian comedienne, Sabina Guzzanti, a presenter at a rally in Rome this past July, made a joke about what could happen in the after-life to popes who are against gay rights. Now she is facing five years in jail.
Italy is not the only country where people mind their Ps and Qs when talking about certain people and regulations or habits are in place to command respect.
In Thailand, for example, before each movie, there is an ode to the king before the feature film. The audience members stand throughout the king's anthem and photo montage of images depicting aspects of his life. There isn't a law that says you have to stand, but everyone does--even tourists like me.
If you don't stand for the king before a movie, you may feel a bit silly sitting in a sea of waists and legs, but that's about the worst that can happen, I imagine. If you head to Italy, it seems like when it comes to religion, follow the adage, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
[Here's an article I came across about the habit of standing up in movies to pay tribute to the king.]
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Dukie252 Sep 16th 2008 1:16PM
It does appear that it's the people of Italy that need protection from the church not vice cersa. Thank God for the wisdom of our Founding Fathers!!
ShannonM Sep 15th 2008 5:51AM
I'm all for making fun of religion...it's time we stopped letting religion rule our lives and society. Religion has lived past its prime and work out its welcome. It's time that it got made fun of and scrapped like the trash it is.
Berwyn Sep 14th 2008 2:32AM
I think your all a bunch of dead heads or sick ohs. you are not good americans. Your mothers should have droped you in a trash can when you wer a baby. Grow up the whole bunch of you. You all make me sick to think what this country is coming to. A bunch of smart lipped very small children. Grow up.
george Sep 14th 2008 2:59AM
That Garvey guy is a real freak. The christians that think they are moral policeruin parties with their narrow minded whining. I for one believe in the first amendment. I had some freaks whining about a funny pope joke that did not insult the man but the brain washed whined like little girls. I really think the christians would start the Spanish Inquisition again if they could. Religion is like anything else, too much is no good!
george Sep 14th 2008 3:06AM
Berwin please don't whine. I'll bet you just a real joy to be around. The day after you get frustrated and quit you job people will be crying real tears of joy and dropping on their knees and saying thank the heavens!
joe Sep 14th 2008 3:10AM
um, and turkey isn't allowed into the EU for human rights issues....shouldn't italy now be pushed out of the EU for human rights issues, like freedom of speech, not to mention stupidity for following a loser, liar and freak like the pope?
damienmace Sep 14th 2008 3:36AM
Maybe it can happen anywhere. Just with an different outcome and/or punishment. Kramer from seinfeld and the controversal "nappy haired somthing' the radio host commented on the women baseketball team ( i dont know their names) but their reputaton and integrity crumbled and then ultimalty their jobs. What ever happened to freedom of speech and expression?
george Sep 14th 2008 3:15AM
Did you hear the one about the pope Frank sinatra and the homeless guy? Well frank sees in the newspaper that the pope is going to give a speech at the local community center toight. He puts on an expensive suit and rushes down there early but the only seat left is in the front row and there is a stinky homeless sitting next to frank nad he is really pissed off and resents the hell out out the stinky guy. The pope sticks his head around the curtain and signals to the homeless guy to come over and whispers to the guy. The homeless guy comes back and sits next to frank who is having a seroius giult problem over the way he has been acting to the homeless guy and a desire to have the holy father speak to him. He says to the Homeless guy I'll give you $500 and my suit if you change clothes with me. Frank is dying to get near the Pope. The homeless guy says OK. The pope looks around the curtain and sees frank and signals him to come over and then leans down and whispers in his ear.........................................................................................................................................................What are you doing
I thought I told you to get the F%%ck out of here!!
tony Sep 14th 2008 4:08AM
the pope isn't a fashist he's a nazy he was a member of the Hitler youth (look it up) he wore a swastika on his arm
Linda Ford Sep 14th 2008 4:15AM
Tony
Its spelled facist not fashist.
orionsbow Sep 14th 2008 4:37AM
Well, I guess she should be thankful she was in Italy. Had she been in any middle eastern country where they practice the wonderful, peaceful religion of Islam, she would have been stoned to death in the street, beheaded or raped and totured to death. I guess by Muslim standards, five years in jail is s picnic.
unionsoft Sep 14th 2008 4:57AM
The Italian Government can do what ever they want to, including demanding respect for the Pope that their business. The Lord Jesus Christ - the Pope's Boss and our Judge, fed the hungary, healed the sick and raised the dead. He gave the church the command to do the same. He never gave the church authority to punish. He would have everyone repent from evil and turn to him for forgiveness.
doc Sep 14th 2008 5:47AM
if the pope beleived in God,he would spend more time out with peaple.He hides behind glass walls,so he does not have to her the peaple.he hides from his true calling as a leader and not a stick figure pertending to be reighness.He afraid to speack,because he might hurt some ones feeling.He is a follower ond not a leader.He will go down in history a faliure to man.
David Sep 14th 2008 5:57AM
Attn. "Armengeddon": I've got news for you. Jews and Christians pretty much run neck-and-neck as the most hated and despised people in the world. America has always been Anti-Jewish and Anti-Christian; always has been, always will be.
Furthermore, this comic did not insult Christianity. She insulted Roman Catholicism, which is definitely not Christian. And you can't do anything about it here, since the Catholic Church has pretty much bought the Government and the media.
John Doe Sep 14th 2008 6:06AM
LOL
Costanza Jul 2nd 2009 8:23AM
Richard? how do you know that? sure you lived in Italy 100 years ago...when Italian money was the stronger, there was illuminated monarchy and NOBODY in Europe believed in "divine rights of kings". It happened...mmmm...let me think...oh right! Before US were founded. Study before you talk, or i should assume you are the stereotypical poorly educated US citizen.